Entry No. 76 — the Des Moines file — filed under: after-dark

Annett Nature Center observation tower

A 160-acre Warren County nature preserve on a hillside ringed by farmland, with a 30-foot observation tower that central-Iowa stargazers favor as a dark-sky perch just south of the metro. Sitting next to Lake Ahquabi State Park and away from city glow, it stays surprisingly dark for being this close to Des Moines, though the park grounds close at 10 p.m., so it's an evening-into-night spot rather than an all-nighter. Climb the tower platform after sunset with binoculars or a telescope and you can pick out constellations, meteor showers, and the occasional planet. (The nature center building keeps weekday daytime hours, but the trails and tower are open until close.)

The move: Pack a blanket and a thermos, hike the short path to the 30-foot tower after sunset, and lie back to watch for shooting stars away from the streetlights.

📍 Before you go Free, open 24/7 year-round; the nature center building has limited hours but the grounds and tower are accessible after dark. No on-site telescopes, so bring your own optics, and a meteor shower or new-moon night is best.

• 📍 Indianola (near Lake Ahquabi), Warren County
• 💸 $
• ⚡ Low-key
• 🌗 Outdoors

Where: 15565 118th Ave, Indianola, IA 50125

Hours: Added 2026-06-23 — confirm current hours before you go.

Plan a visit & invite your people →

Proof: source 1 · source 2 · source 3 · source 4

last checked: 2026-06-23