Scharnberg Park
Everly, Iowa · Schamberg Park
Verified · 4 independent sources
- WATER
- pond
- ACCESS
- Designated swim area
- FEE
- $30/night
- SEASON
- May
About Scharnberg Park
Scharnberg Park is a 55-acre Clay County Conservation Board park near Everly, Iowa, built around a 15-acre pond with a designated sandy swimming beach. It functions primarily as a campground and day-use recreation area with fishing, paddle sports, and cabin rentals alongside the beach.
The park sits in rural Clay County northwest Iowa farmland, centered on a 15-acre man-made/impounded pond. It combines a developed campground (61 sites, 3 rental cabins) with day-use recreation areas including the swimming beach, playgrounds, and a hiking/exercise trail loop.
Swimming at Scharnberg Park
An official sandy swimming beach on the pond, described by the managing agency as suited to sunbathing, swimming, and building sandcastles, a calm, family-oriented flat-water beach rather than a river or creek swimming hole. No lifeguard, depth, or water-quality details were found in official sources.
How to get to this swimming hole
From Spencer: west on W. 4th Street (becomes County Road B24) about 6.6-8 miles, then north on 145th Avenue 0.5-0.75 mile. From Everly: south on County Road M27 about 1 mile, east on B24 about 1.5-1.75 miles, then north on 145th Avenue 0.5-0.75 mile. Address given as 3430 145th Ave., Everly, IA.
The hike in
The swimming beach is drive-up/adjacent to parking within the 55-acre park; no hike is needed to reach the water.
The park separately has a mowed loop trail and an exercise trail used for walking/jogging around the grounds, but these are unrelated to reaching the swim beach and no length/difficulty details were published in the sources checked.
Plan your visit
Bringing kids
Good for kids
Calm impounded pond with a sandy designated swimming beach (no current, no waterfall/cliffs); park also has two age-segmented playgrounds (2-4 yr and 5-12 yr), a playscape, and a handicap-accessible fishing pier. No lifeguard is mentioned in official sources, so young children should still be supervised.
Parking
Free
Designated overflow parking areas for extra vehicles are mentioned in the official park materials; no parking fee is stated anywhere (day-use beach access appears free, fees only apply to camping/cabins/shelter rental). Exact lot location/size not specified in sources found.
Restrooms
Yes
Brick shower house at the campground with 7 individual showers, 2 family showers, and separate men's/women's bathrooms; open to campers and day-use park visitors per the official park page and mycountyparks.com listing.
Hours
Park is open 6:30 a.m.-10:30 p.m. year-round (unregistered guests must leave by 10:30 p.m.); the beach concession stand (which also handles watercraft rentals) runs 12:00-8:00 p.m., weather permitting, from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend.
On the water
These are the rental craft offered by the park concession on the 15-acre pond; no explicit rule was found on whether visitors may launch their own private kayaks/canoes/paddleboards, and no motorboat/jet-ski allowance is mentioned (the pond is small and impoundment-scale, consistent with non-motorized use only, but this inference is not confirmed by an explicit regulation, so 'motorboat' is left off the allowed list).
Rentals nearby
Paddle boats, canoes, kayaks, and paddleboards for use on the park's 15-acre pond
On-site at Scharnberg Park beach, 3430 145th Ave., Everly, IA · 12:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m., weather permitting, Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend
Scharnberg Park: FAQ
Does Scharnberg Park charge a fee?
No fee found for beach/day use. Camping rates (as of July 1, 2025): electrical/water with sewer $30/night, electrical/water only $25/night, primitive $12/night. Cabins: Maple $131.25/night, Oak $183.75/night, Pine (ADA) $210/night, with weekend/holiday minimum-night rules. Enclosed shelter rental $75/day.
Is Scharnberg Park kid friendly?
Calm impounded pond with a sandy designated swimming beach (no current, no waterfall/cliffs); park also has two age-segmented playgrounds (2-4 yr and 5-12 yr), a playscape, and a handicap-accessible fishing pier. No lifeguard is mentioned in official sources, so young children should still be supervised.
Do I need to hike to reach Scharnberg Park?
No significant hike is required. The swimming area is close to parking and access.
Where do I park for Scharnberg Park?
Designated overflow parking areas for extra vehicles are mentioned in the official park materials; no parking fee is stated anywhere (day-use beach access appears free, fees only apply to camping/cabins/shelter rental). Exact lot location/size not specified in sources found.
Can I bring a kayak or paddleboard to Scharnberg Park?
These are the rental craft offered by the park concession on the 15-acre pond; no explicit rule was found on whether visitors may launch their own private kayaks/canoes/paddleboards, and no motorboat/jet-ski allowance is mentioned (the pond is small and impoundment-scale, consistent with non-motorized use only, but this inference is not confirmed by an explicit regulation, so 'motorboat' is left off the allowed list).
When is the best time to visit Scharnberg Park?
Beach/concession season runs Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend (concession stand open 12-8 p.m., weather permitting); campground season is approximately May 1 to October 15.
What are the rules at Scharnberg Park?
Park hours 6:30 a.m.-10:30 p.m. year-round, closed to unregistered guests overnight. Pets must be leashed at all times; dogs in cabins must be kenneled; no smoking in cabins; no vehicle/camper washing with park water; no firewood gathering; campsites limited to 14 days per 28-day period; reservations non-transferable with no refunds on cancellation.
