Cherry Glen Picnic

Cherry Glen Picnic Area is a day-use facility on the 26,000-acre Saylorville Lake Project, which stretches over 50 miles up the Des Moines River Valley. The lake provides a wide variety of recreational activities, including boating, swimming, fishing, hiking and hunting. Cherry Glen is nestled on a compact 13-acre wooded ridge. Visiting with family and friends while relaxing in the shade of one of the area's many trees is a popular pastime. Wildlife is abundant throughout the project: white-tailed deer, turkeys, pheasants, waterfowl and other small game animals roam the lands around the lake. This day-use area offers six group picnic shelters, all with electric hookups. Amenities include flush toilets, a playground and hiking trails. Cherry Glen Campground and Cherry Glen Boat Ramp are both adjacent. Visitors come to Saylorville Lake for its great boating, sailing, water skiing, windsurfing and swimming opportunities, and anglers fish for walleye, wiper, largemouth bass, catfish, crappie and northern pike. The paved Neal Smith Trail winds 24 miles from Des Moines to Big Creek State Park and connects the campgrounds on the east side of the lake; a National Recreation Trail, it is used for biking, hiking, jogging, walking and in-line skating.