A gray 4x4 Sprinter with a roof rack on a two-track through a wildflower meadow, cloud sitting on the mountains behind.

Army Corps of Engineers campground

Bulger's Hollow Recreation Area

Army Corps of Engineers campground in Mississippi River - Pools 11-22, Clinton County, Iowa. 608 feet. 4.7 miles from Andover.

Managed by
Army Corps of Engineers Mississippi River - Pools 11-22
Elevation
608 ft USGS elevation model, at the mapped point
Sites
24 24 standard non-electric
Hookups
None listed
Reservations
Recreation.gov

Overview

Bulger's Hollow Recreation Area is a hidden gem located on the Mississippi River. Whether you like camping, fishing, boating, or just taking in nature, Bulger's Hollow Recreation Area is the perfect place.

Recreation

If you are looking for a few nights of good old fashioned camping, then Bulger’s Hollow Recreation Area is your stop. With 23 non-reservable campsites, 17 RV sites and 9 tent camping sites, this park is small in size but offers one of the best views of the Mississippi. This campground offers primitive amenities, such as drinking water, vault toilets, and a dump station. As a reminder, campers have a 14-day camping limit, within a 30-day period. The camping area is open from May 15-October 15. The boat ramp and day use areas are open year-round. Camping is not the only attraction to the area. Bulger’s Hollow also offers a boat ramp, playground equipment and picnic sites for a great way to spend an afternoon with the family.

Fishing Opportunities: Bulger’s Hollow offers a gravel boat launch for access to Pool 13 of the Mississippi River. A popular launching site for local fishermen, you can easily find a honey hole for an afternoon of fishing. Directly in front of the campground is a field of lily pads that are ideal for fishing. You can also take a short trip up or down river to a find a calm backwater slough for hours of casting.

Facilities

Bulger's Hollow Recreation Area offers 23 non-reservable campsites, 14 RV sites and 9 tent camping sites, primitive amenities, such as drinking water, vault toilets, and a dump station. Other facilities in the park include a boat ramp, playground, and picnic shelter.

Natural Features

Bulger's Hollow Recreation Area is a great place to view wildlife, boat, fish, and camp. It sits along the Mississippi River, 7.5 miles North of Clinton, IA off Highway 67. You'll have to travel about 1 mile on a gravel road to get here, but it's well worth it.

Nearby Attractions

Lock and Dam 13, Fulton, IL

Eagle Point Park, Clinton, IA

The Sawmill Museum, Clinton, IA

Wide River Winery, Clinton, IA

City of Clinton Showboat

Clinton Lumberkings Baseball, Clinton, IA

Bickelhaupt Arboretum, Clinton, IA

Felix Adler Children's Discovery Center, Clinton, IA

Windmill Culture Center, Fulton, IL

Heritage Canyon, Fulton, IL

The description, directions and fees are the Army Corps of Engineers’s own words, from its record on Recreation.gov.

What people do here

  • birding
  • boating
  • camping
  • canoeing
  • day use area
  • fishing
  • kayaking
  • paddling
  • picnicking

The land around Bulger's Hollow Recreation Area

The ringed pin is this campground; the others are its nearest neighbours. Switch on forest roads or BLM routes to see the way in.

Interactive map. Drag to pan, scroll or pinch to zoom, and select any point to see which agency manages the land. Arrow keys pan and the plus and minus keys zoom when the map has focus. A list of every state with its share of federal land is on the Explore page.

Map layers

Layers
Base map
Legend

Federal land, by managing agency

  • Bureau of Land Management (BLM)
  • US Forest Service (USFS)
  • National Park Service (NPS)
  • US Fish and Wildlife (USFW)
  • Bureau of Reclamation (USBR)
  • Department Of Defense (DOD)
  • Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA)
  • Other Federal
  • State
  • Local
  • Alaska Native Lands (Patented or Interim Conveyed)
  • Alaska Native Allotment

Federal campgrounds, by agency

  • Forest Service
  • Bureau of Land Management
  • National Park Service
  • Army Corps of Engineers
  • Reclamation, Fish and Wildlife and others

State and local land (USGS PAD-US)

  • State land
  • County and city land
  • Regional agency or district
  • Land trust or conservancy

Gaps with no tint inside public land are private parcels, often old mining claims and homesteads. They are not open to the public.

Dashed clay lines on the base map are unpaved tracks from OpenStreetMap. They show what exists on the ground, not what is legal to drive.

Select any point to see who manages the land.

Boundaries are approximate and land status changes. This map is a planning aid, not a survey or a statement of access. Confirm routes, closures and camping rules with the managing office.

Source: Recreation Information Database (Recreation.gov), record updated August 11, 2026. Elevation from the USGS 3D Elevation Program. Seasons, fees, water and fire rules change; the managing office has the final word.