Brushy Creek State Recreation Area

Brushy Creek State Recreation Area in Webster County, Iowa, is one of the state’s largest public outdoor destinations, spanning more than 6,500 acres around a 690-acre lake. Its present form emerged from a twenty-year debate that began in 1967 over a proposal to flood Brushy Creek’s forested canyon. The final compromise protected a sensitive 260-acre tract, reduced the planned lake, and added 1,750 acres for equestrian trails. Today, the area offers boating, fishing, swimming, camping, hunting, shooting ranges, and 45 miles of trails for horseback riding, hiking, biking, snowmobiling, and cross-country skiing, embodying a balance between recreation and conservation.

Iowa · United States