Over of hiking trails and of snowmobiling trails are located throughout Springbrook. Woodlands, sandstone, prairie, and clearings are found throughout the park. Oak, maple, hickory, and basswood trees thrive in the timber areas of the park. Swimming, canoeing, and fishing is possible on both the MiddleRaccoon River and the man-made lake on Kings Creek. Three fishing jetties are located along the spring-fed lake on Kings Creek. On the lake, motor boating is allowed only with electric motors. The Middle Raccoon River has a boat ramp and a fishing riffle. Crappie, largemouth bass, bluegill, sunfish, bullhead, and catfish, are regularly caught at Springbrook. Located lakeside are two picnic shelters and several other picnic areas that have tables, grills, water, and restrooms. Also, unsupervised swimming and sunbathing occur at the sandy beach along the lake. Viewing abundant wildlife is very likely. Squirrels, rabbits, red fox, gray fox, coyote, raccoon, beaver, muskrat, red-tailed hawk, bald eagle, wild turkey, Canada geese, and especially deer are often found at Springbrook. A shooting range and a conservation education center is located at the park. Controlled deer hunts occur periodically in sections of the park. Posted hunting areas include the northeast and southwest corners of the park.
Camping
Camping is permitted all year long. 120 campsites are available. Half of the sites are on a first-come, first-served basis but other sites can be reserved. Peak season is from May 1 until September 30. Modern showers and restrooms, a trailer dump station, a basketball court, horse shoe pits, sand volleyball, wireless internet, and a camp store are located in the large campground.
On May 31, 2013, a large sinkhole, at least 20 feet wide by 5 feet deep, occurred along Iowa Highway 384 under the asphalt to the entrance, which is near the boat ramp at the base of Mockingbird Hill. The Iowa Department of Natural Resources contacted the Iowa Department of Transportation who deemed the sinkhole to be unsafe. The Iowa DNR immediately evacuated the campers at Springbrook. In the spring of 2013, according to Harry Hillaker, the state of Iowa climatologist, Iowa had the wettest May and the wettest spring on record. The record precipitation, both rainfall and snowfall, contributed to the formation of the sinkhole. On June 3, 2013, the RAGBRAI XLI route inspection pre-ride assessed the sinkhole for changes to the route through Springbrook and up Mockingbird Hill, which is the steepest hill to be on a RAGBRAI route; however, no changes to the 2013 RAGBRAI route were made.
