About Cottonwood Recreation Area
Campground Amenities
-
Pet Friendly -
Potable Water
Seasonal information
2026 Season availability
Reviews (25)
What Guests Are Saying
The Cottonwood Recreation Area offers fantastic facilities, including clean shelters, ample tables, and nearby playgrounds and volleyball courts, making it ideal for family events. Guests appreciated the shade and space for activities, with many planning to return. However, some faced challenges due to restroom outages during events, which could be improved.
What Guests Are Saying
The Cottonwood Recreation Area offers fantastic facilities, including clean shelters, ample tables, and nearby playgrounds and volleyball courts, making it ideal for family events. Guests appreciated the shade and space for activities, with many planning to return. However, some faced challenges due to restroom outages during events, which could be improved.
Review Summary
Christina L
October 7, 2023
Very nice shelter that sits off by itself with playground and restrooms very close.
Wachara H
June 4, 2023
The shelter was clean. Bathroom was also clean. They kept the grass nice and trim. The playground area was great for the little one.
Hay S
July 19, 2022
good place for party
Matthew M
June 14, 2022
The shelter was dirty and a lot of glass on the ground that we needed to clean up before our guests arrived.
Robert R
June 4, 2022
Great location, close to restrooms and the volleyball court was a blast
Kristin B
May 25, 2022
The shelter at Cottonwood was the perfect place for our son's grad party.
The weather was beautiful, plenty of room in the shelter for guests to be seated, a great view of the river and ample parking.
It made for a very memorable event.
Thank you, Cottonwood at Saylorville Lake!
Eric O
October 13, 2021
Shelter 4 is a great shelter location near the water and was clean and ready for us when we arrived. Perfect for the party we were throwing!
Anna O
September 13, 2021
We enjoyed our family reunion very much. The facilities were very clean and thete was plenty of room.
Beth J
September 5, 2021
Our picnic site was wonderful-plenty of shady places for the games, a volleyball court for the big kids, a playground for the little ones and restrooms close by. There were more tables than we needed so we could put our extras up off the ground. It was clean and well kept. The electric was great so we could keep the hot foods hot. The whole family begged us to do it again next year, and we will!
Rebecca L
August 27, 2021
Clean, perfect location, park ranger very kind and helpful
Location Cottonwood Recreation Area
Address:
Saylorville Lake Administration Office
Johnston, IA, 50131
United States
Utilize address 7400 NW 37th Street Ankeny IA 50023 (Not a valid mailing address).
From I-35, take Exit 90 in Ankeny and head approxmately 3.5 miles west to NW 84th Ave. Turn Left on 84th Ave and head south apprximately 1.5 miles to Cottonwood Recreation Area on the right.
Latitude & Longitude: 41.6906 / -93.6747
Elevation: 246 feet
Policies & Rules
| Category | About |
|---|---|
| General |
Special Event Permits are required for inflatable bounce houses and water features. Special Event Permits may be required for events that may impact nearby shelters, are open to the public, wedding events, company picnics etc. Please contact the Saylorville Lake Administration Office at 515-276-4656 to inquire. |
| General |
Shelters may be reserved up to 4 days in advance. If shelters are not reserved, they are available free of charge on a first come, first served basis |
| General |
Playgrounds and restrooms near shelters are open to the public. Reservations apply only to picnic shelters not other amenities. |
| General |
Click here for more information |
| General |
Click here for a virtual tour of the Saylorville Lake area. |
| General |
GUIDELINES FOR SAYLORVILLE LAKE PICNIC AREASThe U.S. Army Corps of Engineers welcomes you to Saylorville Lake. Our goal is to make your visit a safe and enjoyable experience. A complete list of rules, Title 36 “Rules and Regulations” and other helpful maps and brochures are available from the Visitor Center, Park Rangers, Park Attendants or Hosts. Please contact any member of our staff if you have questions or need assistance. Please help maintain and protect park facilities and natural resources by following these guidelines when picnicking at Saylorville Lake.PICNIC AREA HOURS:Month of April 7am to 8pm.May through Labor Day 7am to 9pm .The day after Labor Day through October 7am to 8pm.Rules:1) Clean up is the responsibility of the picnic users. Please clean up all spills and dispose of litter. If you have more trash than the garbage cans hold, please use area dumpsters. Leave the area in the condition you would like to find it.2) The Possession of Fireworks, explosives, firearms, ammunition, bows or other projectile firing devices is prohibited.3) The operation and parking of vehicles off roadways is prohibited.4) Only street legal vehicles are allowed.5) Amplified sound systems are not allowed without a Special Event Permit.6) Yard games such as water balloons and egg toss are prohibited.7) Trailer Roasters are allowed only in parking areas. Do not place hot roasters, grills, skillets or grease pan directly on picnic tables.8) Pets must be confined or on a leash less than 6 feet long. Pets are not allowed in the restrooms. Please pick up and properly dispose of all pet waste.To contact a Park Ranger during normal business hours Monday—Friday, 7:30am to 4:00pm, call (515) 276-4656.To contact a Park Ranger after normal business hours, call the Polk County Dispatch at (515) 286-3334THANK YOU FOR YOUR COOPERATION |
