The 60-acre McIntosh Woods State Park located on the northwestern end of the beautiful 3684-acre Clear Lake shore is an oasis of nature where the camping desires of RV vacationers are met. Whether you visit the park to fish, camp, swim, boat, sail, ski, snowshoe, paddle or just relax, you are sure to enjoy your stay. The park, located along McIntosh Road, off Highway 18, Ventura, Iowa, was purchased in 1943, and is home to two yurts and a campground.
Amenities and activities to enjoy at McIntosh Woods State Park include the beach, bicycling, bird watching, boat launch ramp, boating, cabins, canoeing, dock, boat, swimming, trails, cross country skiing, wildlife viewing, fishing and much more. So, there is more than enough for you to have a fully exciting experience while staying at the park in your RV.
Anglers enjoy fishing on the lake in the park all year round and find a variety of fish species including bigmouth buffalo, black crappie, channel catfish, common carp, flathead catfish, green sunfish, largemouth bass, white bass, white crappie, white sucker, yellow bass, and yellow perch.
Just one mile west of the park is Ventura Access, which features a boat ramp, an open picnic shelter, rest room facilities and ball field. It is an excellent spot for a variety of outdoor recreation fun. A fishing dock is available at the boat ramp and is designed for handicap access.
McIntosh Woods State Park is located along McIntosh Road, off Highway 18, Ventura, Iowa. The park is an easy drive-in park, easily accessible by RVs, trailers and other motorized vehicles. The roads within the park are paved and offer easy access and navigation to the different parts of the park. There are no driving restrictions within the park.
There are five parking areas for RVs, trailers, and cars at McIntosh Woods State Park. Consequently, campers have a variety of options with regard to parking their rigs. Two of the parking lots are located around the McIntosh Woods campground, two are located around the McIntosh Shelter, while one parking area is located around the boat ramp in the southern end of the park. Overnight parking facilities are available for RV campers spending the night at the park.
There are no public transportation facilities available at McIntosh Woods State Park.
McIntosh Woods Campground in McIntosh Woods State Park consists of 49 standard pet-friendly campsites available for RVs and tents. 45 campsites in the campground are equipped with electric hookups for RVs, while four of the campsites are not equipped with electric hookups for RVs. RV length limit at the campground is 65 feet. The campground features water hydrant stations, dumpsters, restrooms and showers, a playground, dump station, fish cleaning station, and parking lots. The campground provides direct access to the nature trail in the park as well as the multi-use trail. All the campsites in the campground are easily accessible by RVs and trailers as the roads are paved.
McIntosh Woods State Park features various trails for RV campers and vacationers to enjoy hiking on. The trails include a one-mile nature trail which takes campers into the heart of McIntosh Woods. This nature trail features interpretive signs that describe the different natural features in the park. Besides, other trails pass though marsh and canopies, offering campers interesting views of the vegetation in the park.
Thanks to the presence of the Clear Lake in McIntosh Woods State Park, campers and visitors at the park enjoy boating activities while on RV vacation. Sail boating, for example, is also available for campers to enjoy on 19-foot deep Clear Lake. Moreover, the boat ramp available in the park, with its boating access point to Clear Lake, offers opportunities for campers to engage in boat launching. The modern boat ramp has an extensive paved area for vehicle and trailer parking. Kayaking facilities are also available at the park.
McIntosh Woods State Park is a very popular spot for campers who love to fish. Anglers of all ages are welcome to enjoy fishing in the Clear Lake. A variety of fish species are present in the lake, including bluegills, crappies, bass, and northerns. To enhance the enjoyment of fishing at McIntosh Woods State Park, a modern fish cleaning station is located near the boat ramp in the park.
Lovers of picnicking camp at McIntosh Woods State Park because of its unique spots for picnicking as the grassy and shaded picnic areas in the park are great for group picnics and family cookouts. So, RV campers always have exciting times when picnicking at McIntosh Woods State Park. An open picnic shelter located around the boat ramp is also a cool spot for occasions. The picnic areas in the park feature restrooms and playgrounds.
McIntosh Woods State Park has a point or peninsula of land that juts out into the Clear Lake. This land area includes an unsupervised beach where RV campers of all ages enjoy beach activities including swimming. Swimming is only allowed in this area of the park.
If you're lucky enough to have a jetski, this is the place to use it. Besides the boating, swimming, and fishing opportunities on Clear Lake at McIntosh Woods State Park, RV campers also enjoy jet skiing activities while camped at the park. Watercraft are required to be properly cleaned and maintained in order to maintain the cleanliness of the lake.
