George Wyth State Park

Introduction of George Wyth State Park

George Wyth State Park, also known as George Wyth Memorial State Park, is a National Urban Wildlife Sanctuary in Black Hawk County, Iowa, located between Waterloo and Cedar Falls. Getting away to this state park is the ultimate nature escape, surrounded by lakes, rivers, and woodland areas teeming with all manner of woodland creatures.

The majority of recreation in this area is water-based, as it is surrounded by four lakes and rivers. Bring your boat and enjoy water skiing and tubing on Brinkler Lake, or go fishing for crappie, bluegill, walleye, and catfish on George Wyth or Alice Wyth Lakes, or simply hire a lake float or river tube for a relaxing day on the water at Fisher Lake.

Take your time exploring the park’s various hiking and multi-use trails, which may reveal glimpses of white-tailed deer all year. In the summer, hikers, bikers, and joggers frequent the trails, while cross-country skiing, snowmobiling, and snowshoeing are popular in the winter. Bird watchers will enjoy spotting over 200 species of birds recorded in the park, so bring your cameras and binoculars!

George Wyth State Park Camping

George Wyth State Park has 47 standard electric sites, 13 non-electric sites, and six tent-only sites, three walk-to sites, and one youth group only site for tents and RVs up to 60 feet in length. Each campsite has a picnic table, a fire pit, and access to a central restroom, a dump station, and water hydrants.

A beach area, boat ramp, picnic area, and children’s playground are also available at the camping park. A picnic shelter, hiking, and multi-purpose trails, as well as canoe, kayak, pedal boat, river tube, and paddle boat rentals, are also available.

Snacks, ice cream, firewood, ice, and fishing bait are available at the park concession.

From Memorial Day to Labor Day weekend, George Wyth State Park is open daily. Some campsites can be reserved in advance online, while others are available on a first-come, first-served basis.

George Wyth State Park Activities

Fishing

Anglers at George Wyth State Park can fish in any of the four lakes, which include the 75-acre George Wyth Lake, the 120-acre Brinker Lake, the 40-acre Fisher Lake, and the 60-acre Alice Wyth Lake. Crappie, bluegill, walleye, northern, bass, channel catfish, and other species can be caught here. A fishing dock, fishing shelter, fish cleaning station, fish attracter area, and fishing bait for sale are also available.

Hiking and Biking

Three and a half miles of paved multi-purpose trails can be used for hiking, biking, skating, and jogging at George Wyth State Park. Within the park, there are also six miles of grassy hiking trails. In the winter, these same trails are used for cross-country skiing, snowmobiling, and snowshoeing, and are connected to an 80-mile trail network that spans the cities of Waterloo and Cedar Falls.

Winter sports

The many miles of trails at George Wyth State Park can be used for hiking, biking, skating and jogging in the summer, as well as cross-country skiing, snowmobiling, and snowshoeing in the winter. These trails connect to an 80-mile trail network that connects parks, playing fields, lakes, schools, and other amenities throughout the cities of Waterloo and Cedar Falls.

Ice Fishing

All year, anglers can enjoy angling for fish in George Wyth State Park’s four lakes. Ice fishing is popular during the winter months, and you can cast your line through the ice in search of crappie, bluegill, walleye, northern, bass, channel catfish, and other species. Choose from the 75-acre Wyth Lake, the 20-acre Brinker Lake, the 40-acre Fisher Lake, or the 60-acre Alice Wyth Lake. In the park, there is a fishing dock, a fishing shelter, a fish cleaning station, fishing bait, and a fish attracter area.

Lake Activities

George Wyth State Park has four lakes, each with its own distinct appeal. Brinker Lake, formerly known as East Lake, is ideal for power boating (boat ramps are available), George Wyth Lake is a no-wake zone popular for fishing and windsurfing, Fisher Lake is a natural lake adjacent to the park, and Alice Wyth Lake is also popular for fishing and electric watersports. Paddle the 10-mile Cedar Valley Paddlers Trail, the region’s first looped water trail, which runs from Fisher Lake to George Wyth, Cedar River, and two lakes at Hartman Reserve. There are kayaks, canoes, paddleboards, pedal boats, and lake floats and tubes for rent.

George Wyth State Park Location

George Wyth State Park is located off Highway 218 in Iowa, near Waterloo and Cedar Falls. There are no driving restrictions in the park, but when you park your RV or other large rigs at a campsite, keep an eye out for low-hanging branches.

Parking

There is a parking area near George Wyth Lake and the picnic shelter, as well as an overflow parking area in the campground.

Public Transport

Public Transport is not available