Between Omaha And Cedar Rapids Is Iowa's Once-Thriving Coal Mine Turned State Park With Lake Fun And Trails

Iowa is home to 70 state parks, forests, and recreation areas that protect tens of thousands of acres of land. Most of them were created around forests, lakes, and rivers in the Hawkeye State. But only one, Banner Lakes at Summerset State Park, was built around an old coal mine. This distinctive state park now draws hikers and fishermen outside Iowa's capital, Des Moines.

Within a few decades of becoming the United States' 29th state in 1846, Iowa's economy was booming thanks to coal mines. The hills in the central and southern parts of the state contained rich coal deposits. The Banner Coal Company capitalized on this growing opportunity and opened the Banner-Evansville Strip Mine in Summerset, 13 miles south of Des Moines, in 1932. It was the largest strip mine in the entire state until the mine closed in 1940.

In 1954, after over a decade of disuse, the state stepped in to buy the land and create a wildlife management and preserve area. The deserted mining pits had filled with water, forming two lakes, and the forests and prairies around them flourished. Banner Lakes at Summerset State Park, which spreads across 222 acres, finally became an official state park in 2004. The state park now sits about halfway between Cedar Rapids and Omaha, Nebraska.

Today, the once-thriving mine is now a quiet state park that attracts outdoor enthusiasts. It features 5.5 miles of interconnected trails that are used by bikers, hikers, and runners. The Coal Miner's Daughter, one of its longest, is a moderate-to-difficult trail that winds along the lake's northern edge, passing through forests and across bridges. The state park also offers access to the Summerset Trail, an 11-mile paved rail trail that runs between Carlisle and Indianola. "The location is great, the trails are always clean and kept in good order," noted one reviewer on Google.

You can also use Banner Lakes at Summerset State Park's boat ramps to access the water with a kayak, paddleboard, or boat, which must travel at no-wake speed. Once on the water, you can go fishing for bluegill and largemouth bass. But you don't need a boat to cast a line, since two fishing piers give everyone a chance to reel one in. As with most state parks in Iowa, this one is free to visit, but anglers will need to obtain an Iowa fishing license. Plus, to fish for trout, you'll need an extra trout stamp.

This state park is easily accessible from Des Moines International Airport (DSM), which receives nonstop flights from cities all over the United States. If you're staying in the Des Moines area, be sure to visit Polk City, a fast-growing Midwest escape for outdoor fun. Or, if you're heading east, check out Palisades-Kepler State Park near Cedar Rapids, the Midwest's most underrated state park, or head west to the Midwestern mecca for indie eats, quirky art, and riverside trails in Omaha.