Heery Woods State Park
Where the Shell Rock River Splits a Forest in Two
Heery Woods State Park straddles both banks of the Shell Rock River near Clarksville in Butler County, Iowa — a park divided by water into two distinct halves, each offering a different experience. The North Side provides developed recreation with paved trails and river access, while the South Side preserves a wilder landscape of woodland bluffs and river bottom forest.
Named after an early settler family, the park protects one of northeast Iowa’s finest examples of mature floodplain forest — towering oaks, maples, and walnut trees that shade the riverbanks and the trails that wind beneath them.
Two Sides, Two Experiences
The North Side (accessible from Highway 188, 1/4 mile south of Clarksville) offers:
- 1.25 miles of paved multiuse trails — accessible for strollers, wheelchairs, and bikes
- Picnic areas and shelters along the river
- Direct river access for fishing and wading
- Playground and open green space
The South Side (accessed from 195th Street) feels entirely different:
- 1.75 miles of woodland trails along river bluffs
- Steeper, more rugged terrain through mature hardwood forest
- Scenic overlooks of the Shell Rock River below
- Quieter, less-visited atmosphere ideal for bird watching and nature photography
The Shell Rock River
The Shell Rock River — named for the fossilized shell fragments found in its limestone bed — flows through some of Iowa’s most productive agricultural land, but within Heery Woods, it looks nothing like the surrounding cornfields. The river corridor supports a ribbon of forest that provides critical habitat for songbirds, raptors, deer, and small mammals in an otherwise intensively farmed landscape.
Fishing in the Shell Rock yields smallmouth bass, channel catfish, and walleye. The river’s rocky substrate creates riffles and pools that concentrate fish, making shore fishing from the park effective during spring and fall.
Year-Round Recreation
While summer brings paddlers and picnickers, the park transforms beautifully through the seasons. Fall foliage along the river bluffs is spectacular, with the hardwood canopy turning brilliant shades of orange and red reflected in the water below. Winter brings opportunities for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing on the trail system, and the snow-covered forest along the frozen river creates a quintessential Iowa winter landscape.
Managed by the Butler County Conservation Board, the park is free to visit year-round during daylight hours.
