Situated between Des Moines and Sioux City, Black Hawk Lake is a 957-acre glacial lake in rural Sac County in scenic west central Iowa. Ancient glaciers carved the lake bottom, which was filled when the ice melted. It’s a great stop on your way across the country in either direction, or on the way to Alaska from east of the Mississippi River.
The lake is named about the Sac Indian Chief Black Hawk. When the area lands were opened for settlement in 1828, the chief and his followers refused to move west, thereby prompting the Black Hawk War.
Outdoor Activities: The lake offers swimming, boating and fishing for dozens of different fish—channel catfish, crappies, walleyes, bluegills, sunfish and several kinds of bass. The state park recreation facilities at Crescent Beach include a volleyball court, Frisbee golf course and a large playground area. Take a break from playing and have a picnic at one of the many open picnic shelters surrounding the water’s edge.
Depending on the season, you can hunt for waterfowl, deer, pheasant and cottontail rabbit. Make sure to read up on hunting information and regulations before you go. In winter the lake freezes over, providing a solid platform for ice-skating, ice fishing, snowshoeing and cross-country skiing.
Take a hike along the “Stubb” Severson Nature Trail to learn about the shrubs and trees in the park. Visitors often see deer, waterfowl and many types of songbirds along the trail. Use this trail to access Witches Tower, a stone shelter built by the CCC in the 1930s, and enjoy the view from the highest point overlooking the Black Hawk Lake area.
Bring your bicycle and take off on the Sauk Rail Trail, a paved 33-mile multi-use trail that connects Black Hawk Lake State Park with Swan Lake State Park just south of Carroll. The trail winds through the countryside and several towns, where you can stop for a bite to eat or do some shopping.
Other Things to Do and See:
Explore the charming town of Lake View, a friendly farming community of about 1,300 residents (many of whom are descendants of 20 pioneer families) to the northwest of Black Hawk Lake. Sac County was voted one of the best places to live in rural America by Progressive Farmer.
Catch a glimpse of pioneer life at the Lake View Historical Museum, where you can see a log cabin from 1870. The museum is open weekends from Memorial Day through Labor Day from 2-4 p.m., and is located at 114 Crescent Park Drive.
If you brought your golf clubs, play a quick round at one of the three 9-hole public golf courses within 15 miles of Lake View. Or you can take the family for a game of mini-golf at the 19-hole course at Boulder Beach, next to Crescent Beach right on the lakeshore.
Camping Info: The campgrounds in the area are open year-round but the water is shut off for the winter season.
The Black Hawk Lake State Park campground has 128 grass campsites, of which 89 are equipped with electrical hookups (20/30 amp). The campground has good, paved interior roads and back-in sites are 15’x 40’. There are modern, accessible showers and restroom facilities, as well as a dump station. No reservations. Last year’s rates range from $8-$16, and the campground is open from June to September. Call (712) 657-8712 for more information.
Camp Crescent is a public campground at the west end of the lake. It has good gravel interior roads, 40 gravel sites and 141 grass sites. There are pull-thrus (20’x 60’) and back-ins (20’x 60’). The campground also features restrooms, showers and a dump station. Last year’s rates are $10-$17 and the campground is open and staffed from April 15 to November 1. Call (712) 657-2189 for more information.
30 Acres Campground is a public campground on the south side of the lake. It has 89 gravel pad sites with electrical hookups (30/50 amp) and 10 with water service. Rates range from $6-$16. An unsupervised swimming beach is on the east side of the campground, and can be used by campers and the public. For more information, call (712) 657-8712.
