Jester Park
11407 NW Jester Park Dr.
Granger, Iowa
515-323-5366
Golf Course Clubhouse: 515-999-2903
Equestrian Center: 515-999-2818
Jester Park has been one of central Iowa's favorite outdoor
playgrounds since 1958.
This 1,834-acre park on the western shore of Saylorville Lake
offers camping, picnicking, and golfing in a quiet country setting
just a half-hour from downtown Des Moines.
This Polk County Conservation Board park stretches from the Hwy. 17
bridge north of Granger to the Mile-Long Bridge that crosses
Saylorville Lake to Polk City.
No other location in central Iowa offers such a variety of outdoor
recreation opportunities. Jester Park is easily reached by taking
exit 127 off I-80 and I-35 and traveling 6-1/2 miles west on Hwy.
141. Rental Information about the Jester Park Lodge can be found
in the "Rental Facilities" link.
Camping
Jester offers more than 252 campsites along the
lakeshore and across the wooded hills overlooking Saylorville Lake.
There are 52 electric sites and 205 non-electric sites, as well as
18 equestrian campsites. Two campground showerhouses are open
mid-April through mid-October, during which time camping rates are
$17 for electric sites and $12 for non-electric. A special discounted
rate of $100 for electric and $70 for non-electric is available for a
7-day camping stay. Off-season special discounted rates are $90 for
electric and $60 for non-electric.
Campers should set up at their campsite before registering at the
campground registration booth located one mile from the park
entrance. Campsites cannot be reserved in advance. Firewood is
available near the registration booth.
Click on a map for a larger
image and detailed map
Golfing
Your first glimpse of the park from NW 121st Street is of the
Jester Park
Golf Course, an 18-hole championship course judged by the Des
Moines Business Record in 1997 to be Greater Des Moines' "best public golf
course." Excellent playing conditions and challenging holes have helped make
Jester Park a popular course for state tournaments. Tee times may be made in
advance by calling 999-2903. Jester Park also offers a 9-hole par 3 course
especially popular with beginning golfers, as well as a modern Golf Learning
and Practice Facility with driving range and practice greens.
Equestrian Activities
Before entering the park from NW Jester Park Drive you'll spot the turnoff for the
Jester Park Equestrian Center. The Equestrian Center offers boarding, riding lessons,
shows and clinics, team building, trail riding, wagon & sleigh rides, pony rides
and birthday parties. For more information, go to
www.jesterparkec.com.
The Equestrian Center can be reached by turning off NW Beaver Drive/NW 107th Street
onto NW 114th Avenue about 1-1/2 miles southeast of the park entrance.
The 6-1/2 mile Lakeshore Trail is open to horseback riding, with access providing
at staging areas at the Equestrian Center and at Camp Area # 6 located 3-1/2 miles
from the entrance to the park. Layovers are available at the Center.
Bison and Elk Herds
At the end of the 3-mile-long park drive you'll be rewarded with a vision of the
wildlife that were abundant in Iowa more than 200 years ago. The bison and elk
herds that live in this wildlife animal enclosure have been popular attractions
at Jester for almost four decades.
Picnicking
There are five picnic shelters within the park. Several offer
views of the lake and others are located in private, wooded settings.
Shelter # 3 near the children's playground (and the only shelter with electricity)
is the most popular shelter, with shelter # 5 near scenic Two-Dam Pond being the
second-most popular. Shelters can be reserved in advance. Call 323-5300 for lodge and shelter reservations.
Boating
For those who want to launch their own boats onto the upper reaches of Saylorville
Lake, Jester Park offers two boat ramps. One is located off Jester
Park Drive near the main campground, with the other located at the Lincoln Access
beside the Mile-Long Bridge. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers warns boaters to use
caution upstream from the Mile-Long Bridge.
Playground
The children's playground in the main picnic area 1-1/2 miles from the park entrance
includes separate play areas for pre-schoolers and for older children. Nearby
restrooms are open mid-April through September.
Hiking
Jester offers more than 8 miles of trails to explore, including the
5-1/2 mile Lakeshore Trail from the Mile-Long Bridge to the Highway 17 bridge. The
Stagecoach Trail brings one to an especially scenic view of the lake, while the
Hickory Ridge Trail follows a small stream through a wooded ravine. The Red Pine and
Red Cedar trails are perfect for young people.
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Trails
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#1 Basswood Trail
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#2 Camper's Loop
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Length:
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.3 miles
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Length:
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.3 miles (loop)
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Difficulty:
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Moderate
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Difficulty:
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Easy
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#3 Stagecoach Trail
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#4 Red Cedar Trail
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Length:
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.2 miles
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Length:
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.4 miles
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Difficulty:
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Moderate
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Difficulty:
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Easy
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#5 Red Pine Trail
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#6 Hickory Ridge Trail
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Length:
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.4 miles
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Length:
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.7 miles
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Difficulty:
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Moderate
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Difficulty:
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Easy
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#7 Lakeshore Trail
(Snowmobiles, Horses, and Hikers)
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#8 Whitetail Trail
(Horses, and Hikers)
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Length:
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5.4 miles
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Length:
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.3 miles
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Difficulty:
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Moderate
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Difficulty:
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Easy
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Snowmobiling
The 5-1/2 mile Lakeshore Trail is open for snowmobiling when
snow conditions permit and offers a beautiful ride alongside Saylorville Lake.
For an update on trail conditions, call the park ranger at 323-5366.
Nature programs
Polk County Conservation Board naturalists offer many year-round nature programs
at Jester Park. Call 323-5300 and request a Nature News to learn about upcoming
programs at Jester and other parks in Polk County.