The Ankeny Brief
If Saylorville is the big, busy, powerboat lake, Big Creek is its calmer sibling: a no-wake lake with one of the largest beaches in the Iowa state park system, a short drive north of Ankeny. It's the go-to for a low-key swim, a paddle, or an easy family afternoon on the water. Here's the local guide.
Big Creek State Park is a 3,550-acre Iowa state park just north of Ankeny near Polk City, built around an 814-acre no-wake lake. It has one of the biggest beaches in Iowa's state parks (about 1,300 feet of shoreline), five boat ramps, boat and paddle rentals, and a connection to the Neal Smith Trail. It's a mostly day-use park, calmer than Saylorville next door.
Big Creek's beach is the draw: about 1,300 feet of sand, one of the largest in the Iowa state park system, with a big playground, sand volleyball, open grass, and picnic shelters nearby. It's free, first-come, and unguarded, so swim at your own risk. Because the whole lake is no-wake, the water near the beach stays calmer than at Saylorville, which is part of why families like it.
The lake is no-wake, meaning any size motor can run but only at slow, wakeless speeds. That makes it ideal for sailboats, kayaks, canoes, and paddleboards, and safer for swimmers. There are five modern boat ramps around the lake, and seasonal rentals typically include pontoons, hydro-bikes, stand-up paddleboards, kayaks, canoes, and fishing boats, so you can get on the water without owning a thing.
Big Creek ties into the region's marquee path: the paved Neal Smith Trail runs from the beach south through the Saylorville Lake area all the way toward Des Moines, roughly 27 miles of car-free riding. There are also hiking and, in winter, cross-country ski and snowmobile trails. See our Ankeny trails guide for how it all connects.
Big Creek is a solid fishery for bass, bluegill, crappie, walleye, and more, with an Iowa fishing license required. The calm, clear water and shoreline access make it beginner-friendly. For ponds closer to town and the full license basics, see our fishing in Ankeny guide and the fish finder.
Big Creek itself is mainly a day-use park, so it's built for beach days and afternoons rather than overnight stays. For camping nearby, the Saylorville Lake campgrounds and Jester Park (just across the lake) both have sites and cabins. See our campground finder to compare. As with any lake here, conditions and beach status can shift, so check the Iowa DNR before you go.
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Just north of Ankeny near Polk City, about a 15 to 20 minute drive, sitting right above Saylorville Lake.
Yes, one of Iowa's largest state-park beaches, about 1,300 feet of sand, with a playground and volleyball. It's free, first-come, and unguarded.
Yes, but it's a no-wake lake, so motors run only at slow, wakeless speeds. That makes it ideal for sailing, kayaks, canoes, and paddleboards.
Big Creek is mainly day-use. For camping nearby, try the Saylorville campgrounds or Jester Park across the lake.
They're neighbors north of Ankeny. Saylorville is the big Army Corps reservoir with full-speed boating; Big Creek is the calmer no-wake lake with the big beach, better for swimming and paddling.