Walnut Ridge Recreation Area

Saylorville Lake — lakeside, fishing, hiking

Location: Johnston, IA, IA

Price: From $50 per night

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 (2 reviews)

Season: May through October

Walnut Ridge Recreation Area is a day-use facility located 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.This day-use area offers three group picnic shelters with water and electricity. Amenities include flush toilets, a playground and hiking trails.The area is situated on a wooded ridgeland on the west side of Saylorvi

Cell coverage (FCC estimate): strong signal. Actual signal may vary in remote areas. Best carrier: T-Mobile. Verizon 4G: 100%. AT&T 4G: 100%. T-Mobile 4G: 100%.

Amenities: Fire Rings, Picnic Tables, Flush Toilets, Electric Hookups, Fishing

Availability alerts: Set a free cancellation alert at camperwatch.org/campground/walnut-ridge-recreation-area to be notified when sites open up.

Walnut Ridge Recreation Area offers beautiful grounds with an 18-hole disc golf course, fire rings, picnic tables, and fishing access on the 26,000-acre Saylorville Lake. Google reviews consistently praise it as a well-maintained gathering spot with an excellent disc golf setup.

Wildlife alert: American Beaver, White-tailed Deer, Fox Squirrel, Eastern Mole, Great Horned Owl, Pileated Woodpecker, Barn Swallow, and Fish Crow documented in the area.

Insider tips for Walnut Ridge Recreation Area: Book early—this is a popular federal campground with only 3 tent sites. Only 3 sites available and some lack hookups despite amenity listing; verify hookup availability when booking. 18-hole disc golf course runs throughout the recreation area for non-campers or day visitors.

Skip Walnut Ridge Recreation Area if: You need hookups—most sites lack electric/water connections despite some amenities listed.. You plan to camp outside May-October—seasonal operations only.. You prefer larger campgrounds—only 3 tent sites total..

Best time to visit Walnut Ridge Recreation Area: May-October — Campground operates seasonally May through October only..

Nearby campgrounds: Acorn Valley (JOHNSTON, IA), Sandpiper Recreation Area (Johnston, IA), Lake View Recreation Area (Saylorville) (Johnston, IA), Oak Grove Picnic Area (Johnston, IA).