Sugar Bottom Day Use Area
Sugar Bottom Day Use Area is a day-use facility located on the shore of Coralville Lake. Coralville Lake is a multiple use project providing benefits in flood control and low flow augmentation, as well as recreation, fish and wildlife management and forest management. Coralville Lake provides many recreational opportunities, including boating, camping, hiking, mountain biking, lake and river fishing, swimming, water skiing, picnicking and hunting.
The day-use location offers a large group picnic area with drinking water and electricity. Amenities include flush toilets, playground, beach, disc golf course and mountain bike trail.
Need to Know
- If shelters are not reserved, they are available free of charge on a first-come, first-served basis.
- Playground and restrooms near the shelters are open to the public.
The shelters and surrounding area must be cleaned and vacated by sunset..
- No parking on the grass, roads, or shoulders.
- Pets must be penned, on a leash under 6 feet in length, or otherwise physically restrained.
- A Special Event permit is required to allow extra-large tents, chairs, inflatable toys, amplified music, ect., near the shelter(s).
- A Special Event Permit is be required for larger groups or special events at the shelter(s).
- A Special Event permit must be obtained at least two weeks prior to your arrival date. Please contact the Coralville Lake Project Office at (319) 338-3543 x.6300
- All of the following items are prohibited: loaded firearms, explosives, ammunition, bow or other projectile-firing devices, fireworks, and chinese lanterns.
- Do not attach anything to trees.
Natural Features
Coralville Lake is located in the Iowa River Valley, just north of Iowa City. Sugar Bottom Day Use lies among a heavily wooded forest of mixed hardwood species on the east side of the lake. Wildlife is abundant throughout the project. White-tailed deer, turkeys, pheasants, waterfowl, song birds and other species roam the lands around the lake.
Recreation
Visitors enjoy Coralville Lake for boating, fishing, swimming and water activities. Anglers will find large and smallmouth bass, crappie, walleye and catfish. Several trails are within Sugar Bottom, including the Cedar Valley Nature Trail and a barrier-free asphalt trail. The Devonian Fossil Gorge is just below the dam, offering a unique opportunity to explore a 375-million-year old sea floor and discover fossil remains of sea life that once inhabited this tropical marine environment. Twenty discovery points can be found throughout the site along with a cell phone audio tour. Sugar Bottom Disc Golf Course is located in the Sugar Bottom Day Use Area and offers 18 partially wooden and open holes. Sugar Bottom Mountain Bike Trail is located in the Sugar Bottom Day Use Area and offers beginner to expert trails.
Contact Information
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2850 Prairie Du Chien Rd. NE Iowa City IA 52240-7820
Phone Number
For campground inquiries, please call: CORALVILLE LAKE PROJECT OFFICE (319) 338-3543 X.6300
Rental Options
Learn more about gear rental options for your trip
Driving Directions
From Interstate 380 (North Liberty, Iowa), take Exit 4 towards North Liberty. Travel East on W. Penn St. for 2.2 miles. At the four way stop sign, turn left onto N. Front St./Mehaffey Bridge Road NE. Continue traveling on Mehaffey Bridge Rd. NE for 2.9 miles. Right after crossing the Mehaffey Bridge, take a right hand turn onto the Sugar Bottom Campground Access Rd. Continue on the Sugar Bottom Campground Access Rd. for 1.1 miles. The entrance to the Sugar Bottom Day Use Area will be on the left. From Highway 1 (Solon, Iowa), turn west onto 180th St. NE/E 5th St. Travel west on180th St. NE for 2.3 miles, the road will then become Mehaffey Bridge Rd. NE. Continue traveling on Mehaffey Bridge Rd. NE for 2.4 miles. Right before the Mehaffey Bridge, take a left hand turn onto the Sugar Bottom Campground Access Rd. Continue on the Sugar Bottom Campground Access Rd. for 1.1 miles. The entrance to the Sugar Bottom Day Use Area will be on the left.
