Black Hawk State Park

Recreation
Lake Activities The 957 acre natural lake has no motor size restrictions and is a boating or fishing enthusiast's dream. Three boat ramps are located on the lake. Angling is a popular pursuit at Black Hawk Lake. Channel catfish, crappies, walleyes, bluegills, sunfish and largemouth bass provide a challenge to anglers of all ages. The Marina and North Shore areas are located on the northeast corner of Black Hawk Lake. Black Hawk has a universally accessible fishing pier, and approximately 50 percent of the lake shore offers public access. There is a fish cleaning station at the Ice House Point boat ramp. A non-supervised swimming beach is located at the east end of the campground. There is also an unsupervised swimming opportunity at Denison Beach along the North Shore of the lake. Trails The 1.6 mile Stubb Severson Nature Trail offers visitors a chance to learn about many of the shrubs and trees found in the park, with 20 marked sites. Along the trail, walkers often see a variety of wildlife including deer, waterfowl and many species of songbirds. The Sauk Rail Trail is a 33 mile, hard-surfaced, multi-use trail that starts near the park and ends at Swan Lake State Park in Carroll County. It is the only trail in Iowa that starts and ends at two state parks. The Sauk Trail is excellent for biking, hiking, or in-line skating and is open for snowmobiling and cross-country skiing in the winter.