Blogs from Clear Lake, Iowa, United States, North America

I wanted to try yurt camping. A yurt is kind of similar to a teepee. It's a semi-permanent structure, originally used by nomadic people in Asia. Over the last few decades, they've become increasingly common in state parks throughout the United States. Currently, there is one state park in Iowa with yurts for rent: McIntosh Woods State Park, which is located on Clear Lake in north central Iowa. There is a two day minimum for reservations, and the current rate is $35/night. When you consider many campgrounds charge similar fees to rent a spot for tent camping, I consider it a bargain, especially since there are no entrance fees for Iowa state parks. There are two yurts available. They're approximately 50 feet apart, and they each accommodate a group of four. One of the yurts has ... read more

A trail begins right by the yurt we're staying in. It follows along Clear Lake for about a quarter of a mile before turning inward. From there, we could take a short trail east, away from the lake, or cross a small bridge. We decided to check it out yesterday evening. Before long, Oliver wanted to head back to the campground. He and Andrew turned around, but Jo and I proceeded on and crossed the bridge. It opened up into the tent campground before continuing. Instead of following the trail, Jo and I explored the observation deck. A plaque read that it was built by a local Boy Scout troop. The deck wrapped around a marshy estuary that were filled with areas for birds to nest. A sign described all of the birds that can sometimes ... read more