About Walnut Ridge Recreation Area
Seasonal information
2026 Season availability
Reviews (8)
What Guests Are Saying
Walnut Ridge Recreation Area offers well-prepared sites with electricity, water, and trash cans, making it suitable for group cookouts. The presence of electrical outlets and a medium-sized charcoal grill enhances the experience, along with conveniently located restrooms. Additionally, the disc golf course is highly recommended for visitors in the area.
What Guests Are Saying
Walnut Ridge Recreation Area offers well-prepared sites with electricity, water, and trash cans, making it suitable for group cookouts. The presence of electrical outlets and a medium-sized charcoal grill enhances the experience, along with conveniently located restrooms. Additionally, the disc golf course is highly recommended for visitors in the area.
Review Summary
John R
September 24, 2025
The site was ready with electricity, water, and 2 lined trash cans.
John Reese
August 30, 2025
This is a good site for a group cookout. There are electrical outlets and a medium sized charcoal grill. There are restrooms across the parking lot. This is in the disc golf area.
Peter Roed
July 9, 2024
Awesome course for disc golf, must do if in the area
Mike Jones
June 25, 2023
Great park, very well kept. We're not disk golfers but it looks like a wonderful setup for it.
CHINTANKUMAR P
June 5, 2021
Place was very nice and spacious. Grass was nicely maintained... spacious and clean Toilets...
there was no water supply...or garbage Can...but Ranger did powerwash the shelter for us(appreciate)...
Tyler Devault
June 8, 2019
Very challenging long discgolf course that plays in and out of the woods with fair lenght on all holes. Very nice tunnel shots in the woods and all around well groomed course
Sue Currier
May 19, 2018
Beautiful! Great place to gather
Anonymous
{"text"=>"Very challenging long discgolf course that plays in and out of the woods with fair lenght on all holes. Very nice tunnel shots in the woods and all around well groomed course", "languageCode"=>"en"}
Location Walnut Ridge Recreation Area
Address:
Saylorville Lake Administration Office
Johnston, IA, 50131
United States
Use address 9125 NW Beave Drive, Johnston IA 50131. From I-35/80 north of Des Moines, take Johnston/Saylorville Lake Exit (131). Go north on Merle Hay Rd for 2.7 miles, then turn left onto NW Beaver Drive for 3.1 miles. Recreation area is 0.3 miles ahead on the right.
Latitude & Longitude: 41.7297 / -93.7211
Elevation: 294 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 |
