Facilities and Activities

The Iowa Great Lakes Region is made up of the following areas: Claire Wilson State Recreation Area, Elinor Bedell State Park, Emerson Bay State Recreation Area, Fort Defiance State Park, Gull Point State Park, Lower Gar Access State Recreation Area, Marble Beach State Recreation Area, Mini-Wakan State Park, Okamanpedan State Park, Pikes Point State Park, Templar Park State Recreation Area, and Trapper's Bay State Park. For a list of other areas and their associated facilities, click here.

Picnicking
Lower Gar State Recreation Area is a great place for a family picnic. There are several picnic tables located throughout this nicely shaded area with a great view of Lower Gar Lake.

Trails
Lower Gar is located near many area recreational trails.

Lake Activities (boating, fishing)
Lower Gar is one of the five lakes connected in the Iowa Great Lakes chain along with West Okoboji, East Okoboji, Minnewashta, and Upper Gar. Lower Gar State Recreation Area also offers the user a boat ramp to launch a boat, and several areas to fish along the shoreline.

West Okoboji and the many other lakes of the area are some of the prime fishing spots in Iowa. Anglers will find challenging sport pursuing a variety of game fish, including walleye, northern pike, smallmouth bass, white bass, perch, bluegills, crappies, catfish, and bullheads. Boating is also very popular on the lakes using everything from canoes to sailboats and ski rigs.

The "lakes area" of northwest Iowa offers a tremendous array of outdoor recreation opportunities, year-round. The unique setting of beautiful and clear Lakes East and West Okoboji, Big Spirit Lake and other water bodies truly provides wonderful opportunities for outdoor recreation. The focal point for state parks and recreation areas in this region is beautiful Gull Point State Park, established in 1933. Gull Point provides a pleasing, shaded setting on West Okoboji Lake and offers a well-rounded variety of outdoor recreation facilities.

Nearby Towns
Lower Gar State Recreation Area is located in the Iowa Great Lakes region near the towns of Milford, Arnolds Park, Okoboji, and Spirit Lake.

Contact Information
Physical address:
Lower Gar State Recreation Area
2322 202nd Street
Arnolds Park, IA 51331

Mailing Address:
Gull Point State Park
1500 Harpen Street
Milford, IA 51351
ph. 712/337-3211

E-mail address: Gull_Point@dnr.iowa.gov