Lake Darling State Park-Brighton, IA: Washington County

The mercury may be starting to dip a little, but that doesn’t mean you can’t take a trip to the local state park. One of the great things about Iowa is that there are state parks, rec areas, and conservation areas all over the place. Many of them are open all year long. The unbelievable weather we’ve had this autumn has kept Team Goodvin even more active and we’re touring our state parks all year long. Just south of our Hills headquarters is Washington County and the newly renovated Lake Darling with its miles and miles of paths.

It’s there. It’s beautiful. It’s time to utilize this state park and every other one that Iowa has to offer. We enjoyed the sunny fall weather on this day and took advantage of the walking path around the lake with our dog. There were families having a great time at one of the pavilions, kayaks gliding across the water, and a lot of anglers casting off from the banks. Lake Darling’s unique landscape separates it from many other parks of its kind. The scenic and historic Ding Darling HWY offers an enjoyable path to the park as you twist and turn trough the dense forest upon entry. Lake Darling also offers newly modernized facilities and camping opportunities.

We’ve explored another great Iowa State Park and we have oodles of Iowa’s outdoor getaways calling us. Discover the Hawkeye state with the rural breeze, the occasional bass crashing the surface, and finding your inner Iowan peacefulness. I’d still lookout where you are going while you reach zen, though. Goose poop can happen. C’mon….It’s nature stuff!

Be sure to read about our other adventures at Iowa State Parks like Lake Macbride, Wildcat Den, Pleasant Creek and Maquoketa Caves.

Thanks for reading! -Team Goodvin