Ada Hayden is a wonderful place for a walk with your favorite furry friend, a relaxing kayak excursion, or an evening fishing outing. The well maintained trails circle the lake as well as the upland prairie area, connecting the different parking areas to the rest of the park. The restrooms and drinking fountains are closed in the winter and open back up toward the end of May. There are also a number of trash cans and dog bag stations distributed along the trails to keep things clean. The only caution I would give is that certain times of year (late spring- summer) the tick numbers can be very high, and starting in June the edges of the mowed areas tend to have some wild parsnip growing, which can cause a blistering rash if it gets on your skin. But if you take normal precautions and stay aware of your surroundings, this park is a really wonderful and relaxing place to spend some time in nature!

Ada Hayden is our go to place since it’s serene and peaceful. You can encounter lots of deers and hear and see various kinds of birds. It’s truly a place to observe wonder of nature. The lake is filled with lots of fishes and overall this park is mesmerizing.

Paved walking path perfect for skating, biking, or just walking around the lake. Gorgeous views come around sunset. I have never, but I often see people in kayaks and even some on paddle boards!

Great lake for fishing and kayaking! The surrounding area has nice trails and a few good shelter locations for picnics and other activities. There is a boat ramp available, but no gas motors are allowed to be used on the lake itself. Fishing on the fall, winter, and spring brings a unique opportunity to catch stocked rainbow trout, as well as decent sized wiper and channel catfish year round. Have fun!

Beautiful lake to hang out with friends and families.

Lovely park, with plenty of parking just off highway 69. Road noise can be annoying during peak commute times.

Beautiful trails (five and a half miles of trails!!) surrounding the lake, but also incredibly diverse plant life. The Canadian geese are...a but cranky? But heck that's not the city of Ames's problem lol. If you're lucky, the weather's right and you get out in the early morning, you might get blessed with the sight of fifty feet of stratified fog hanging over the lake. Truly a sight to behold!!

I will always have fond memories of ADA Hayden. This is the place my daughter decided to have her wedding and reception. It August 26 and it was a beautiful day. She got a wonderful husband and I got the son always wanted but never had. The ceremony was held on the big dock by the water. Her soon to be husband was waiting for her on the dock, her sister was taking pictures and I was lucky enough to give her away and let me tell you that had to have been the longest wedding march in history lol. Ada Hayden is a beautiful place for events, just to walk or run, fishing, or just sit and watch the water. I still go there as much as I can. I highly recommend it, anytime your in the area go visit. You will be happy you did.

It was cool and lovely. I hope they bring back a regular vending machine soon. Beware that their current vending machine is mostly for fishing and will NOT give you back change though it's supposed to. We had to keep buying small items to not lose our $5. Their restrooms were locked, also.

Lovely country park, the bird and wildlife are amazing.

I went to Ada Hayden almost daily this past year. Throughout my time living in Ames, it has been a lovely location year round for running, watching the sun set, sledding, and rollerskating. Lots of dogs, well-maintained trails, and friendly, respectful locals.

Ada Haden can get quite busy. And sometimes even rowdy when weekends after dark. When the cars are all thumping, people will run around, in and out of the water. I thought that there was a curfew,But the times I've been out to catfish no one has drove through the park. I especially don't like the kayaking after dark. I think it is unsafe and would make rescue difficult. During the day it is AWESOME. People are friendly, kids playing. They maintain the property very well.

This 430 acre park/lake used to be a quarry. So the lakes themselves are actually quite deep (up to 60 ft). It's named in honor of Ada Hayden, the first woman to receive a doctorate from Iowa State University. There are over 3 miles of paved paths that travel around both lakes, and are well maintained. Great place for walking, running, or biking.

Nice trails. Very busy. The fishing is only so so but the place gets crazy when they stock trout. Too busy to feel like anything more than a city park. Well maintained with some picnic areas and bathrooms are available.

I am in Ames quite often and I'm thankful for a place like Ada Hayden to go and decompress. Has an awesome hiking trail and the lake is perfect for kayaking or canoeing. Beautiful in the fall !

Really nice place !! Great place to hike, bike, or run ! Lake is perfect to canoe or kayak. Beautiful in the fall....nature on display !

Ada Hayden has been a handful of spots that I hold dear to me. It tends to be on the busier side of the parks here in Ames, but that has only enhanced the experience for me. There's trails around the water as well as a dock to get canoes and kayaks in.

What a great lake. Fish jumping. Paved walkway all the way around. Beautifully maintained grounds. Excellent picnic location. SK

A wonderfully managed location, after several years I’m still impressed. Was happy to run along some of the trails. Hopefully they can continue/keep some of the housing developments at bay.

Wonderful spot to take a walk, fish, paddleboard, and take pictures!

It’s a lovely place with a great environment. The path is super nice to walk on and provides some pretty views.