Conservation

Winter Adventures Await in Eastern Iowa Parks!

posted on 1/8/26

Winter Adventures Await in Eastern Iowa Parks

Winter is a wonderful time to head outdoors and explore city, county, and state parks and wildlife areas! Eastern Iowa offers many opportunities for all ages, and finding fun, educational activities close to home is easier than ever.

Central Park Winter Fun

Central Park offers a wide range of outdoor winter activities. Explore scenic trails by hiking, snowshoeing, or cross-country skiing while enjoying beautiful winter views. Families can discover the Jones County Wild for Reading StoryWalk® Trail, featuring When Winter Comes by Aimee Bissonette.

Feeling adventurous? Try your luck ice fishing (when the ice is safe) on Central Park Lake or West Pond. Be sure to stop by the Central Park Nature Center, which houses a variety of local amphibians and reptiles, along with exhibits highlighting native plants and animals. Exhibit themes change seasonally, with “Animal Tracks and Sign” featured this winter. Snowshoes are also available to check out for use in the park.

Nature Center Hours
General Office Hours:  Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM–3:30 PM - Closed on holidays
The Nature Center is open when staff are present—please call ahead to confirm availability: (563) 487-3541

Upcoming Family Events at Central Park – Winter 2026

  • Family Snowshoeing: Animal Tracks and Sign Foray
    Saturday, January 31 | 10:00 AM–Noon | Central Park

  • Bluebird House Workshop
    Saturday, February 7 | 10:00 AM | Central Park

  • 9th Annual Austin Strong Foundation Freeze Out Childhood Cancer Ice Fishing Tournament 
    Saturday, February 7 | 9:00 AM–1:00 PM | Central Park Lake                                                                         https://www.facebook.com/austinstrongfoundation/

Adult Programs – OWLS (Older, Wiser, Livelier Souls)

  • Snowshoeing Whitewater Canyon
    Friday, January 23 | 1:00 PM

  • Winter Seed Sowing – Hurstville Interpretive Center
    Wednesday, February 11 | 1:30 PM

  • Fly Tying Class – Central Park Nature Center
    Thursday, March 26 | 9:00 AM–Noon

Registration Information

Registration is required for many events and programs, and space may be limited. For details and to register, visit:
https://www.jonescountyiowa.gov/conservation/

More News

Winter Adventures Await in Eastern Iowa Parks! posted 1/8/26 by Conservation
Cedar Trees Find New Life As Fish Habitat In Central Park’s West Pond! posted 1/6/26 by Conservation
Mark Your Calendar Now for Our 2026 OWLS - Older Wiser Livelier Souls - Events! posted 12/22/25 by Conservation
What You Need To Know About Chronic Wasting Disease in Iowa Deer posted 12/18/25 by Conservation
Be a Part of the 2026 Great Backyard Bird Count! posted 12/17/25 by Conservation
Celebrate the Holidays at Central Park! posted 11/18/25 by Conservation
Showcase Jones County! Enter the 2025 Keep Iowa Beautiful Annual Photography Contest posted 11/13/25 by Conservation
Iowa Hunting Seasons In Full Swing! posted 10/20/25 by Conservation
Think Safety! - Wear Hunter Orange When Hiking This Fall. posted 10/20/25 by Conservation
Central Park Prepares for Winter Season! posted 10/15/25 by Conservation
Trail Maintenance Completed at Pictured Rocks posted 10/15/25 by Conservation
Iowa Fall Color Reports 2025 posted 10/1/25 by Conservation
Conservation Board Member, Dave Tabor Retires posted 9/25/25 by Conservation
Plan Ahead to Landscape for Pollinators - Create Your Own PLANT. GROW. FLY Garden! posted 9/24/25 by Conservation
Join the Healthiest State Annual Walk - Walk With Us at Central Park on Wednesday, October 1st at Noon! posted 9/16/25 by Conservation
Don't miss the 2025 Fall Jones County Wild For Reading StoryWalk® book - MONARCH BUTTERFLY! posted 9/4/25 by Conservation
Monarch Tagging Time! posted 9/2/25 by Conservation
Do You Know Iowa's Bats? posted 7/31/25 by Conservation
Join Us For Our Pine Needle Art Classes! posted 7/31/25 by Conservation
Seasonal Staff, Campground Hosts, and Volunteers Make a Difference! posted 7/25/25 by Conservation
Mark Your Calendars! - Jones County Local Farmers Market at Central Park!!!! posted 6/26/25 by Conservation
Celebrate Pollinators! posted 6/21/25 by Conservation
Looking For A Fun Summer Family Activity? Check Out The Jones County Wild For Reading Summer StoryWalk® Trail - BEES, by Laura Marsh! posted 6/5/25 by Conservation
Foraging Series! posted 6/1/25 by Conservation
It's Time For the Jones County June Family Fishing Challenge! posted 6/1/25 by Conservation
Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation Breen Prairie Volunteer Workday - Volunteers Needed! posted 5/14/25 by Conservation
Iowa DNR Woodland Wildflowers & Reports Page Available! posted 4/21/25 by Conservation
Learn How You Can Help the Iowa Bumble Bee Atlas! posted 3/13/25 by Conservation
You and Iowa Teachers Statewide can Contribute to the Iowa PBS Phenomena Database! posted 2/28/25 by Conservation
Pick-Up Iowa 2025 posted 2/27/25 by Conservation
Learn How You Can Help Birds! Participate in a Citizen Science Project in Your Own Backyard, Park, or Community! posted 2/1/25 by Conservation
Monarch Proposed for Endangered Species Act Protection posted 12/11/24 by Conservation
Iowa's Wildest Classrooms! posted 11/21/24 by Conservation
Want to Improve Your Mental and Physical Health? Head Outdoors! posted 11/19/24 by Conservation
Hunting Season Safety Reminders posted 11/19/24 by Conservation
Seasonal Staff, Campground Hosts, and Volunteers Make A Difference! posted 10/9/24 by Conservation
Wild Edibles Trail posted 7/18/24 by Conservation
A BIG THANK YOU to the 2024 Jones County Youth Conservation Crew posted 7/6/24 by Conservation
Roadside Mowing Restriction Reminder posted 6/11/24 by Conservation
Live Healthy Iowa Jones County Wild For Reading StoryWalk® "Go the Distance" May Challenge posted 4/12/24 by Conservation
It's Time For Spring Wildflowers! posted 4/12/24 by Conservation
Shed Dog Seminar Coming to Central Park! posted 4/5/24 by Conservation
Learn How You Can Join the Annual Midwest Crane Count! posted 4/1/24 by Conservation
Central Park Master Plan Results posted 3/20/24 by Conservation
Fly Tying Classes to be Held at Central Park posted 2/7/24 by Conservation
UKC Elite Shed Dog Series Event to be Held at Central Park February 24th and 25th posted 2/7/24 by Conservation
You Can Participate in the 2024 Great Backyard Bird Count! posted 2/1/24 by Conservation
Bald Eagle Nest Survey Volunteers Needed! - Training Workshop Coming to Central Park March 23 posted 1/17/24 by Conservation
2024 Seasonal Jones County Conservation Positions Open posted 1/17/24 by Conservation
Jones County Joins Iowa Counties With Official Positive Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) Tests posted 1/8/24 by Conservation
January 11th - Central Park Lake Still Has Open Water! Unsafe Ice Conditions! posted 1/8/24 by Conservation
Mark Your Calendars For Our January Snowshoeing Early-Out Events! posted 1/8/24 by Conservation
Turkey Time Trivia posted 11/16/23 by Conservation
Outdoor Journal Podcasts posted 10/31/23 by Conservation
Central Park Fall and Winter Season in Full Swing posted 10/26/23 by Conservation
Jones County Active Transportation Plan - ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION SURVEY Needs Your INPUT! posted 10/23/23 by Conservation
2023 REAP Assembly Schedule - Mark Your Calendar and Plan to Attend! posted 10/23/23 by Conservation
Prairie Seed Harvesting in Full Swing! posted 10/23/23 by Conservation
Don't Judge A Thistle By Its Bristles! posted 10/5/23 by Conservation
Wapsi Trail Phase II Ribbon Cutting posted 9/18/23 by Conservation
Seasonal Staff, Campground Hosts, and Volunteers Make A Difference! posted 8/21/23 by Conservation
OWLS Mississippi River Paddle - Mud Lake Access to AY McDonald River Access posted 7/15/23 by Conservation
Central Park Goose Round Up and Banding posted 6/29/23 by Conservation
Congratulations to the winners of the Spring 2023 Jones County Wild for Reading StoryWalk® Challenge! posted 6/22/23 by Conservation
2023 Jones County Nature Photography Contest Winners posted 6/7/23 by Conservation
Central Park Ash Tree Removal Taking Place. posted 3/16/23 by Conservation
Central Park Old Military Road Bowstring Bridge Restoration posted 2/9/23 by Conservation
Friends of Jones County Conservation and Nature Center Receive Jones County Community Foundation Award for 2023 Jones County Wild for Reading StoryWalk® Trail Signage posted 2/1/23 by Conservation
Improvements Made to Eby's Mill River Access! posted 12/12/22 by Conservation
Rethink Your Drink Grant Received posted 11/23/22 by Conservation
Jones County AmeriCorps 4-H Environmental Educator posted 10/31/22 by Conservation
Wapsipinicon Trail Now Open - Watch for Grand Opening Spring 2023 posted 10/5/22 by Conservation
2022 Iowa Healthiest State Month & Healthiest State Walk posted 9/28/22 by Conservation
Iowa Deer Herd Chronic Wasting Disease Monitoring Measures Include a Portion of Jones County posted 8/25/22 by Conservation
Spectacular Cup Plants in Full Bloom at Central Park posted 8/12/22 by Conservation
Thank you to the Friends of Jones County Conservation & Nature Center posted 8/8/22 by Conservation
Derecho Clean-Up a Multi-Year Project posted 8/6/22 by Conservation
A BIG THANKS to the 2022 Jones County Youth Conservation Crew posted 7/10/22 by Conservation
Wapsipinicon Trail Construction Update posted 6/18/22 by Conservation
Central Park Family Fishing Fun Day a Success! posted 6/15/22 by Conservation
2022 Jones County Nature Photography Contest Winners posted 6/14/22 by Conservation
99 Parks in 99 Weeks Highlights Central Park posted 2/1/22 by Conservation
OWL - Older Wiser Livelier Souls 2022 Events posted 1/21/22 by Conservation
In the Know - Hale Wildlife Area Updates posted 1/20/22 by Conservation
Winter Fun posted 1/18/22 by Conservation
In the Know: Scotch Grove Prairie Updates posted 12/29/21 by Conservation
Winter Jones County Wild For Reading StoryWalk® Trail "Over & Under the Snow" Runs Dec 1st - March 1st at Central Park posted 12/10/21 by Conservation
Derecho Recovery Tree Plantings A Success posted 10/19/21 by Conservation
Fishing Line Recycling Program posted 9/2/21 by Conservation
Solution to Pollution Anti-Litter Sign Joins Fish Art Sculpture at Central Park Lake posted 7/12/21 by Conservation
New Jones County StoryWalk® Trail Open posted 6/6/21 by Conservation
Volunteers Make A Difference for Jones County Conservation posted 3/22/21 by Conservation
Eby's Mill Timber Stand Improvement Project posted 3/16/21 by Conservation
School of the Wild posted 10/2/20 by Conservation
Central Park Fremont Mill Bridge Rehabilitation Project posted 8/12/20 by Conservation
The Wapsipinicon Trail: We Need Your Help to Finish Phase II posted 8/1/20 by Conservation
Central Park Lake Restoration posted 8/1/17 by Conservation

Resources & Services

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