State: Iowa
Address 1: 33653 Route J56
City: Farmington
Zip: 52626
Phone: 319-878- 3811
Open all Year: Yes
Number of Sites: 54
Camp URL: http://www.iowadnr.gov/forestry/shimek.html
Full Hook: Yes
Shimek State Forest is located in Lee and Van Buren Counties in southeast Iowa near the town of Farmington. The forest headquarters is located about 1 mile northeast of Farmington on county road J56. Recreational opportunities abound on the forest. Shimek State Forest is comprised of the following units.
Farmington 2,207 acres
Lick Creek 2,866 acres
Donnellson 1,330 acres
Croton 1,827 acres
Keosauqua 918 acres
Total 9,148 acres
The Farmington Unit contains Bitternut Lake campground with 8 sites and a boat ramp. The Farmington Unit also has Black Oak Lake with a handicapped accessible picnic area, fishing dock, parking area and restrooms. There is walk-in fishing access at White Oak Lake, also on the Farmington Unit. The unit has 18.9 miles of hiking trails.
The Donnellson Unit contains the White Oak campground with 11 sites. A boat ramp and a walk-in campsite is located at Shagbark Lake. The Donnellson Unit has a nature trail, 2 picnic areas and 6.2 miles of hiking trails.
The 4 lakes in the Farmington and Donnellson Units are stocked with bass, channel catfish and panfish.
The Lick Creek Unit contains two equestrian campgrounds, one with 11 sites and the other with 24 sites. There are 25 miles of equestrian trails on the Lick Creek Unit.
Equestrian facilities include hitching rails, pit toilets, fire rings, picnic tables, gravel parking pads, a water hydrant and shade for horses. There are stalls for overnight stabling. A day-use area, next to the upper equestrian campground, is provided for those not camping.
The Keosauqua Unit has 7.7 miles of hiking trails.
The entire forest is open to hunting (except camping areas), and hiking.