Jester Park

Jester Park Master Plan

Jester Park has been one of central Iowa’s favorite outdoor playgrounds since 1958. This 1,675-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 6.5 miles west on Hwy. 141.

Summer hours are from 6:30 a.m. – 10:30 p.m.; winter hours are from sunrise to sunset.

Jester Park Nature Center

In partnership with the Great Outdoors Foundation, Polk County Conservation is gearing up for the final phase of bringing to life the Jester Park Nature Center.

As a statewide and regional leader in conservation, outdoor recreation and environmental education, Polk County Conservation has been without an adequate platform to share these assets with the public. The Jester Park Nature Center will be a focal point within our community where recreation, education, tourism and conservation efforts all intersect into a gathering place for people of all ages to engage in the natural world.

To stay on top of the latest information and to become part of this landmark opportunity in your community, make this project your own by visiting www.jesterparknaturecenter.com. It is here that you will be able to take direct action in helping to create a legacy that will span across generations right here in Polk County.

Summer hours: 6:30 a.m. – 10:30 p.m.; Fort Des Moines closes at sunset.
Winter hours: sunrise to sunset
– See more at: http://www.mycountyparks.com/County/Polk/FAQ.aspx#sthash.lcGEgYah.dpuf
Summer hours: 6:30 a.m. – 10:30 p.m.; Fort Des Moines closes at sunset.
Winter hours: sunrise to sunset
– See more at: http://www.mycountyparks.com/County/Polk/FAQ.aspx#sthash.lcGEgYah.dpuf
Summer hours: 6:30 a.m. – 10:30 p.m.; Fort Des Moines closes at sunset.
Winter hours: sunrise to sunset
– See more at: http://www.mycountyparks.com/County/Polk/FAQ.aspx#sthash.lcGEgYah.dpu
Camping

Jester offers more than 197 campsites along the lakeshore and across the wooded hills overlooking Saylorville Lake. There are 80 electric sites, 111 primitive sites (including 20 equestrian campsites), four walk-in primitive sites, and 2 youth areas. Two campground showerhouses are open mid-April through mid-October, during which time camping rates are $20 for electric sites and $15 for non-electric.

Campers should set up at their campsite before registering at the campground registration booth located one mile from the park entrance. In the absence of a registration attendent, campers must self-register during park and non-operation hours.

Firewood is available near the registration booth. Reservations for some campsites can be made on-line at www.mycountyparks.com. The on-line reservation rate for electric is $23, non-electric is $18, and youth group sites is $15. Online reservations are available for camping between April 15 and October 15.

Special discounts are available to senior adults (62 and older) both weekdays and weekends (non-holidays). This discount does not apply to online reservations.
Discount 7-day rate camping booklets are available to the general public by calling 515-323-5300 or by inquiring in person at the Administration Office. These discounts do not apply to online reservations.
A camper with an additional tent or a tent with a second tent is an extra $5 fee.
Maps: Campground #1, Campground #2, Campground #3, Campground #4, Campground #5 (Youth Group Camp Area), Campground #6

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, camps, therapeutic & at-risk programming, pony rides and birthday parties.

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 5 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.

Click here for a downloadable map of the Equestrian Trails.

Jester Park Lodge

2017 RESERVATIONS

Food with Flair will become the new Jester Park Lodge Caterer on January 1, 2017. For 2017 reservations, contact Food with Flair at (515) 277-​7775 or visit their website at www.jesterparklodge.org​.

2016 RESERVATIONS

For more information and to make 2016 reservations, contact Christiani’s at (515) 287-0877 or visit their website at www.jesterparklodge.com.

Bison & 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 Park for almost four decades. In 2012, renovations were made to the area and the Elk and Bison Educational Plaza was opened to the public. Improvements include an accessible observation deck, educational displays, spotting scopes, high quality art components, an inviting viewing and picnic area. An electric fence surrounds the animal exhibit. Please use caution and stay away from exhibit fencing.

Watch this video to see how elk antlers are grown and shed every year.

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 is the most popular shelter, with Shelter # 5 near scenic Discovery Pond being the second-most popular. Shelters can be reserved in advance.

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. A “No Motorized Vessel Zone” is located north of the Mile Long Bridge during April 1 to August 31. During periods of flood storage, restriction may be lifted. Please contact the US Army Corps of Engineers at Saylorville Lake for details. Call 515-276-4656 or visit their website at http://www.mvr.usace.army.mil/Missions/Recreation/SaylorvilleLake.aspx.

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 mid-October.

Jester Park Natural Playscape
Located between the Bison enclosure and the end of the hiking trail.

Hiking

Jester offers more than 8 miles of trails to explore, including the 5 mile Lakeshore Trail from the Mile-Long Bridge to Camp Area #6. 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.