Calhoun County offers a variety of ways to enjoy a stay: lakes and rivers alongside trails and historic sites. At Twin Lakes, you can compare boating and fishing with biking, hiking, cross-country skiing, or nature watching on the Twin Lakes Trail. The area’s history also has tangible points of reference—from the school building in Lake City, built in 1882, to the courthouse, completed in 1914.

Lakes, Shores, and Trails

Twin Lakes in Calhoun County consists of two lakes: the northern lake covers 453 acres, and the southern lake covers 600 acres. The Twin Lakes Trail loops around both. Biking, hiking, cross-country skiing, and nature watching are all possible along this trail. The activities differ considerably: boating and fishing are the main attractions at the 453-acre lake in Twin Lakes State Park, while the loop around North Twin Lake and South Twin Lake offers several ways to experience the scenery along the way.

Twin Lakes State Park includes a sandy beach, a modern playground, and park areas on the east and west shores. Check the beach conditions before you travel. On the northwest shore of North Twin Lake, Featherstone Memorial Park covers 51 acres. These details help distinguish the lakeside locations without conflating their different park amenities.

River activities are another option. 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. These names refer to different rivers in the information provided, so choose based on the activity and access point that matter to you.

Historic and Cultural Sites

The first floor of the Calhoun County Historical Museum features exhibits about historic Route 20 and the importance of drainage to agriculture. Both were new in 2024. The Calhoun County Courthouse offers different historical details: completed in 1914, the building is designed in the Neoclassical Revival style, with limestone exterior walls and a red clay tile roof.

In Pomeroy, the Pomeroy Historical Society is located in the former First National Bank, also known as the former Mutual Insurance Building. The town’s history also includes the F5 tornado that destroyed Pomeroy on July 6, 1893. These events are far apart in time; together, they offer two distinct ways to connect with local history: a preserved former commercial building and the memory of a devastating disaster.

The Marsh Rainbow Arch Bridge was built in 1914, spans the North Raccoon River, and is listed as a National Historic Landmark. In Lake City, Historic Central School also tells a story of the past: it is the city’s oldest surviving school building and was built in 1882. For a different cultural focus, the Western Days celebration takes place there, accompanied by an annual rodeo.

You can organize the options around your interests: if you want to spend time by the water, you can choose among lake activities, the Twin Lakes Trail, and river activities. If you are especially interested in architectural history, the courthouse, bridge, school, and former bank offer a range of building types and eras. In Lake City, the five-mile Lake City Recreational Trail also starts at a park—an independent trail option alongside the Twin Lakes Trail.

Discover more destinations: Manson, Floyd County, Palo Alto County, Carroll, Wapello, Audubon, Marion County, Osceola County.

For the overview of destinations across the state: Iowa.