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Beed's
Lake State Park |
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Facilities and Activities
Beeds Lake Lodge
Beed's Lake is an ideal place for a family cookout. Its grassy and shaded picnic
areas provide many opportunities for relaxation. The stone and timber beach
building built by the Civilian Conservation Corps has been converted to a rental
lodge. The lodge is complete with dining areas, a kitchen and rest rooms and may
be reserved for a fee through the concessionaire (641) 425-0413.
Camping
Beed's Lake has a very popular campground. A total of 99 of the 144 sites have
electrical hookups. Modern restroom and shower facilities are available, as is a
sanitary dump station. Starting February 13, 2006 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.
Trails
A two-mile trail provides a unique hiking experience for visitors as it follows
the shoreline around Beed's Lake. At the spillway, visitors can hike to the base
of the dam and experience a cool refreshing mist as water rolls down the
beautiful limestone face. This trail may be utilized by hikers, bicyclists,
cross-country skiers and joggers.
Lake Activities (swimming, boating, fishing)
The sandy beach for swimming is located on the south side of the lake, near the
lodge and causeway. It is a great place to enjoy the water on a hot summer day.
The beautiful lake, fed by Spring Creek, is a popular destination for anglers,
year-round. Bass, catfish, and panfish are available to challenge anglers.
Several fishing jetties and docks are located on the south shore of the lake and
are accessible to mobility impaired visitors.
Beed's Lake is a popular boating spot due to its scenic beauty. Motors of any
size may be used at "no wake" speeds on the lake. A modern boat ramp is located
on the southern shore of the lake.
Beed's Lake State Park has provided visitors with a variety of recreational
opportunities since 1934. One unique feature of the park is the causeway that
crosses the lake near the lodge. It provides more than one-third of a mile of
great shoreline fishing as well as a convenient pathway for hikers and joggers.
Another focal point of the park is the unusual 170 foot-long spillway with
horizontal layers of limestone dropping abruptly 40 feet. It was built by the
Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s.
In 1857, T.K. Hansbury built the first dam to supply water for the operation of
a sawmill. Two years later, water power was used to operate a flour mill.
William Beed put in the long causeway when he bought the property in 1864. He
operated the mill until 1903.
Nearby Towns
The City of Hampton is located three miles from Beed's Lake.
Contact Information
Beed's Lake State Park
1422 165th Street
Hampton, IA 50441
ph. 641/456-2047
E-mail Address: Beeds_Lake@dnr.state.ia.us |
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