Walnut Ridge Recreation Area
Campground · Iowa · 3 bookable sites ·
Managed by the US Army Corps of Engineers
- 3
- Bookable sites
- 20 ft
- Max rig length
- up to 250
- People per site
- 961 ft
- Elevation
Overview
Walnut Ridge Recreation Area is a day-use facility located on the 26,000-acre Saylorville Lake Project, which stretches over 50 miles up the Des Moines River Valley. The lake provides a wide variety of recreational activities, including boating, swimming, fishing, hiking and hunting.Recreation
The 18-hole Walnut Ridge Disc Golf Course runs throughout the recreation area. The beautifully manicured course contains both open and wooded fairways with blind pins and tunnel shots.Visitors come to Saylorville Lake for its great boating, sailing and swimming opportunities. Anglers fish for walleye, wiper, largemouth bass, catfish, crappie and northern pike.
The paved Neal Smith Trail winds 24 miles from Des Moines to Big Creek State Park and connects the campgrounds on the east side of the lake. It is designated as a National Recreation Trail and is used for biking, hiking, jogging, walking and in-line skating.
Facilities
This day-use area offers three group picnic shelters with water and electricity. Amenities include flush toilets, a playground, and hiking trails.Natural Features
The area is situated on a wooded ridgeland on the west side of Saylorville Lake. Large shade trees cover the area.Wildlife is abundant throughout the project. White-tailed deer, turkeys, pheasants, waterfowl, and other small game animals roam the lands around the lake.
The facts
- 3 bookable sites
- 3 sites for day use only
- Vehicles up to 20 ft
- Up to 250 people per site
- Loops: WALNUT RIDGE RECREATION AREA
Site types
- 3 Group Picnic Area
Amenities
- Picnic tables
- Grills
- Shade
- Pets allowed
Not recorded upstream: electric hookups, water hookups, sewer hookups, campfires allowed, fire pits.
3 campsites at Walnut Ridge Recreation Area
Check-in 7:00 AM · Check-out 9:00 PM
| Site | Loop | Type | Entry | Surface | Max rig | People | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | WALNUT RIDGE RECREATION AREA | Group Picnic Area | — | Paved | 20 ft | 125 | 🐾 |
| 02 | WALNUT RIDGE RECREATION AREA | Group Picnic Area | — | Paved | 20 ft | 250 | 🐾 |
| 03 | WALNUT RIDGE RECREATION AREA | Group Picnic Area | — | Paved | 20 ft | 75 | 🐾 |
Getting there
Use address 9125 NW Beave Drive, Johnston IA 50131. From I-35/80 north of Des Moines, take Johnston/Saylorville Lake Exit (131). Go north on Merle Hay Rd for 2.7 miles, then turn left onto NW Beaver Drive for 3.1 miles. Recreation area is 0.3 miles ahead on the right.
41.72972, -93.72111 · 41°43'47.0"N 93°43'16.0"W
Typical weather
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High °F | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Low °F | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Precip in | 0.9 | 1.3 | 2.1 | 3.9 | 5.1 | 5.2 | 4.4 | 4.2 | 3.5 | 2.6 | 1.9 | 1.4 |
1991–2020 averages from the nearest NOAA station, 0.5 mi away — not measured at the facility itself, and elevation can make a real difference over that distance.
Map
More photos
Member photos
Common questions about Walnut Ridge Recreation Area
- Can you reserve a site at Walnut Ridge Recreation Area?
- Yes, Walnut Ridge Recreation Area is reservable through Recreation.gov.
- How many campsites does Walnut Ridge Recreation Area have?
- 3 sites.
- What is the maximum RV length at Walnut Ridge Recreation Area?
- 20 ft. That is the longest vehicle the sites here are recorded as taking; individual sites may be shorter.
- Are pets allowed at Walnut Ridge Recreation Area?
- Yes, pets are allowed at Walnut Ridge Recreation Area.
Camping near Walnut Ridge Recreation Area
- Acorn Valley 0.6 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Sandpiper Recreation Area 1.8 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Lake View Recreation Area (Saylorville) 1.8 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Oak Grove Picnic Area 2 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Cherry Glen Picnic 2.1 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Cherry Glen Campground 2.1 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Prairie Flower Recreation Area 2.2 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Bob Shetler Recreation Area 2.7 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Bob Shetler Picnic Area 3.1 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Cottonwood Recreation Area 3.6 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Fifield (Ia) 41.8 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Whitebreast Point Shelter (Ia) 42.2 mi · Campground · we watch it
Contact
- Phone 515-276-4656
- Email jonathan.d.wuebker@usace.army.mil
- Book Recreation.gov
Recreation.gov last updated this record on 2026-02-25.
Facility information and photographs from Recreation.gov (RIDB). SpotOpened is not affiliated with Recreation.gov or any federal agency.
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