Lake View offers endless opportunities for outdoor recreation. Whether your passion is biking or birding or just connecting with family and friends outdoors, we have something for you. Our historic stone piers along the city shoreline of Black Hawk Lake offer access to the water for fishing, photography or just relaxing. They also provide the background for many summer weddings and Lake View’s annual series of outdoor music concerts – the Stone Pier Summer Concert Series. Take a stroll on the Pier to Pier walkway that connects the two Stone Piers for a great way to watch the action on Black Hawk Lake.
Picnic Areas
Black Hawk Lake has terrific spaces for picnicking or hosting your family reunion. There are two historic, native stone shelter houses near the lake, one at 30 Acres and the other at Denison Beach. These shelters can be reserved through the Iowa DNR and provide a great place to host friends and family. Wade in the water, toss a frisbie, put up your volleyball net, fire up the charcoal grill or sit back and enjoy the day.
Picnickers can also enjoy the wide-open spaces of Gun Shot Hill or Ice House Point. These lakeside recreation areas offer great views of Black Hawk Lake and shoreline fishing opportunities. Ice House Point offers access to a hard-surface walking/biking trail, handicapped-accessible dock and our new handicapped-accessible fish house.
If you are looking for more action, check out Speaker Park. This two-acre park features modern playground equipment, a splash pad, two new pickleball courts, basketball court, ample open space and two shelter houses – one open-air and one enclosed that is heated and cooled year-round. Speaker Park is also home to the community’s Memorial Rose Garden and Veteran’s Memorial. The park has modern restroom facilities for public use as well. The Speaker Park shelter house can be reserved by contacting City Hall at 712-657-2634.
Recreational Trails
In addition to the Sauk Rail Trail, Lake View has other trails for recreational use. Hikers frequent the Stubb Severson Nature Trail adjacent to the inlet at the south of Black Hawk Lake. Dedicated in memory of Bernard “Stubb” Severson, this self-guided interpretive trail winds through the Black Hawk Game Preserve and is used to access the Witches Tower, a stone shelter built on the highest point overlooking the lake area by the C.C.C. during the Depression. The Game Preserve trail system also boasts a multi-use trail that can be utilized for horseback riding.
Splash Pad
Speaker Park is home to Lake View’s new Splash Pad. Located near the Shelter House between the playground equipment and basketball court, the Splash Pad offers kids of all physical capabilities a safe, clean option for water play. It is open every day from Memorial Day to Labor Day from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Benches are available with shade for spectators along with free wi-fi. A popular summer activity amongst the youngsters, splashers enjoy the water by pushing the button in the center of the pad.
Golfing
For the golfer in your family, Lake View has three public golf courses located within fifteen minutes of town. Spring Lake Golf and Country Club is a nine-hole, par 36 course located five miles west of Lake View along Highway 71. Sac City has the Sac Country Club, a nine-hole, par 34 course located approximately 10 minutes from Lake View. Ten miles south of Lake View on the east side of Breda is the Breda Golf Course. A nine-hole, par 35 course, they also have a driving range available.
Winter Recreation
Outdoor recreation in Lake View and Black Hawk Lake continues even when cold weather arrives. Winter brings ice fishing, snowshoeing, ice skating and snowmobiling. With groomed trails countywide, Lake View and Sac County offer great terrain for snowmobiling. Snowmobilers can also use the 33-mile Sauk Rail Trail running from Lake View to Carroll for their enjoyment. The annual Arctic Open Golf Tournament on the frozen water of Black Hawk Lake the first weekend of February is always a popular event.