Hunting, Trails 2171 370 St.
Tama, IA 52339
Columbia Wildlife Area
This site features a variety of habitats to explore, including open prairie, old oak and hickory forest, a large pond and wetland area, a stream and floodplain and large ravines. Trails begin at the entrance parking lot and meander throughout the prairie and woodland areas, down to the lake and past the creek.
Tama County Conservation staff will be working towards removing invasive tree and shrub species from this wildlife area starting in 2025 and aiming to restore the small pond at the southwest corner in the near future.
Fishing, Boating 2711 360 St
Chelsea, IA 52215
Duffus Landing
This boat launch is located on the north side of the Iowa River, due west of Chelsea where 360th Street dead ends at the Closed Bridge.
Duffus Landing is situated right next door to Iowa River Natural Area, another floodplain property managed by Tama County Conservation.
From Longpoint Landing, it is roughly 4.5miles of River to get to Duffus Landing.
BE AWARE: The site is subject to flooding when the Iowa River is high.
Be Mindful of the Law: Stepping on shore and sandbars along the river, outside of Tama County or Iowa DNR public lands, is considered trespassing. Be aware and respectful of the areas you are floating/paddling through along the Iowa River and it's tributaries.
Hunting 3279 320 St.
Elberon, IA 52225
Heritage Wetlands Wildlife Area
Heritage Wetlands is tucked away just off of Highway 30 near the eastern most county line and once served as a wetland mitigation bank for various construction projects across the state. The site features a large 30acre shallow pond/wetland adjacent to a low lying wet meadow and native tree planting to the south. This is a popular place to see migratory water fowl and other aquatic wildlife during throughout the seasons.
Fishing, Hunting 2725 360 St.
Chelsea, IA 52215
Iowa River Natural Area
This site is located right next door to Duffus Landing along the south side of 360th Street, west of Chelsea. This lowland floodplain habitat includes several bends of the Iowa River as is regularly flooded during high water events.
Shooting 3055 H Ave.
Toledo, IA 52342
Izaak Walton Shooting Facility
This outdoor range features a 50 and 100 yard range with concrete pad, overhead awning, and tables as well as an archery range. This popular range is utilized by numerous local residents as well as law enforcement, youth hunting and sport organizations, among others.
Access to this facility requires a Range Pass issued by Tama County Conservation and is under video surveillance and patrolled by Park Ranger for our user's safety. Contact the Nature Center at 641-484-2231 to find out more.
Trails 1701 285 St.
Toledo, IA 52342
Lohberger Memorial Park
5 acres of old Oak and Hickory woods including a roughly 1 acre pond and wetland area at it's center.
This area was heavily impacted by the 2020 Iowa Derecho event and is currently not safely traversible.
Tama County Conservation is searching for large tree removal services and tools to help open up access to the small trail system and water body within.
Fishing, Boating 3469 P Ave.
Tama, IA 52339
Longpoint Landing
This landing is located almost half way between Manatt's Landing in Tama, and Duffus Landing in Chelsea. Sitting just off of P Avenue, south of the railroad before 360th Street.
This site expands beyond just the boat landing and includes several acres of woods and oxbow wetlands north of the river and boat launch.
From Manatt's Landing in Tama, it is just over 7miles of river to get to Longpoint Landing.
It is approximately 4.5miles of river to get from Longpoint Landing to Duffus Landing.
Be Mindful of the Law: Stepping on shore and sandbars along the river, outside of Tama County or Iowa DNR public lands, is considered trespassing. Be aware and respectful of the areas you are floating/paddling through along the Iowa River and it's tributaries.
Fishing, Boating 1974 340 St.
Tama, IA 52339
Manatt's Landing
This boat landing is located south of the city of Tama, just outside of town on the west side of Highway 63.
Starting here, there is just over 7miles of river to get to Longpoint Landing to the east.
It is roughly 14miles of river from McCoy Landing.
Be Mindful of the Law: Stepping on shore and sandbars along the river, outside of Tama County or Iowa DNR public lands, is considered trespassing. Be aware and respectful of the areas you are floating/paddling through along the Iowa River and it's tributaries.
Fishing, Boating 2970 C Ave.
Montour, IA 50173
McCoy Landing
This landing is hiding just north off of Highway 30, due north of Montour on C Avenue.
From McCoy Landing to Manatt's Landing in Tama, is roughly 14miles of river.
It is roughly 7.25miles from the boat launch in Three Bridges County Park in Marshall County to McCoy Landing.
McCoy Landing is the most westerly boat launch site managed by Tama County and could serve as the starting point to float 25 Miles from the western side of Tama County, to Duffus Landing near Chelsea, our most easterly boat launch before floating out of the County.
Be Mindful of the Law: Stepping on shore and sandbars along the river, outside of Tama County or Iowa DNR public lands, is considered trespassing. Be aware and respectful of the areas you are floating/paddling through along the Iowa River and it's tributaries.
Electricity, Water, Toilets, Picnicking, Beach, Fishing, Boating, Camping, Trails 2283 Park Rd.
Toledo, IA 52342
Otter Creek Lake and Park
Otter Creek Lake and Park
This gem of Tama County Conservation is located at the near center of Tama County, a strategic location by some of the very original Conservation Board members to provide the greatest equal access to outdoor recreation opportunities for the people living in and visiting Tama County. At the center of the Park lies a now nearly 70acre Lake suitable for fishing, kayaking, paddle boarding, light motorized craft (no wake) and beach access. The park is dotted with numerous trails that take patrons out around the lake, passed the campground areas and within the outlying wooded and prairie acres.
Lake Restoration Complete as of 2023! In 2021 Tama County Conservation broke ground on a massive lake restoration project for Otter Creek Lake. The lake had long been subject to slow siltation over the decades and was so full of eroded material, that some parts of the center of the lake were traversible by foot. The lake was drained and excavated, and all the removed material placed up onto the hillsides surrounding the park where new native prairie habitat was planted. Following excavation, the lake no reaches as deep as 25-30ft at its central points. Additionally, we've established new natural and artificial fish habitat, improved angler access, stabilized the previously eroding lake shore, added new wetland habitat, and added new play and recreational features among other updates. For progress pictures and updates, please check the Tama County Conservation Facebook page.
[button url=https://tamacounty.iowa.gov/files/conservation/otter_creek_inlake_improvements_13378.pdf]Otter Creek In-Lake Improvements[/button] [button url=https://tamacounty.iowa.gov/files/conservation/otter_creek_watershed_improvements_24418.pdf]Otter Creek Watershed Improvements[/button]
Nature Center
The Tama County Nature Center serves as a hub for environmental education. When not used for summer camps, educational programs, or other park events, the Nature Center has an event space available for rent. This facility is open by appointment only, Monday-Friday, generally between 8am-3pm. Please call ahead to 641-484-2231 if wanting to visit or tour the nature center interior and our wonderful Diorama Display room.
[button url=https://www.tamacounty.iowa.gov/conservation/nature_center]About the Nature Center[/button]
Camping is Open!
[button url=https://www.mycountyparks.com/County/Tama/Park/Otter-Creek-Lake-Park/Activity/Camping.aspx]Otter Creek Lake & Park Campgrounds[/button]
Otter Creek Lake & Park's campground boasts 56 electrical sites and 17 primitive sites. An on-site dump station is available for use by campers. Primitive sites are located on the West side of the park ($10/night); Electric sites are located on the East side of the park ($20/night), north of the Nature Center.
Oxbow Bottoms
Trails 1887 295 St.
Toledo, IA 52342
Reinig Wildlife Refuge and Nature Study Area
46 Acres of Tallgrass priarie with trails leading out from the parking lot around the property and bisecting the prairie hillsides.
Electricity, Water, Toilets, Picnicking, Fishing, Camping 2775 150 St.
Traer, IA 50675
T.F. Clark Park
Originally the site of an 1800's Saw Mill, this nearly 80acre campground and wildlife refuge was acquired from the State DNR several decades ago was the first campground under Tama County Conservation. Today it hosts a handful of primitive campsites as well as many acres of old growth oak woodland right along the banks of Wolf Creek near Traer, Iowa. A quiet place for campers with a newly installed modern playground facility and lots of pristine woodlands to explore on foot.
Trails 1596 AA Ave.
Gladbrook, IA 50635
Wolf Creek Trail
This roughcourse bike and hiking trail runs northwest out of Gladbrook along a scenic route running parallel to Wolf Creek. Tama County Conservation manages this trail up to 160th Street, where the trail turns west and heads towards Beaman in Marshall County.
