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Cherry Glen Campground is located on the 26,000-acre Saylorville Lake Project, which stretches more than 50 miles up the Des Moines River Valley.
The lake provides a wide variety of recreational activities, including boating, swimming, fishing, hiking and hunting.
Visitors enjoy Saylorville Lake for its excellent boating, sailing, water skiing, windsurfing and swimming opportunities. Anglers will find walleye, wiper, largemouth bass, catfish, crappie and northern pike.
The paved Neal Smith Trail winds 24 miles from Des Moines to Big Creek State Park and connects the campgrounds on the east side of the lake. It is designated as a National Recreation Trail and is used for biking, hiking, jogging, walking and in-line skating.
This large campground offers 125 family sites, all with electric hookups. Amenities include flush toilets, showers, drinking water and a dump station. Educational programs, group shelters, playgrounds, and a boat ramp all provide additional recreation opportunities for guests. Nearby amenities include a visitor center, hiking trail and a disc golf course.
Cherry Glen, the oldest and most popular campground on the lake, is nestled on a compact 13-acre wooded ridge. Wildlife is abundant throughout the project. White-tailed deer, turkeys, waterfowl and other small game animals roam the lands around the lake.
From I-35, take exit 90 to Ankeny Industrial Parkway. Continue onto Highway 160 west for 4.8 miles. The road turns into Highway 415. Continue for another 4 miles and follow signs into the campground.
It's a beautiful place to walk, unfortunately it's closed this year for renovations but that should make it more walkable through the summer.
Very nice campground but roads are narrow and some of the sites are not very level. Close proximity to bike trails including the High Trestle trail.
Been going here with family for probably 20+ years absolutely love it, well maintained beautiful scenery and great fish. What more could you ask for?
Normally I would say 5 stars but this weekend 10/14-10/16 2022 was not very good for the frist time we had to go to the host because of campers being loud, the host did nothing besides drive around, the bathrooms where not cleaned at all this weekend. Leaving feeling extremely tired and disappointed.
While shut down this year for updates, we walked our pup around the grounds. Many others still enjoy walks there, too.
The only update visually obvious is brand new water-dump lanes at the beginnings of the campground. Very nice.
