Pleasant Creek State Recreation Area

{{Short description|Protected area in Iowa, United States}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}

{{Infobox park

| name = Pleasant Creek State Recreation Area

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| photo_width = 280

| map = USA Iowa#USA

| map_caption = Location in Iowa##Location in United States

| map_width = 280

| relief = 1

| label = Pleasant Creek State Recreation Area

| label_position =

| location = Linn County, Iowa, United States

| nearest_city = Palo, Iowa

| coordinates = {{coord|42|07|09|N|91|48|21|W|display=inline,title}}

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| area = {{convert|1927|acre}}

| elevation =

| established =

| administrator = Iowa Department of Natural Resources

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| website = {{Official website}}

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Pleasant Creek State Recreation Area is a {{convert|1927|acre|adj=on}} state recreation area in Linn County, Iowa, United States, near the city of Palo. The recreation area is home to the {{convert|410|acre|adj=on}} Pleasant Creek Lake. Both the lake and the park were formed in the 1960s to provide eastern Iowa with a large recreational lake.

Pleasant Creek Lake features four boat ramps and a kayak launch, and its clear water makes it a popular site for scuba diving. The lake also has several fishing jetties; fish living in the lake include channel catfish, muskellunge, largemouth bass, and white bass. The entire recreation area is also open to hunting. The park includes {{convert|8|mi|spell=in}} of multi-use trails used for hiking, horseback riding, mountain biking, and skiing and snowmobiling in the winter. It also has three modern campsites and four camping cabins.{{cite web |title=Pleasant Creek State Recreation Area map and flyer |url=https://www.iowadnr.gov/media/6642/download?inline |publisher=Iowa Department of Natural Resources |access-date=April 9, 2025}}{{cite web |title=Pleasant Creek State Recreation Area |url=https://www.iowadnr.gov/places-go/state-parks/all-parks/pleasant-creek-state-recreation-area |publisher=Iowa Department of Natural Resources |access-date=April 9, 2025}}