The park's lake serves as a functional retention basin for regional stormwater management.
The trail loop is exactly 1.2 miles, making it a popular circuit for local runners and walkers tracking their distance.
The park is managed by the City of Pleasant Hill Parks and Recreation Department rather than the City of Des Moines.
The lake shoreline is intentionally landscaped with native prairie grasses to prevent erosion and filter water contaminants.
Copper Creek Lake Park is a municipal green space in Pleasant Hill, Iowa, centered around a man-made lake. The park features a 1.2-mile crushed limestone trail that circles the entire water body. It serves as a local hub for catch-and-release fishing, with the lake stocked with bass, bluegill, and channel catfish. The grounds include designated picnic shelters and open turf areas adjacent to the water. A secondary trail system extends into the wooded sections on the north side of the park, offering shaded hiking options. The park maintains a native landscape aesthetic to support local wildlife and manage stormwater runoff.
The wooden bridge on the north side of the lake provides an unobstructed view of the water with the tree line in the background.
Bring polarized sunglasses to better spot fish in the shallows along the shoreline.
Check the local Pleasant Hill recreation board for seasonal fishing tournament schedules that may increase foot traffic.
Wear insect repellent during the summer months due to the proximity to standing water and wooded trails.
Do not attempt to swim in the lake as the water is for flood control and fishing use only.
Leash your dogs at all times and practice catch-and-release fishing only.
