Description

Union Grove State Park, located in northwest Tama County, is a great place to enjoy outdoor recreational opportunities such as fishing, hiking, boating, swimming, bird watching and camping. The park was established in 1938 and its focal point is beautiful 110-acre Union Grove Lake. The lake and the attractive parklands provide a pleasing contrast to the nearby residential and agricultural areas. Union Grove truly offers outdoor recreation fun for everyone.

Recreation:

Lake Activities
The beach at Union Grove Lake offers unsupervised swimming fun for visitors of all ages. The lake also has two boat ramps, one near the beach and one on the west side of the lake. The lake is a "no-wake" lake. Anglers can expect to find bass, bluegill, crappie, catfish, saugeye, walleye and northern pike in the lake.

Trails
The park has three miles of scenic trails for hiking and snowmobiling. A variety of wildlife can be seen along the trails with deer and turkey being the most common, as well as numerous varieties of song birds and waterfowl. A beautiful re-established prairie and a pine plantation are located in the northeast corner of the park, just off the main roadway.

Facilities:

Picnicking/Shelters
Union Grove is a fine place for a family picnic. A number of shaded picnic areas are present, all within sight of the lake. An open picnic shelter near the west boat ramp may be reserved in advance.

Camping
The campground is currently undergoing renovation at Union Grove State Park. Upon completion the modern campground will have nonelectric and full hook-up (electric, water, sewer) campsites, a modern showerhouse and restrooms and a sanitary dump station.

Nearby Attractions:

The annual Gladbrook Corn Carnival is held at the end of June and the Cornman Triathalon, which takes place in the park, is held in July. Matchstick Marvels, located in Gladbrook, features rocket ships, battleships and Pentagon replicas constructed entirely of matchsticks by a local resident.

Nearby Towns
Union Grove State Park is located 6 miles south of Gladbrook and 5 miles northwest of Garwin. The park is 16 miles from Marshalltown, 20 miles from Tama.

and 18 miles from Toledo.