Ambrose A. Call State Park in Iowa, USA - map and visitor information

Research checked: 2026-10-22. Check linked official notices before travel.

Ambrose A. Call State Park near Algona, Iowa, offers wooded ravines, walking trails and an 18-hole disc golf course. Its small campground is non-modern, with electric and non-electric sites. Water is turned off for the season, so prepare for that limit if you plan a fall stay.

Woodland trails and a historic gathering place

• Ravine walks: follow woodland paths beside a creek.
• Disc golf: the course combines wooded and prairie sections.
• Day-use lodge: the 1928 building serves reserved gatherings during its operating season.

Separate a day visit from a campsite booking

Fees, hours, and seasonal access

Plan for weather without a park storm shelter

The park has no designated storm shelter. Check the forecast before a trail or disc golf outing. Do not treat the day-use lodge as a guaranteed refuge.

Keep wheels off the hiking trails

Bicycles are prohibited on the hiking trails, and snowmobiles are prohibited throughout the park. Keep pets confined or on a leash no longer than 6 feet. Carry your trash out of day-use areas. Use fires only in designated areas and extinguish them before leaving.

Book camping and lodge use separately

All campsites require a reservation through the authorized Iowa booking service. The campsite window opens three months ahead. Call 641-581-4835 before reserving the lodge to discuss its equipment and your event needs. Confirm the booking deadline shown for the dates you select.

Find the park near Algona

Use 2007 Call Park Drive, Algona, Iowa 50511. The official map and flyer show the campground, lodge, disc golf course and trail network. Choose the area you need before arrival. Winter vehicle access requires a separate check with park staff.

Other state parks for a regional drive

• Okamanpedan State Park: a Tuttle Lake stop near Dolliver, at 5118 Tuttle Lake Road.
• Pilot Knob State Park: a wooded-hill alternative near Forest City, at 2148 340th Street.

Walk the creek paths or play disc golf

The trail network descends into wooded ravines and follows a creek. Use the map to combine short sections; the Creek Trail is listed as 0.5 mile. The 18-hole disc golf course offers a separate outing through forest and prairie areas.

A log cabin built from elm logs stands near the location associated with the Call family's early cabin. It was moved here from a local homestead. Keep this cabin distinct from the lodge used for booked gatherings.

Expect a non-modern campground

The campground has a pit toilet but no shower building or modern restroom. The camping map identifies electric and non-electric sites. Match the site's dimensions and electrical service to your equipment before booking. Bring the water you need while the seasonal supply is off.

Picnic space and horseshoe pits provide additional day-use options. Ask the park manager about the specific building and route you need if access features affect your visit.

About Ambrose A. Call State Park

A settler cabin site and a later public park

Ambrose and Asa Call reached this area in July 1854. Ambrose and a traveling companion then began a cabin at what became the park. The park was dedicated in 1929. Its day-use lodge dates to 1928, while the separate elm-log cabin represents the region's earlier building methods.

Questions about camping, roads or the lodge

Call 641-581-4835, the park-management contact at Pilot Knob State Park. Use the Iowa DNR park page for current visitor information. For reservations, the Iowa call center is 877-427-2757.