Hamilton County Conservation

Little Wall Lake

NEW IN 2010
► RESERVATIONS are available! There are 6 sites available for reservation at this park. Holidays are not reservable. Reservations must be made 3 days in advance of the date of reservation. For example to make a Saturday reservation, you must reserve the facility no later than Tuesday of that week. There is a $5 additional charge per night for reserved sites to cover the cost of the reservation system. Please contact us at 515-832-9570 if you have any questions or problems with this new system.

► Carry In Carry Out Trash
Please help us by doing your part with the three “R’s”. REDUCE, REUSE & RECYCLE.

Shelter Calendar

We are located at 3540 Little Wall Lake Road in Hamilton County, Iowa. This road is also Highway 69 and the park entrance is located two miles south of Jewell, Iowa. Little Wall Lake is termed a "natural lake" by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. The lake was formed as a result of glacial movements across the area thousands of years ago. Because of the small watershed which feeds the lake, it was more of a marsh than an open body of water. Only with artificial efforts, such as dredging, has the area become a lake and not become an eventual marsh. In 1905-06 and again in 1936-41 the lake was reported to have gone dry.

In the 1950's the Iowa DNR arranged for a dredging machine to open channels and clean some of the lake from the vigorous growth of aquatic plants. Approximately 65 acres were dredged. A few low spots surrounding the lake were filled with the dredged material resulting in the loss of some low marsh areas.

In October of 1960, the Hamilton County Conservation Board signed a contract with the Iowa DNR for a joint management program for the area. The Iowa DNR manages all aspects of the lake and the conservation board manages the park and two thirds of the land around the lake. In 1961 the conservation board entered a maintenance agreement with the Iowa Department of Transportation for the right-of-way along the east side of state highway 69 adjacent to the lake. The conservation board assumed maintenance of the areas at the north and south ends of the lake and along the west side of the lake where the lake borders the highway.

The Little Wall Lake recreational development has provided the residents of Hamilton County, central Iowa, and many tourists and visitors with a quality outdoor recreation area. The park and lake are used for camping, hiking, water skiing, boating, fishing, hunting, snowmobiling and many more outdoor activities.

Camping includes 104 sites with electricity, up to 30 amp service. There are a few water hydrants scattered throughout the campgrounds. There is a modern shower house that is open during the warm months (usually mid April through mid October). The cost is $16 per night for each camp site. We do not reserve sites. Sites are on a first come first serve basis. You may hold a site by placing a physical object such as a car, tent, or camper and pay for the site each night. Sites allow up to 6 people per unit. We do not allow to double up sites. An extra tent can be erected on the same site as another camping unit as long as the occupants are children and under the age of 16. Please contact us if you have any further questions. Enjoy your camping experience.

Enclosed Shelter is available overlooking the lake, with a playground, sand volleyball, swimming and ample parking available. Shelter use now has a "Carry In-Carry Out" trash policy. Not following the policy will result in forfeiture of deposit.

To make shelter reservations, please contact us at 515-832-9570 or email hccb@wmtel.net