Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation: Lookbook: Polk County

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Polk

Use the contact information provided to get more information about visiting the site: directions, hours, rules, parking, guided tours, etc.

Some projects listed here are marked "not open to the public" or "restricted access." This is because the land is private property or a fragile ecosystem that will be damaged by curious, well-meaning humans. Please respect the owner's request and the natural integrity of the area and don't trespass.

Project Name	Location	Contact Information
Strasser Woods State Preserve	Just off East 36th Street in residential Des Moines along Four Mile Creek	Iowa Department of Natural Resources, Red Rock Unit 515/848-3108
Chichaqua Valley Trail- Chichaqua Bottoms Greenbelt INHF 25 Pivotal Projects Trail Receives Nat'l Recognition	Connects Bondurant, Valeria, Mingo, Ira and Baxter. Consists of nineteen INHF-protected sites	Polk County Conservation Board 515/323-5300
Great Western Trail	From the intersection of Park Avenue and Valley Drive through Cumming and Martensdale	Polk County Conservation Board 515/323-5300
Errington Marsh	3.5 miles east and.5 mile north of Ankeny Area Map (PDF)	Iowa Department of Natural Resources, Red Rock Unit 515/848-3108
Engeldinger Marsh	7 miles northeast of Bondurant along US Highway 65/330	Polk County Conservation Board 515/323-5300
Chichaqua Wildlife Area	4.5 miles east of Elkhart on county road F22 and other locations in this area. Includes several sites acquired with INHF assistance Area Map (PDF)	Polk County Conservation Board 515/323-5300
Four Mile Creek Greenway Trail	Follows Four Mile Creek and connects Pleasant Hill and Altoona	Polk County Conservation Board 515/323-5300
Beaverdale Woods	Along the north side of Beaverdale Park in Des Moines and south of the US Veterans Medical Center	City of Des Moines 515/237-1480
June Reece Property	Des Moines City Limits No public access	This property is privately owned. Contact information is not released.
VanOel Prairie	Near Bondurant	Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation info@INHF.org 515/288-1846
Snyder Heritage Farm INHF 25 Pivotal Projects	Southeast of Elkhart	Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation info@INHF.org 515/288-1846
Puccoon Prairie	Adjacent to the Chichaqua Bottoms Greenbelt, 3 miles north of Mitchellville. Just north of the 112th Street and 94th Avenue intersection	Polk County Conservation Board 515/323-5300
(Future) Ankeny to Woodward Trail Project Info Site Info & Updates	Will Link Ankeny, Sheldahl, Slater, Madrid and Woodward	Boone County Conservation Board (515) 353-4237 Polk County Conservation Board 515/323-5300