Parks
Research 6 parks within weekend reach of Des Moines, classified from Wikidata types and ordered by measured straight-line distance from the city centre. Distances only — no travel times, schedules, or rankings.
Each place is classified from its own Wikidata type, not from its name, and is ordered by measured straight-line distance from the centre of Des Moines. Distances are great-circle kilometres between two published coordinates — this page does not publish travel times, transport schedules, opening hours, ticket prices, or rankings. Confirm access, facilities, and seasonal conditions with an official source before travelling.
Reachability is a second axis over the same places: the category says what a destination is, the band says how far it sits from Des Moines. Distances are measured in a straight line — this page publishes no travel times.
Ordered by straight-line distance from Des Moines, closest first. Distance bands: nearby is up to 60 km, day-trip distance is up to 120 km.
Walnut Woods State Park is a state park reachable from Des Moines as a nearby nature destination. Research access, facilities, and seasonal conditions with official sources before visiting.
View place — Walnut Woods State Park, about 12 km (7 mi) from Des Moines
Image credit: Image: Fredddie / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Lake Ahquabi State Park is a state park reachable from Des Moines as a nearby nature destination. Research access, facilities, and seasonal conditions with official sources before visiting.
View place — Lake Ahquabi State Park, about 34 km (21 mi) from Des Moines
Image credit: Image: Kvhuegel / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Ledges State Park is a state park of sandstone bluffs and wooded valleys northwest of the city. Research access, facilities, and seasonal conditions with official sources before visiting.
View place — Ledges State Park, about 50 km (31 mi) from Des Moines
Image credit: Image: McGhiever / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Elk Rock State Park is a state park reachable from Des Moines as a nearby nature destination. Research access, facilities, and seasonal conditions with official sources before visiting.
View place — Elk Rock State Park, about 50 km (31 mi) from Des Moines
Image credit: Image: en:User:Cburnett / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Rock Creek State Park is a state park reachable from Des Moines as a nearby nature destination. Research access, facilities, and seasonal conditions with official sources before visiting.
View place — Rock Creek State Park, about 67 km (42 mi) from Des Moines
Image credit: Image: en:User:Cburnett / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Red Haw State Park is a state park reachable from Des Moines as a nearby nature destination. Research access, facilities, and seasonal conditions with official sources before visiting.
View place — Red Haw State Park, about 72 km (45 mi) from Des Moines
Image credit: Image: Stevenjgarner / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0