Woodland Mounds State Preserve

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LocationAddress:
19587 Kirkwood Street
Ackworth, IA 50125

Directions:
Woodland Mounds State Preserve is located 8 miles east of Indianola off of Highway 92. Take Highway 92 east out of town for 4 miles. Turn south on 165th. Follow 165th until you arrive at Kennedy Street. Turn east. Turn east again at Keokuk Street which turns into Kirkwood Street to the address.

Map:
Click here for park map

Operating Hours & Seasons Park hours are 6:30 A.M. to 10:00 P.M. Except those legally hunting according to Iowa laws and hunting seasons.

Discover Woodland Mounds State Preserve in Ackworth

Woodland Mounds State Preserve (WMSP) adds 154 acres to PERMANENT PUBLIC ACCESS! In the Fall of 2024, Warren County Conservation Board (WCCB) was awarded a Resource Enhancement and Protection (REAP) grant for $495,000. This grant is to assist the county and our non-profit partners in purchasing the east property that was previously leased. The property addition will be managed as a Natural Resource Area and the policies will match the original WMSP. A Forestry Management Plan was developed for the entire property and will be used to help guide the management practices to support and enhance it's natural resources. The property will permit hunting, foraging, nature-study, wildlife viewing, photography, bird watching, hiking, and educational nature walks; all accessible through WCCB's maintenance routes.

There is a special sense of timelessness in the majestic timber at Woodland Mounds State Preserve. At 340 acres, it is part of one of the largest continuous stands of forest remaining in the county. The unique qualities of this beautiful wooded ridge above the South River have been recognized by inhabitants of Warren County for thousands of years. Woodland Mounds State Preserve is a unique natural heritage landform with an extremely high diversity of flora an fauna.

Woodland Mounds State Preserve contains 340 acres of forest that provides habitat for many species of wildlife, including many neotropical migrant birds. The western side of the park was funded by the Wildlife Habitat Stamp Grant and the eastern half was funded by the Resource Enhancement and Protection grant. The property will permit hunting, foraging, nature-study, wildlife viewing, photography, bird watching, hiking, and educational nature walks.

Please be respectful of the cultural and natural resources and all property boundary restrictions. View the .pdf file maps, below, to help guide your public recreation interests!

Brief History: In the late 1800s, this site attracted European settlers for the exposed rock. An area on one of the sidehills was dug out by local farmers to unearth pieces of limestone that were used for house and barn foundations. The abundant timber provided wood for heating and construction material for buildings and fences. Pre-settlement and post settlement habitat compositions are visible on the properties.

MAP OF WOODLAND MOUNDS PRESERVE