Getting Oriented
Gypsum City occupies about 800 acres on the southeast edge of Fort Dodge, in the middle of ground that Webster County mined for gypsum for more than a century. Fort Dodge is one of the country's larger gypsum-producing districts, and when the pits here played out, the county turned the reclaimed land into a riding area rather than leaving it idle. The concept dates to 2000, Phase 1 opened in 2006, and a second phase opened in 2014. Today the Webster County Conservation Board runs day-to-day operations under a partnership that includes the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, the City of Fort Dodge, and the Webster County Improvement Corporation. With roughly 60 miles of trail across rolling, re-forested mine land, it is the largest off-highway vehicle park in Iowa.
Trail Overview
The network is designed around ATVs, side-by-sides, and off-road motorcycles. It ranges from open prairie and wide perimeter routes that suit novice riders to heavily timbered singletrack in the interior, where the grades steepen and the lines tighten. Expect loose dirt over hard pack, bermed corners, small and large jumps, clay hill climbs, and mud holes that hold water after rain. Roughly 15 miles of the system is wooded trail. Trail signs mark difficulty and note which vehicle types each route allows, so riders can sort the easy beginner loops from the more technical timber before committing to a line. Beyond the trails, the park carries a 1.5-mile motocross track, an amateur supercross track, a beginner circle track, a 0.4-mile children's track, and a skills-development course.
Points of Interest
- A 1.5-mile motocross track, professionally designed, plus an amateur supercross track.
- A 0.4-mile children's track and a beginner circle track for first-time riders.
- A skills-development course for practicing technique off the main trails.
- Heavily timbered ravines and clay hill climbs through the park interior.
- Mud holes and low water crossings that fill after rain.
- Fishing ponds, a picnic shelter, and a playscape near the entrance and campground.
Where to Camp
The park has a 33-site campground with full-hookup and electric/water-only sites, plus a few camping cabins near the trails. Sites 1 through 8 are first-come, first-served; the rest reserve online through mycountyparks.com. The campground operates April 15 to October 15. Nightly rates run about $30 for a full-hookup RV site and $25 for electric/water-only or tent sites. Fort Dodge, two miles north, adds motels and full services for riders who would rather not camp.
Permits and Regulations
Every machine must display a current Iowa DNR off-highway-vehicle registration, which runs $18.50 a year. Riders from out of state must register in their home state and also carry an Iowa Nonresident User Permit, $18.50 online or $17.50 through a license agent or county recorder. There is no separate gate or day-use fee to ride. Helmets are required for everyone, and riders ages 12 to 17 must carry an Iowa ATV education certificate. Machines cannot exceed 65 inches in width or 2,000 pounds, which keeps full-size four-wheel-drive trucks and Jeeps out; this is an ATV, UTV, and dirt-bike park, not a rock-crawling area. Trails are open sunrise to sunset year-round, though phases close during and after heavy rain and for maintenance. Check the Iowa DNR OHV alerts page before driving up.
Tips for a Safe and Enjoyable Trip
- Check the Iowa DNR OHV alerts page the morning you ride; individual phases close after storms and during maintenance.
- Clay-based trails stay greasy for a day or two after rain, and the mud holes deepen through the season. Air down and carry a strap.
- Buy or renew Iowa registration before you arrive; the penalty-free renewal window runs September 1 to December 31.
- Match your route to the trail signs, which flag both difficulty and which vehicle types are allowed.
- Reach the park office or rangers at 515-576-4258 for current conditions and campground questions.
Fuel and Water
Fort Dodge sits about two miles north and has the last fuel, groceries, water, and parts supply before the park; fill cans and water jugs in town. The campground has drinking water and restrooms near the entrance, but there are no services out on the trail system, so carry water, tools, and recovery gear for the ride.
Nearby
Fort Dodge, two miles north, has lodging, restaurants, and the Fort Museum and Frontier Village. Brushy Creek State Recreation Area lies southeast of town with a large multi-use trail system for non-motorized recreation. For more motorized riding, Bluff Creek OHV Area near Ottumwa is one of the other larger parks in the Iowa DNR OHV system, though it is a multi-hour drive to the southeast.