Black Hawk State Park lies off the southeast tip of the town of Lake View in Sac County, Iowa and is home of the southernmost glacial lake in the United States.
The city of Lake View, in conjunction with the DNR, holds two annual events involving the lake. The Lake View Water Carnival, held the third weekend in July, boasts free entertainment, carnival rides and games of chance along with a street parade and water parade. The Arctic Open, usually held in February, gives golfers the chance to clean the dust off the clubs and play a course laid out on Black Hawk Lake, with prizes awarded in several flights.
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.
Picnicking/Shelters/Cabin
Black Hawk State Park provides quality picnicking opportunities for the public. There are many places to enjoy an informal cookout, all within sight of the beautiful lake.
The Depression-era Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) built many structures in the park that are still in use today. Two refurbished CCC open shelter houses are available on a first-come first-serve basis or can be reserved. The original CCC ranger residence has been remodeled into a year-round, fully furnished cabin that sleeps eight comfortably and 11 if needed
Camping
The campground at Black Hawk State Park is fairly substantial in-size boasting both electric and non-electric sites. The campground features modern shower and restroom facilities. Adjacent to the campground is a large playground structure and a volleyball court. You will also find a disc golf course near the campground available for some fun-filled exercise.
Camp Observer