Calhoun County: Lakes, Trails, and Regional History

Calhoun County brings together lakes and rivers, trails, and places of regional history. If you’re looking for a hotel in Calhoun County, you can start planning your trip by deciding what matters most: activities on the water and outdoors, or historic sites and exhibits. These different themes offer concrete starting points for planning a trip that suits you.

Lakes, Shorelines, and Trails

The 453-acre lake in Twin Lakes State Park is ideal for boating and fishing. The park also has a sandy beach, a modern playground, and park areas along both the east and west shores. If a beach visit is important to your trip, check beach conditions separately before you go. The Twin Lakes in Calhoun County comprise a 453-acre lake to the north and a 600-acre lake to the south, making the southern lake the larger one. On the northwestern shore of North Twin Lake, Featherstone Memorial Park covers 51 acres.

The Twin Lakes Trail circles North Twin Lake and South Twin Lake in Calhoun County. The trail is suitable for biking, hiking, cross-country skiing, and nature observation. This lets you choose between a route around both lakes and activities such as boating or fishing on the lake in the state park.

Another Trail in Lake City

The five-mile Lake City Recreational Trail starts at a park in Lake City. Its length provides a concrete reference point for route planning.

Rivers and Activities

The North Raccoon River flows through Calhoun County and offers opportunities for paddling and fishing. At Rainbow Bend, a boat ramp provides access to the Raccoon River. This gives you information about river activities as well as a specific point of access by boat ramp.

Exhibits and Historic Buildings

The first floor of the Calhoun County Historical Museum features exhibits on historic Route 20 and the importance of drainage to agriculture. Both exhibits were new in 2024. They focus on different topics: Route 20 offers a look at transportation history, while the drainage exhibit centers on agriculture.

The current Calhoun County Courthouse was completed in 1914; its exterior walls are made of limestone and its roof of red clay tiles. The building is designed in the Neoclassical Revival style. The Marsh Rainbow Arch Bridge was also built in 1914. It spans the North Raccoon River and is listed as a National Historic Landmark. Their shared year of construction links two buildings with very different features: the courthouse is defined by its materials and style, while the bridge is distinguished by its river crossing and historic designation.

Local History in Pomeroy and Lake City

The Pomeroy Historical Society is located in the former First National Bank building, also known as the former Mutual Insurance Building. An F5 tornado destroyed Pomeroy on July 6, 1893. These details offer different points of connection with local history: a former building site and a precisely dated event.

In Lake City stands Historic Central School, the city’s oldest surviving school building. It was built in 1882.

More Destinations

Explore more destinations: Manson, Jefferson County, Henry County, Winnebago County, Hardin County, Osceola County, Decatur County, Howard County

For the main travel overview: Iowa.