Oak Grove Picnic Area

Oak Grove 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. This day-use area offers two group picnic shelters with electric and water hookups. Amenities include flush toilets, a playground, volleyball court and hiking trails. Visitors come to Saylorville Lake for its boating, sailing, water skiing, windsurfing, swimming, hiking and hunting. 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; designated a National Recreation Trail, it is used for biking, hiking, jogging, walking and in-line skating. Oak Grove lies among a heavily wooded forest of stately oak trees on the east side of the lake, and a large beach is within walking distance. Wildlife is abundant throughout the project, with white-tailed deer, turkeys, pheasants, waterfowl and other small game roaming the lands around the lake.