Ledges State Park
Boone, IA
Sandstone ledges and a creek-bottom road through a small canyon by the Des Moines River. The road floods after heavy rain, so check before driving through.
Ledges State Park is a state park on the Des Moines River near Boone in central Iowa. Pea's Creek has cut a sandstone gorge here, in places about 100 feet (30 m) deep; the rock dates from a shallow sea some 300 million years ago, and glacial meltwater carved the cliffs about 13,000 years ago. The park has been one of Iowa's first state parks since 1924.
A winding one-lane road runs through the canyon and crosses Pea's Creek and Davis Creek at five points. In the 1930s the Civilian Conservation Corps built stone buildings, bridges and hiking trails. The park also holds numerous burial mounds left by the Sioux, Fox and Sauk.
Low-lying parts of the park flood regularly, with major floods in 1993 and 2008. Check before you come whether the canyon road is open.
- Nearest town
- Boone, IA
- Category
- Nature & parks
- GPS
- 41.9914, -93.8830
Hours, fees and access change. Confirm with the operator or park before you go.
Good to know
Best time to go
The most pleasant months are usually May and September. Still fine, with some compromises, in June, August and October. Cold, short days in December–March. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)
Sources
Featured in these trip guides
Nearby
.jpg){kind=link}
Campsites nearby
- Camp HantesaCampsite1 mi from Ledges State Park
- Latitudes RV ResortMotorhome stopover10 mi from Ledges State ParkMotorhomesElectricity
- Acorn Valley CampgroundCampsite19 mi from Ledges State Park
- Bob ShetlerMotorhome stopover22 mi from Ledges State ParkMotorhomesElectricityWaste disposalWi-Fi
- Bob ShetlerMotorhome stopover23 mi from Ledges State ParkMotorhomesElectricityWaste disposalWi-Fi
- Bob ShetlerMotorhome stopover23 mi from Ledges State ParkMotorhomesElectricityWaste disposalWi-Fi
All campsites in Iowa · Campsite data: © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL 1.0 · Updated October 3, 2026
FAQs
Where is Ledges State Park?
Ledges State Park is in Boone, IA, at GPS 41.9914, -93.8830. It is about 31 mi from Des Moines.
Can you camp near Ledges State Park?
Yes. The nearest campsite listed in OpenStreetMap is Ledges State Park Campground, about 1 mi away; within 25 mi there are 50 campsites and motorhome stopovers.
Which road trips pass Ledges State Park?
Ledges State Park is a stop on these CampingSpirit trip guides: Covered bridges, Dutch windmills and the Amana Colonies and Loess hills, covered bridges and bear mounds – across Iowa by camper from the Missouri to the Mississippi.
What is there to see near Ledges State Park?
Places worth a stop nearby: Iowa State Capitol (31 mi), Holliwell Covered Bridge (48 mi), Roseman Covered Bridge (52 mi) and Vermeer Windmill (64 mi).
When is the best time to visit Ledges State Park?
The most pleasant months are usually May and September. Still fine, with some compromises, in June, August and October. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)