Raccoon River Park
4.7(2.6K)google
4.8(21)yelp
OutdoorLakeSwimmingKayaking
Overview
Raccoon River Park is an urban park located in West Des Moines, Iowa. The park has 631.61 acres, with 232 acres consisting of Blue Heron Lake which is the center of the park. The park is surrounded by Raccoon River in the south and east, Walnut Woods State Park in the south, Brown's Woods in the east, and Jordan Creek in the northeast.
Practical Info
Mon7:00 AM 10:00 PM
Tue7:00 AM – 10:00 PM
Wed7:00 AM – 10:00 PM
Thu7:00 AM – 10:00 PM
Fri7:00 AM – 10:00 PM
Sat7:00 AM – 10:00 PM
Sun7:00 AM – 10:00 PM
Suggested Duration3-6 hours
Best TimeMid-summer from June to August is the peak season to enjoy the expansive Blue Heron Beach and swimming corridors, while early autumn mornings offer wildlife viewing. Jogging the crushed limestone trail wrapping Blue Heron Lake between 6:00 AM and 8:30 AM is highly recommended; early morning mist hangs over the wetland forest as the sun rises to catch blue herons and white egrets hunting in the glassy shallows.
Getting ThereLocated in southern West Des Moines at 2500 Grand Avenue. The driving route is incredibly straightforward: travel along I-35 and take Exit 72A for Grand Ave, head east toward the city for roughly 4 kilometers, and the park welcome gates will appear on your right. Well-developed, expansive free parking fields are stationed immediately adjacent to the swimming beach and boat ramps.
Travel Tips
- The municipality-administered archery complex mandates securing a validated range pass and complete online safety registry prior to deploying personal recurve or compound bows on the targeting fields.
- The Blue Heron boat house operates a safety shutoff whenever ambient winds cross 20 mph or severe squall alerts activate; audit local radar tracking maps to prevent aborted staging logistics.
- The off-leash dog park coordinates restrict entry to verified permit holders; visiting canines require visible municipal tags showcasing current rabies compliance or face hefty compliance citations.
Reviews
Positive
- Blue Heron Lake features a massive, clean natural sand beach, serving as an excellent summer hotspot for swimming and sunbathing.
- The 3+ mile nature trail winds through dense woods and shorelines with frequent deer sightings, brimming with wilderness serenity.
- The massive enclosed playground and dedicated off-leash dog park have excellent facilities with abundant picnic tables and trash bins.
- Admission is entirely free, parking capacity is huge, and the accessible fishing piers are thoughtful, offering top-tier value.
Heads up
- During peak summer season, the beach and playground crawl with noisy children, completely flooding the wilderness quiet with clamor.
- The 3-mile loop trail contains almost no public restrooms along the back segments; emergency pitstops require a long walk to the main hub.
- Unpaved dirt and gravel segments flood heavily after rainfall; muddy patches block paths, making wheelchair navigation impossible.
- Watercraft rentals operate strictly for limited hours on summer weekends; you cannot rent anything on weekdays or early mornings.