DNR: Palisades-Kepler State Park to reopen Friday after derecho closure

Lang
4/21/21

A popular Corridor hiking and fishing spot is set to reopen this weekend.

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources announced Wednesday that Palisades-Kepler State Park on Highway 30 is set to open its gates on Friday, after several months of work to remove damaged trees and downed limbs, and to clear other debris caused by last August’s derecho.

Roads, hiking trails, picnic areas and fishing access points are again all usable. Visitors can start making campground reservations through the online reservation site on Friday, the same day the park opens. The lodge will be closed for the 2021 recreation season due to extensive roof damage.

Palisades, located between Cedar Rapids and Mt. Vernon, is the final state park to open after the Derecho. Other state parks impacted included Lake Macbride, in Johnson County; Pleasant Creek, in Linn County; Wildcat Den, in Muscatine County, and five others statewide.

For more information and latest updates to Palisades State Park and other park alerts, go to: www.iowadnr.gov/parkclosures.