City, County & Regional Parks · Iowa
Thorpe Park
City, County & Regional Parks · Iowa, United States
- Sites
- 15
- Hookups
- 13 electric, 13 with water, 2 no hookups
- Season
- May to mid-October
- Drinking water
- Yes
- Restrooms
- Yes
- Showers
- Yes
- Pets
- Yes
- Elevation
- 1,273 ft
- Dark sky
- Bortle class 3
- Lake
- Lake Catherine
- Nearest town
- Forest City
- Address
- 5.5 miles west of Forest City, IA on B14, then 1.5 miles north, 1 mile west
About
Winnebago County Conservation multi-use area featuring the 15-acre Lake Catherine for fishing, oak-hickory savanna habitat, and wetlands, popular with hunters, campers, and wildlife enthusiasts. A rental cabin is also on-site. 15 total sites: 13 with electricity and water, 2 primitive tent-only. Pit toilets, shower facilities, pressurized water, fire rings, picnic tables. Office has moved to the Hanson Nature Center. Camping typically open May through mid-October. Pet friendly.
Weather, month by month
| Month | Typical high | Typical low | Coldest night | Hottest day | Years with a night below 32°F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 25° | 4° | -24° | 49° | 11 of 11 |
| February | 30° | 10° | -29° | 65° | 11 of 11 |
| March | 46° | 28° | -5° | 74° | 11 of 11 |
| April | 56° | 36° | 13° | 82° | 7 of 11 |
| May | 70° | 51° | 32° | 85° | 1 of 11 |
| June | 81° | 61° | 46° | 96° | 0 of 11 |
| July | 81° | 65° | 53° | 92° | 0 of 11 |
| August | 78° | 64° | 53° | 90° | 0 of 11 |
| September | 78° | 59° | 44° | 87° | 0 of 11 |
| October | 62° | 42° | 24° | 81° | 4 of 10 |
| November | 45° | 30° | -3° | 68° | 9 of 10 |
| December | 31° | 18° | -15° | 67° | 10 of 10 |
Mid-month figures from 2016–2026 of daily weather at this spot (ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo, CC BY 4.0), in °F. Typical is the median; coldest and hottest are the extremes seen.
Nearby campgrounds
- Crystal Lake Park · City, County & Regional Parks · 3 mi · 29 sites
- Pilot Knob State Park · Iowa State Parks · 10 mi · 62 sites
- Dahle Park · City, County & Regional Parks · 16 mi · 8 sites
- McIntosh Woods State Park · Iowa State Parks · 18 mi · 49 sites
- Clear Lake State Park · Iowa State Parks · 21 mi · 153 sites
All public campgrounds in Iowa · Every state and province · Facts read from the operator 2026-08-29. Confirm fees, rules and current status with the operator before you go.