Carroll County is a beautiful place to live, work, and visit. With a natural landscape that rivals the most picturesque small towns, Carroll offers plenty of ways to spend time in the beautiful outdoors.
Swan Lake State Park, managed by the Carroll County Conservation Board, is a multi-use area comprising 510 acres. Its namesake lake is 110 acres and is surrounded by a gorgeous wooded area that is home to deer, small mammals, birds, and wild turkeys, making this area perfect for those looking to view wildlife.
For those who love camping, Swan Lake State Park is ideal. As Carroll County’s largest campsite, there are a total of more than 115 campsites for campers of various skill levels. Swan Lake State Park features full hook-ups for water, electricity, and sewer, as well as a large area for tent camping. Camping at Swan Lake State Park is on a first-come, first-served basis and two Park rangers live near the park to provide security and guidance to both those camping in and visiting the park. Other amenities in Swan Lake State Park include two shower houses, firewood and ice sales, a gift shop and concession stand, a campground shelter house, boat rentals, campground hosts, a dump station, and access to the Sauk Rail Trail.
The Sauk Rail Trail is a 33-mile concrete or asphalt multi-use recreational trail located and managed by both the Sac and Carroll County Conservation Boards. It is the first recreational trail in the state of Iowa to connect two state parks. You can start in Lake View near Blackhawk Lake State Park or in Swan Lake State Park south of Carroll. Both state parks have lakes and camping facilities.