Big Woods Lake Campground
Big Woods Lake Campground gives visitors many recreational opportunities within an urban boundary but with a rural feel. This area is owned by the City of Cedar Falls and managed by Black Hawk County Conservation. The lake itself is 86 acres and 32 feet deep at its deepest point. The lake offers no wake boating and excellent fishing for largemouth bass, panfish, walleye and northern pike. The Cedar Valley Trail System surrounds the Lake offering visitors’ easy access to downtown Cedar Falls. The area is a unique destination of beauty meeting recreation.
Location
Big Woods Lake Campground is located at 1501 East Lake Street, Cedar Falls.
From Highway 218: Take exit 189 for Lone Tree Rd, turn west onto Lone Tree Rd & take the 1st left onto Big Woods Rd, then turn left at E Lake St, the campground will be on the right.
Features
Big Woods Lake Campground offers 55 full hookup campsites as well as a non-modern camping area and 3 cabins (1 modern and 2 rustic). Each full hookup site includes a level regrind camp pad, electricity (30 and 50 amp), water (seasonal) and sewer. Our non-modern camp area offers campers the option of camping with or without electricity. All campsites include the use of a fire ring and picnic table as well as wireless internet. The campground and cabins overlook Big Woods Lake and is bordered on the south side by the Cedar Valley Trail System.
Campers shall self register within 1 hour of arrival. A campsite will only be considered occupied if it has on it one of the following: a camping unit, motor vehicle, boat trailer or cargo trailer. Tablecloths and/or lawn chairs are not adequate to consider the site occupied. Camping reservations may be made for sites #2 through #6 & sites #20 through #25 (see camp site map). All other sites are on a first come first serve basis. No reservations are taken for the non-modern camp area.
Cabins must be reserved at least 3 full days in advance.
Other activities include:
- Hiking
- Biking
- Fishing
- Cabin rental
- Wildlife viewing
- Boat ramps
Operating Hours & Seasons
Big Woods Lake Campground and Recreation Area hours are 6:00 AM – 10:30 PM seasonally.
Campgrounds close on December 1st and will reopen when weather permits in the spring.
Visitors of registered campers and cabin renters must leave the area by 10:30 PM.
