Criss Cove provides users with a high quality 9 acre pond fishery that allows easy access for both shore-line fishing as well as an access for non-motorized boat/canoe fishing. Access to the pond is open year round.  Bring your canoes and kayaks out to cruise around the pond as water levels permit.

Pammel Park campgrounds have 36 designated modern sites providing electrical and water hookups. There are also 5 tent-only sites. Modern bathrooms and showers are also provided along with play equipment. Dump station provided.

Canoe/Kayak accesses are available at the Middle River Ford. Some campers put in at the ford and canoe the “horse-shoe” section of the river and take out at the bridge by the main entrance (30 minutes). 

Pond fishing is good in this 9 acre pond. Maximum depth of over 23 feet, and a spring fed water source helps maintain an optimum fishery. Large-Mouth Bass, Bluegill, Crappie and Channel Catfish are kept stocked in the pond. Fishing is available year round.

Catfishing in North River.

Harmon Tunnel: The only highway tunnel in Iowa , greets all visitors entering the park. The tunnel pierces the base of the limestone backbone and provides access to the remainder of the park facilities. Historical Note: In 1858 the tunnel was originally dug by William Harmon and his sons as a small chute to carry water diverted from Middle River to power a saw mill that was eventually converted to a grist mill. The mill was abandoned in 1904 and the tunnel expanded in size to allow vehicle traffic in 1925. The tunnel has since been expanded and reinforced to accommodate modern vehicles.

Middle River & Limestone Backbone: Middle River makes a great horse-shoe loop in the park. The dividing wall is called the backbone which is a natural limestone ridge over 100 feet high. When standing atop the backbone directly over the tunnel, you can see Middle River flow in all four directions. The geology of the backbone is as extensive as the plant life and well worth exploring.

Middle River Ford: Built in the 1920’s, the ford is the only means of vehicle access (within the park) to the west side of the park. During normal river flow levels, vehicles can safely cross the ford which maintains a depth of 2” to 4”. The ford has provided countless hours of recreation for many generations of park visitors who love to wade, splash and fish in and around the structure. The ford is closed during high water flows and icy conditions during winter months.

This area is managed as a wilderness area open to fishing, public hunting and hiking. This is one of Madison County’s largest remaining remnants of land locked wilderness. There are no interior roads throughout the entire area which spans 2 1/4 miles east and west and a mile north and south. The landlocked feature enables this area to be one of Madison County’s most pristine wildlife areas and prime public-hunting areas. Access to the interior of the park is pedestrian only. The primary habitat is upland oak/hickory forest with terrain that varies from gently rolling to steep ravines. Other unique habitats present are oak-savanna prairie, ridge top tall-grass prairies, and numerous small wetlands.

This 190 acre wildlife area is managed as a natural resource/public hunting area. Due to the diversity of habitats present, Jensen Marsh provides the user with the opportunity of viewing a wide variety of both game and non-game wildlife throughout the year, including waterfowl, upland birds and mammals, wetland and aquatic species of mammals, reptiles, amphibians and insects. I wide variety of native wetland and upland species of forbs, grasses and legumes are also found in these diverse habitats.
Excellent site for waterfowl hunting, as well as good to excellent hunting for White-Tailed deer, and turkey. Fair site for pheasant, and other small game.

Excellent area for White-Tail deer, turkey, squirrel and other woodland wildlife.

Three separate picnic areas are located near the main entrance of the park, as well as around the Lodge and north of the campground on the backbone. A small one-table shelter is located near the ford.

A modern shelter that seats up to 60 people is located near the parking lot. Electrical outlets and lighting is provided within the shelter as well as a large “hooded” group grill. The shelter may be reserved or used on a first-come/first-serve basis.

A five+ mile trail system transects this entire wildlife area. Trail markers are set every 1/4 mile providing the user with a good measure of distance traveled. Trail heads are located in the Deer Creek Unit parking lot and east parking lot of the Clanton Unit. The trail traverses a multitude of gradients, and would require a hearty traveler approximately two to three hours to complete. No form of motorized, bicycled or equestrian transportation is allowed on the trail. Pedestrian use only.

A groomed trail circles through the west half of the park providing a convenient connection between the campground area and the pond. The trail loops through the southwest corner of the park taking visitors through stands of Red-Cedar and the beginnings of a natural regeneration of native grasses and wildflowers. The trail is approximately 1/4 mile in length.

The wetland habitat attracts a wide variety of waterfowl and shore birds throughout the spring, summer and fall. For bird watchers, the rail-trail, has native grasses and shrubs to provide concealment and the necessary environment to set up photo opportunities for bird-watching. The adjacent prairie and timber provide the user with excellent opportunities to view upland wildlife that venture close to the open marsh area to feed. Binoculars, field scopes and various field guide books are a must when exploring this area. For plant enthusiasts, the high quality of diverse habitats at Jensen Marsh provides and excellent area to conduct vegetative studies with over 150 native plants species currently identified with an ongoing plant inventory.

Nearly 5 miles of trails wind through Pammel’s woodlands exploring the many diverse ecosystems created by the river, geology and plant life. Three separate trail systems are located in the park. The Backbone Trail has trail heads at both ends of the tunnel as well as atop the backbone near the Backbone Shelter. The Lodge Trail has trail heads near the bathrooms and play equipment. The Interpretive Trail begins on the north side of the park road directly across from the Lodge.