As you drive north into the park you can see Mariposa Lake on your left. Further into the park you will come upon a large gravel parking lot. To the west of the parking area is a picnic shelter, playground equipment, open grassy space and the lake. The park road continues on in a loop through a campground. The north part of the park has a dense stand of trees with a short hiking path.
Campground
The free campground at Mariposa is quite a surprise. There are approximately 20 campsites and some include a fire ring with a picnic table. A primitive men’s and women’s restroom can be found tucked back into the trees. The campground is located in the northern wooded portion of the park.
Final Impressions
Scenic views and gentle rolling terrain make Mariposa a manageable park to hike or walk. Features like the buffalo enclosure, lake, picnic sites and playground create a nice environment for an outing with kids and families. Mariposa Recreation Area is a small but charming out-of-the-way county park.
Map
Pros:
Free camping, great park for a picnic, buffalo in a fenced enclosure, surprising amount of wooded areas.
Cons:
No on-site supervision at the campground, poor water quality in the lake.
Contact:
County Hwy-T12 & Indian Street
Kellogg, IA 50135
P: (641) 792-9780
E: conservation@co.jasper.ia.us
Links:
Jasper County Conservation
Weather Forecast
Gallery:
 |
 |
 |
|
 |
||||
 |
||||||||
 |
 |
|
 |
|||||
|
||||||||
