Easter Lake is one of Des Moines’ favorite urban lakes – a 178-acre lake on the city’s southeast side, transformed by a major restoration into a clean, popular spot for fishing, paddling and lakeside trails. Once silted and struggling, it’s now a model of urban-lake renewal and a busy green oasis minutes from downtown.
This guide covers Easter Lake: the restoration, the fishing, the recreation, and access. It’s part of our growing Iowa Lakes Database.
Easter Lake at a glance
- Surface area: ~178 acres, in Des Moines’ Easter Lake Park
- Location: Polk County, central Iowa (southeast Des Moines)
- Top fish: largemouth bass, bluegill, crappie, channel catfish, walleye
An urban-lake comeback
By the 2000s, Easter Lake had filled with sediment and suffered poor water quality. A multi-year, multi-million-dollar watershed and lake restoration – dredging the lake, rebuilding the shoreline and treating the watershed – brought it back to life. Today the water is clearer, the fishery is healthy, and the park is one of the most popular in the Des Moines metro: a genuine success story for urban-lake renewal.
Fishing Easter Lake
The restored lake is a productive city fishery: largemouth bass, bluegill, crappie, channel catfish and stocked walleye. An Iowa fishing license is required. Fishing jetties, accessible shoreline and a boat ramp make it easy and welcoming for anglers of all kinds, and it’s a popular spot to introduce kids to fishing.
Recreation and trails
Easter Lake Park offers a beach, a boat ramp, picnic areas, a playground and a paved trail circling the lake that connects to the Des Moines metro trail system. Kayaking, paddleboarding, walking and biking all thrive here, and the lake hosts community events through the summer. It’s a beloved close-to-home escape for south-side Des Moines.
Getting there and what’s nearby
Easter Lake is on the southeast side of Des Moines in Polk County, just off US-65/IA-5, minutes from downtown. The Des Moines metro’s attractions are all close by.
Know before you go
- Fishing license: an Iowa license is required.
- Restored urban lake: clean water and good access right in the city.
- Best seasons: spring through fall for bass and panfish; year-round for trails.
Frequently asked questions
What fish are in Easter Lake?
Largemouth bass, bluegill, crappie, channel catfish and walleye, in a recently restored fishery.
Was Easter Lake restored?
Yes – a major multi-year watershed and dredging project restored its water quality, shoreline and fishery, making it one of Des Moines’ best urban lakes.
Where is Easter Lake?
On the southeast side of Des Moines in Polk County, central Iowa, off US-65/IA-5.
Related: explore the small lakes of Iowa, or head back to the Iowa Lakes Database.
