Head west, young man (and women and boys and girls)

Outdoor blogger, Teri Stickler and her 4-legged companion, Kaia, check out the natural habitat and restored wetlands at West Lake Park, located just west of Davenport. It’s just one of several summertime adventures for the intrepid duo.

By Teri Stickler and her Samoyed, Kaia

Turning the radiator westward, Kaia and I set off to hike and explore West Lake Park. The park is located at 14910 110th Avenue, Davenport, Iowa. This beautiful 620-acre park offers something to accommodate all your outdoor adventures. Come hike for the day or bring your tent or RV and stay longer. You can even rent one of the two luxury cabins.

Kaia and Terry celebrate the summer with adventures to West Lake Park and others the Quad City area.

West Lake has four lakes, the largest being Lake of the Hills, then Railroad Lake, Lambach Lake, and Blue Grass Lake. Boat ramps and ADA Fishing Piers are located on Railroad and Lake of the Hills lakes. Bring your canoe or kayak.

A swimming beach has always been a big park attraction. Unfortunately, due to needing more time for the lakes to fill, the swimming area will not be able to open this year. You will, however, find a 24-hole disc golf course, and a multitude of hiking and biking trails. Five shelters, most with modern restrooms, make a perfect site for a picnic or group gathering. Additionally, there are other picnic areas within the park, some with playground equipment, sand volleyball courts, and horseshoe courts.

Of course, Kaia’s preferred activity generally centers around hiking, taking in the good smells, and searching for something to chase, (which can be frustrating for her, since someone she knows well keeps her on a short tether for these walks).

This time we did most of our exploring near Lake of the Hills and Lambach Lake. Use Gate #1 on 110th Avenue. When you come, of course, you will notice that the lakes are not yet full. Mother Nature will need to supply more precipitation before that is accomplished, but it has all been for a good cause.

West Lake Park was built in the 1960s and over time, the lakes have filled in with soil runoff and needed attention. In 2019 all the lakes were drained to clear out algae, improve the watershed and provide for better fish habitat. Thus the $4 million dollar restoration project began.

The lakes were dredged a little deeper, and the shoreline was stabilized with a large rock, Aquaculture, and fish habitats constructed from concrete-filled buckets that anchor plastic tubes, were set and will eventually be submerged 10-20 feet underwater, all accomplished to protect small fish, and improve the fish population, including blue gill and catfish and eventually many more species. If you are able to go to West Lake Park soon, you will still be able to see the artificial habit with its blue tubing.

As Kaia and I walked the trails (some wide and mowed,) we did see a little color along some of the trails, but one to avoid is a yellow clustered flower that may be colorful and pretty to look at, but you will not want to touch this one as it is not only an invasive plant, but it can present one with a nasty, burning, skin irritation. This plant is called Wild Parsnip.

We also saw some colorful purple flowering plants, Hairy Vetch, only to learn that these too are invasive though do not cause the skin issues as does the Parsnip. Maybe Mother’s advice to children, “Look but do not touch,” is wise guidance by which to abide, at least until one is educated as to what kind of plant they are touching.

We encourage you to explore West Lake Park. It only takes a few minutes to get there. We took West River Drive/Hwy 67 and turned right on 110th Avenue. Check it out. We guarantee you will have an enjoyable time.

Links:

• West Lake Park essential information
• West Lake Restoration Ready for Rainfall
• West Lake Park (North Scott Press article)

Check out Teri and Kaia’s pictures from their most recent adventure …

By Teri Stickler and her Samoyed, Kaia

Turning the radiator westward, Kaia and I set off to hike and explore West Lake Park. The park is located at 14910 110th Avenue, Davenport, Iowa. This beautiful 620-acre park offers something to accommodate all your outdoor adventures. Come hike for the day or bring your tent or RV and stay longer. You can even rent one of the two luxury cabins.

Kaia and Terry celebrate the summer with adventures to West Lake Park and others the Quad City area.

West Lake has four lakes, the largest being Lake of the Hills, then Railroad Lake, Lambach Lake, and Blue Grass Lake. Boat ramps and ADA Fishing Piers are located on Railroad and Lake of the Hills lakes. Bring your canoe or kayak.

A swimming beach has always been a big park attraction. Unfortunately, due to needing more time for the lakes to fill, the swimming area will not be able to open this year. You will, however, find a 24-hole disc golf course, and a multitude of hiking and biking trails. Five shelters, most with modern restrooms, make a perfect site for a picnic or group gathering. Additionally, there are other picnic areas within the park, some with playground equipment, sand volleyball courts, and horseshoe courts.

Of course, Kaia’s preferred activity generally centers around hiking, taking in the good smells, and searching for something to chase, (which can be frustrating for her, since someone she knows well keeps her on a short tether for these walks).

This time we did most of our exploring near Lake of the Hills and Lambach Lake. Use Gate #1 on 110th Avenue. When you come, of course, you will notice that the lakes are not yet full. Mother Nature will need to supply more precipitation before that is accomplished, but it has all been for a good cause.

West Lake Park was built in the 1960s and over time, the lakes have filled in with soil runoff and needed attention. In 2019 all the lakes were drained to clear out algae, improve the watershed and provide for better fish habitat. Thus the $4 million dollar restoration project began.

The lakes were dredged a little deeper, and the shoreline was stabilized with a large rock, Aquaculture, and fish habitats constructed from concrete-filled buckets that anchor plastic tubes, were set and will eventually be submerged 10-20 feet underwater, all accomplished to protect small fish, and improve the fish population, including blue gill and catfish and eventually many more species. If you are able to go to West Lake Park soon, you will still be able to see the artificial habit with its blue tubing.

As Kaia and I walked the trails (some wide and mowed,) we did see a little color along some of the trails, but one to avoid is a yellow clustered flower that may be colorful and pretty to look at, but you will not want to touch this one as it is not only an invasive plant, but it can present one with a nasty, burning, skin irritation. This plant is called Wild Parsnip.

We also saw some colorful purple flowering plants, Hairy Vetch, only to learn that these too are invasive though do not cause the skin issues as does the Parsnip. Maybe Mother’s advice to children, “Look but do not touch,” is wise guidance by which to abide, at least until one is educated as to what kind of plant they are touching.

We encourage you to explore West Lake Park. It only takes a few minutes to get there. We took West River Drive/Hwy 67 and turned right on 110th Avenue. Check it out. We guarantee you will have an enjoyable time.

Links:

• West Lake Park essential information
• West Lake Restoration Ready for Rainfall
• West Lake Park (North Scott Press article)

Check out Teri and Kaia’s pictures from their most recent adventure …

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