Pleasant Creek State

Pleasant Creek State Recreation Area encompasses a total area of 780 acres of land in Linn County, Iowa and near Palo City. Access to the main entrance to the park can be gained through driving about half a mile west of Palo City or driving four miles north of Palo City. 

The park surrounds a large 410-acre recreational reservoir called the Pleasant Creek Lake that is located between two cities, Waterloo and Cedar Rapids. These lakes make the park popular for lots of water-based recreational activities including boating, fishing, and swimming. 

Other recreational activities that can be enjoyed at the park include bicycling, cross-country skiing, horseback riding, snowmobiling, hiking, hunting (with restrictions), and camping. Pleasant Creek Lake is also a popular site for organized dog field trials.

These recreational activities are made possible through several amenities at the park including over fifty campsites (most of which have electrical hookups), rustic camper cabins, modern showers and restroom facilities, open shelters, picnic areas, multi-use trails, boat rentals, swimming beach, playground, fishing jetties, boat ramps, and a concession.

Like most parks in Iowa, pets and specifically dogs are allowed into the park. In as much as this is the case, there are still several restrictions that you need to abide by. Some of the regulations that you need to observe include the following. First, you must always ensure that you maintain immediate control of your dog.

Furthermore, you should always ensure that your dog is on a leash no longer than six feet long or confined in a secure enclosure. You should avoid letting your dog wander around the park and cause inconvenience to other park visitors or to wildlife within the park. If you wish to stay over at the park, you should be aware that there is a limit of only two dogs per camping cabin, tent or yurt.