How close is the house to Ada Hayden Heritage Park?

About a 5-minute walk. The lake loop, biking, and fishing are all close by.

What is there to do at Ada Hayden Lake?

Walk, run, or bike the roughly 2.8-mile paved loop, fish from the accessible dock, or put a canoe or kayak in at the boat launch (electric motors only). It's also a well-known spot for birdwatching, with herons, bald eagles, sandhill cranes, and white pelicans passing through, and it draws ice fishing once the lake freezes.

Stores and restaurants are about 5 minutes away by car, and Iowa State University is about 10 minutes away.

Nature on the edge of town

Staying near Ada Hayden Heritage Park

One of the best parts of the location is Ada Hayden Heritage Park and Lake, close enough to walk to from the front door. Here's what's nearby and what a stay around the park looks like.

The park is a short walk away

Ada Hayden Heritage Park and Lake sits on the north edge of Ames, about a five-minute walk from the house. You can head out for the lake loop, bring bikes, or fish for a while without needing to get in the car first.

It is the kind of thing that changes how a stay feels. Morning coffee on the deck, a walk around the water, and you are back at the house before the day really starts.

Ada Hayden Lake framed by willow branches, with a fishing dock and picnic shelter across the water under a blue sky. — Photos courtesy of the City of Ames

Charcoal grills on a lawn beside the paved trail, with the open lake and wooded far shore behind. — Photos courtesy of the City of Ames

Close by

A quick sense of what's near the house.

Ada Hayden Heritage Park & Lake
About a 5-minute walk. The lake loop is good for walking and biking, and the water draws people out for fishing.
Stores & restaurants
About 5 minutes away by car, so a grocery run or a dinner out is quick.
Iowa State University
About 10 minutes by car, along with Jack Trice Stadium and campus.

From quarry to lake

The centerpiece is Ada Hayden Lake, a former quarry that now sits at the heart of a park covering around 190 acres. The city opened it in the early 2000s and restored much of the surrounding land to native prairie and wetland. It is named for Ada Hayden, an Iowa State botanist who spent her career working to protect Iowa's prairies.

That mix of water and restored prairie makes it a favorite with birdwatchers. Herons, loons, bald eagles, sandhill cranes, and white pelicans all pass through over the course of the year, and you will often spot beavers or muskrats working along the shoreline. Spring and fall migration are the best times to look.

Ways to spend time at the lake

The park is open daily from 6 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. A few ways to fill a morning or an afternoon:

Walk, run, or bike the loop
The paved outer loop runs about 2.8 miles around the water, with crushed-rock paths like the North Loop and the Figure 8 branching out through the prairie for a longer route.
Cast a line
There's an accessible fishing dock and open shoreline to fish from. Bring an Iowa fishing license; state regulations apply, and there's no fishing from the bridge.
Get on the water
A boat launch makes it easy to put in a canoe or kayak. Only electric motors are allowed, so the lake stays quiet.
Watch for wildlife
Bring binoculars for the birds and keep an eye on the water for beaver and muskrat. The restored prairie draws its own mix of wildlife through the seasons.
Picnic and grill
Covered shelters, picnic tables, and grills sit near the water, so it's easy to bring lunch along and make an afternoon of it.
Winter on the lake
When it freezes over, the lake draws ice fishing, and the plowed stretches of trail are good for a cold, quiet walk.

A quiet base for the outdoors

Back at the house, the wooded acre keeps things private. Long decks, a covered patio, and an upper balcony give you room to be outside, and the hot tub is a good place to land after a day at the park or around town.

It works well for people who want time outdoors without going far to find it: a weekend by the water, a family trip, or a slower stay where the park does most of the planning for you.

Common questions

How close is the house to Ada Hayden Heritage Park?: About a 5-minute walk. The lake loop, biking, and fishing are all close by.
What is there to do at Ada Hayden Lake?: Walk, run, or bike the roughly 2.8-mile paved loop, fish from the accessible dock, or put a canoe or kayak in at the boat launch (electric motors only). It's also a well-known spot for birdwatching, with herons, bald eagles, sandhill cranes, and white pelicans passing through, and it draws ice fishing once the lake freezes.
What else is nearby?: Stores and restaurants are about 5 minutes away by car, and Iowa State University is about 10 minutes away.

Stay a short walk from the lake

Base yourself minutes from Ada Hayden on a private wooded acre. Check the dates and book the A-frame.

See the full house