Fort Des Moines Park
Fort Des Moines Park
7200 SE 5th St,
Des Moines, IA 50315
Transformed from a historic Cavalry Post, Fort Des Moines Park now offers visitors an outdoor oasis surrounded by urban activities.
This 135-acre park features a rare stand of aspen trees, a native tree arboretum, outdoor classroom, 3-season shelter, and a 14-acre pond surrounded by a trail. Spend the day fishing, picnicking, hiking, or playing on our modern playground facilities. A volleyball court, horseshoe pits, and picnic shelters are a few other park amenities.
Features
- Arboretum
- Boating
- Fishing
- Geocaching
- Picnicking
- Playground near Shelter #2
- Shelters
- Nature Trails
Reservations for shelters can be made on-line at www.mycountyparks.com.
PARK HOURS
Summer |6:30 a.m. – 10:30 p.m. | April 1 - October 31
Winter | Sunrise - Sunset | November 1 - March 31
Unless Otherwise Posted
TRAILS
Lakeside Trail: 1.1 miles | Difficulty: Easy
Savanna Loop Trail: 0.7 Miles | Difficulty: Easy
Prairie Trail: .0.5 Miles | Difficulty: Easy
Check out the Chronolog
While in the park, become a citizen scientist! Help monitor Polk County's conservation efforts to improve the timber at Fort Des Moines Park. Place your phone in the Chronolog station, snap a photo, and then uploading it to the Chronolog platform. Over time, you'll be able to see the area transform, as well as catch a glimpse of the changing season.
Motorized vehicles are prohibited on all trails within PCCB lands. The only exceptions are for maintenance, law enforcement, and emergency vehicles. This restriction does not apply to a manual-operated or power-driven device designed primarily for use by an individual with a mobility disability, e.g. wheel chair.