What a great little, very simple park. It's easy to get to, but there is limited parking. However,…read morethere is overflow parking down the road a bit. As you can see we were there in late fall. It wasn't busy and so it was quite a peaceful place. The trails we were on were wide and graveled, which would make walking accessible for many. We went in the middle of the day and so didn't hear very much city noise. A very nice getaway from the city bustle.

This is a great area for walking in the woods any time of the year. We can do a long loop in about…read more50 minutes. Parking can be limited in the main lot but there is additional parking down the road.

Great campground. The bison / elk wildlife preserve is awesome. Located on the north side of…read moreSaylorville lake.

What an awesome campground! Has both electric and non-electric sites. Grounds are clean and well…read moremaintained. Pit toilets and shower houses are available. Large playground for the kids. Golf course and equestrian center nearby. Miles of hiking/walking trails. Loads of trees. Wildlife everywhere to enjoy. A bison and elk herd to watch. Plenty of outdoor activities to keep everyone entertained. Cost is low for camping sites, $20/day for electrical, $15/day for non- electrical. Firewood available for purchase near registration booth. Campground host is very friendly and helpful. Sites available in tree lined area and also overlooking Saylorville Lake. An excellent place for a getaway that is near both Ankeny and Des Moines (about 15 minute drive).

This is one of the greatest areas right at the tip of Saylorville Lake, offering a visitor's…read morecenter, playgrounds, walking and hiking trails, and easy access to the Neal Smith trail. Usually, we park the car over at the visitor center, and walk to wherever we're planning to visit throughout the lake and park area. Our dogs are small and get tired fast, so it's nice to have a centralized area with a lot to do, when they need a break. The visitor center provides access to beverage machines, maps, guides, and rules for the park areas. Off the back of the visitor center is a balcony that overlooks the lake, providing a pretty awesome view through the trees out into the water. Just a short walk northeast from the center is a butterfly garden, which actually lives up to its purpose, and just behind the garden is a heavily wooded area that leads to the beach. There are a ton of benches to sit on along the Neal Smith trail, which leads to more campgrounds, boating, and recreational sites. To the opposite direction is the actual dam, which despite its sometimes foul smell, is a sight to see. You're likely to see a few people fishing off of the dam, or just walking around the many secluded trails to view all parts of the park. Definitely recommend starting your next trip to Saylorville off on this side of the lake.

This is a beautiful camping, fishing, and hiking spot off of Saylorville lake…read more There are plenty of benches and picnic areas to enjoy the scenery and take in the great outdoors!!! There is also great fishing right off of the Dam spillway! With lookout areas if you don't feel like fishing. Beautiful grown trees and winding paths all right outside of Des Moines!!

Rotary Riverwalk Park was really enjoyable to walk around during the day and the evening time…read more There is limited parking on the west side during a weekend night but pretty open during the day on Sunday. During the day, we walked over the huge Bobber statue, walked down near the dam of the river where this is a walking area. We walked the bridge both during the day and night and really enjoyed it. The bridge itself is the Iowa Women of Achievement Bridge which was really cool to learn about. At night we checked out the Robert D Ray Asian Garden (parked on the street) and were able to enjoy that and the view of the river. Overall, this is a really enjoyable area to come check out. It is free and worth your time to see!

I came here for the first time last night and it is such a cute spot!…read more It's right next to the beautiful Landmark Bridge and has a giant fishing lure sculpture that has swings attached to it. One is even a safety swing for littles! Blue lighting illuminates the entire thing, making for a great spot to take pictures. There were lots of young kids and families laughing and playing together at 11:00 at night. Just another great addition to Des Moines!

This was a beautiful riverwalk with well maintained paths and bridges. There was also gorgeous…read morelandscaping and nearby gardens. The path is about 1.2 miles long, and great to walk, bike, and jog. The riverwalk connects the east and west sides of downtown via two pedestrian bridges, so it's handy to walk to local attractions. I loved how there were maps of the nearby trails and businesses. The river itself smelled fresh, and I didn't see any litter or trash floating around. Props to Des Moines, Principal Financial and the Iowa state government for making this happen!

Great Place to ride a bike or walk. Also enjoy a nice picnic and with a nice view to take some…read morepictures . Must Visit With Plenty Restaurants near by.

What a gem in the middle of the city! Nestled along the river, this garden is easy to visit yet…read morefeels tucked away. The path winds through various areas of the garden and also offers a few seating options. It felt organic and not so pre-planned. The views of the water, bridge and city make this spot even more enjoyable. Parking is very plentiful.

We spent a few days in the Des Moines area recently and there are definitely a lot of beautiful…read morespaces in the area. One of my favorites was the Robert Ray Asian gardens. We spent about an hour here walking through the gardens and appreciating the quiet, calm, and beauty of the area. There were lots of people walking and hiking and multiple people that stopped to take photos in front of the bridge at the end of the park. We also saw people fishing as it is located right next to the Des Moines River. This is a gorgeous spot to get out and be in nature, listen to the water and feel the sun on your skin. You can tell it's truly loved and cared for by the community and there were lots of other little pups for our dog to meet while we were there. My only regret is that I didn't grab some food before we stopped here so that we could have enjoyed a nice little picnic. If you are in the area it is definitely worth the stop.

Great small park! This was the perfect spot for our picnic today. When we stopped by there was…read moreplenty of parking with over 2 dozen stalls. They had 6 covered tables, 4 trash cans, a double charcoal grill, water fountain and, porta potty. The play area was fun for the boys. 4 different slides, 4 swings, and a sand digger provided plenty of options to burn off some energy. Come check it out if you're near by.

This is the park commonly called the froggy park. It's a fun park with a play area for kids with…read moremultiple slides and other objects for kids to climb on. It has a shelter for parties and a big wide open field for sports like soccer games. There is a creek that runs through the park and has a couple bridges over it. Deer and ducks are commonly seen in the creek area. The park has multiple trails that connect with other trails that go throughout the NW side.

After playing at this park my little man proclaimed it one of his favorites. There is a pretty…read morepond in the middle with a walking trail that goes around it. There are also lots of trees lining the pond and trail that help make it a fun trail to walk. There is a bridge that goes across the pond that we saw people fishing off of. There is also a lookout area over the pond that is very pretty and we saw a family doing family photos from the lookout. Beyond the lookout is a fountain in the water. Away from the pond is a neat kids area that is designed like a tree fort. There are stairs hidden inside the tree and lots of things for the kids to do around the tree. Next to the kids play area is a shelter for parties and get togethers.