Shoreline picknicking is available at numerous locations on the large lake and at the main parking lot near the park
entrance. Fire grills and picnic tables are located at these areas for families to enjoy a day at the lake. Restrooms
are available at the entrance, concession and the boat ramp at the large lake.
Bicyclists can enjoy a two-mile, paved scenic bike loop, which runs alongside the park’s roadways. The bike loop
connects with the 12-mile Summerset bike trail. The park’s bicycle loop connection is located at the midpoint of
Summerset Trail which connects the communities of Carlisle and Indianola.
Plans are in place to create a premier mountain biking trail system in the park. When completed, five miles of trails
will provide a variety of challenges and opportunities for beginning riders to advanced riders.
Banner Lakes provide fishing enthusiasts excellent fishing and boating opportunities. The south lake is central
Iowa’s only trout fishery, from October through May. Trout ranging from 1/2 pound to 10 pounds in size are stocked
each year. Iowa residents and nonresidents must pay the trout fee to fish for or possess trout. Other species in
both lakes include channel catfish, largemouth bass, bluegill, and crappie. A number of shoreline fishing opportunities
are located on the south lake and both lakes have new single-lane boat ramps and associated parking. Motor regulations
are any size motor at no wake speed.
Banner shooting range adjoins the park. The range has undergone renovation and now provides updated range facilities
including sheltered shooting benches and a hard surface parking lot. The range’s hours of operation are posted on the
department’s website at www.iowadnr.com/law/index.html. Future plans for the range include a concession operation to
manage the range and provide snacks and beverages for range users, park visitors and bicyclists. The range also
adjoins Middle River Wildlife Area which provides outstanding public hunting opportunities on 1,000 acres.
Banner Lakes at Summerset State Park, Iowa’s newest state park, is nestled in the rolling landscape between Des Moines
and Indianola on Highway 65/69, within minutes of the state’s largest metro area.
Many locals remember the area as Banner Pits, when the area was mined for coal by the Banner Coal Company in the early
1930s. According to an article dated September 15, 1932 in the Des Moines Tribune, “...the coal mining operation was
the largest strip mining operation to take place in Iowa. The coal--an unusually good grade of Iowa product--could
not be mined in the ordinary way because of the poor 'roof' and the proximity of the four-foot vein to the surface.
It was covered by about 40 feet of earth and shale. The concerned decided to mine the coal by the open pit process
and has been operating one of the largest electric drag lines in the country there since last Janaury.” The article
went on to say that in order to get the coal, it was necessary to dig a “young Panama canal” 115 feet wide at the top
and 80 feet wide at the bottom. The huge drag line equipment used in the operation drew hundreds of spectators to the
mine.
In 1954, the Department of Natural Resources purchased the 222-acre setting as a wildlife management area. As the
years went by, recreation demands changed. Through the vision of the DNR and with encouragement from a host of
supporters, a plan was developed in 2002 to transform “Banner Pits” into a state park with new and enhanced recreation
opportunities. The park was officially dedicated October 7, 2004 with more than 250 people in attendance. Only the
second state park established in the last 27 years, Banner Lakes at Summerset State Park is a great addition to Iowa’s
state park system.
Lake Ahquabi State Park is 12 miles south. The Annett Nature Center (Warren County Conservation Board) is adjacent to
Lake Ahquabi.
Elk Rock State Park/Red Rock Reservoir is 43 miles east in Marion County.
The Great Western Trail (Martensdale to Des Moines) is 12 miles west.
Des Moines lies 6 miles north, Carlisle lies 3 miles to the northeast, and Indianola lies 6 miles to the south.
Banner Lakes at Summerset State Park
13084 Elkhorn Street
Indianola, Iowa 50125
ph. 515/961-7101
E-mail address: Summerset@dnr.iowa.gov
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