Clayton

This is the site of the Clayton County Conservation Board offices. If you would like to donate to the native wildlife exhibit at Osborne you can donate in person during your visit or online here.

Location

Osborne is located about 5 miles south of Elkader on Hwy. 13. The address for the Osborne Nature Center is 29862 Osborne Rd, Elkader, IA 52043. The office phone number is 563-245-1516, feel free to call with any questions regarding your visit. 

Features

The Osborne Nature Center features a Native Wildlife Exhibit which is home to a Black Bear, Mountain Lion, Bobcat, Fox, Raccoon, and various species of avian raptors. There are multiple walking/hiking trails located around Osborne, both near the nature center and the pond. There are shelter houses avaliable to reserve for special events, they may also be used for picnicking as long as there are no reservations on the given day. The nature and welcome center has a brochure room with informational guides and brochures on places all over Iowa. There is also an Iowa Room Giftshop which sells made in Iowa goods, as well as many other various items. The nature center is located in the basement of the building and it is home to multiple reptile and amphibian species. The building also features a third story which may be reserved here on Mycountyparks.com in our facilities tab, it is a great place to host events and get togethers that may not be well suited for the outdoors, it also features elevator access. 

Operating Hours & Seasons

The Nature Center & Animal Exhibit is open 8-4 Monday through Friday, November-March.

The Nature Center & Animal Exhibit is open 8-4 Monday through Saturday and 12-4 Sunday, April - October.

The Nature Center will be closed on the following dates for holidays: 

Monday, February 19, 2024
Friday, March 29, 2024
Monday, May 27, 2024
Thursday, July 4, 2024
Monday, September 2, 2024
Monday, November 11, 2024
Thursday, November 28, 2024 and Friday, November 29, 2024
Tuesday, December 24, 2024 and Wednesday, December 25, 2024
Wednesday, January 1, 2025

Closures

The campground at Osborne Park is permanently closed. However, CCCB will be constructing a modern full hookup campground at Osborne in upcoming years. The campground is slated to be open by the summer of 2025.