Geode State Park

There are 168 campsites with enough variety to suit anyone's tastes (87 sites have electricity). There are two modern shower buildings and a sewage dump station in the campground. Advance campsite reservations can be booked through the park reservation system. Half of the campsites are still available for self-registration on a first-come, first-serve basis. Two camp pads and rest rooms are accessible to the mobility-impaired. Several hiking trails challenge the outdoor lover at Geode. The main trail starts at the north end of the lake and follows it all the way to the dam. This trail is accessible from several picnic areas along the lake. Another trail begins at the dam on the west side of the lake and ends at picnic shelter number one. A trip around the lake is possible on these trails. The prime attraction of the 1,640-acre park is Lake Geode, a 187-acre lake built in 1950. Over the years, the lake has become well known for excellent fishing for largemouth bass, bluegill, crappie, channel catfish, bullhead, red-eared sunfish. "Hey! Come on, we're going out to Geode!" This is repeated time after time in southeast Iowa as families and friends pack picnic baskets and swimsuits and head for a fun day in the sun at one of southeast Iowa's most popular state parks. The geode stone for which this park is named brings "rock hounds" to the area in search of this elusive prize. A display of geodes, with mysterious crystal formations in their hollow cavities, can be seen at the park office. Please remember that it is illegal to remove geodes and other natural materials from state parks, except for mushrooms, nuts, fruits and berries.