Pine Lake State Park is the center of many fond memories for those in Central Iowa. If you went to camp, it very well might have been at Pine Lake. And if you live near Eldora, you attended all kinds of gatherings there, from birthdays to weeknight grill parties to routine walks with a good friend. I didn’t grow up there, but it’s easy to tell how much this park is loved by the community. The North side of the park has a lovely paved bike trail where I encountered families biking, walkers, and even grandmothers enjoying the sunshine and wildlife.
The south side of the lake is wilder, and the WPA history shines brightest here. The trail winds up and down the draw, between 250 year old pines, and over bridges. A speckled fawn and I stumbled into each other, each of us mesmerized by the other until the Doe broke the moment and the two deer dashed away. The trail was less traveled but fascinating at every turn.
The Island on Pine Lake no longer has an abundance of old white pines. It does have eagles perched on the bare trunks. Watch them watch you.
The namesake of the park is an old stand of White Pine - the furthest south you will find in Iowa. Unfortunately many were destroyed by a bad hailstorm in 2009. While hiking, I spotted many new white pine saplings making their way through the undergrowth and protected by deer fencing.
The lake was quiet, peppered with fishing boats. The atmosphere was relaxed. Pine lake is a local treasure, set up to create another generation of memories.