Prairie Rose State Park

Whether you are picnicking, swimming, camping, boating, hiking or fishing, the lake provides a real focal point at Prairie Rose State Park. Construction of the 218-acre lake started in the 1950s and the park was dedicated in 1962.

Recreation: Trails Approximately 7 miles of trails weave through the park. All the trails are open for hiking, biking, snowmobiling and cross-country skiing. The trail is a great place to observe a variety of plants and wildlife and feature several areas of restored prairie along the way. Lake Activities The 218-acre lake is a focal point for park activities. The unsupervised beach provides swimming and sunbathing for young and old, and a playground is located nearby. There are two boat ramps that provide easy access to the lake for all types of boating, including ice boats in the winter. Any size boat motors may be used at "no-wake" speeds. Anglers of all ages will find a challenge at Prairie Rose. The lake provides excellent bass, channel catfish, bluegill and crappie fishing on the water or from the shoreline. There are 6 fishing jetties to aid in shoreline access and two fish cleaning stations located on the lake for anglers' convenience.

Nearby: Each June the town of Walnut hosts an antique festival that draws people from around the country. There are stock car races every Saturday night at the Shelby County Speedway. Nearby Towns Prairie Rose State Park is located 3 miles south of Harlan, Iowa and 8 miles north of Walnut, Iowa.