Tucked away about two miles down a dirt road in north Ames, McFarland Park is a 200-acre park that is home to a lake, 5.5 miles of trails and an observatory. 

The park is open year round and offers different activities, depending on the season, from hiking and biking in the warmer months to ice fishing and cross country skiing in the wintertime, according to the official Story County website. 

The park is also located near Peterson Park, an old mining area turned into a park and a 31-acre lake.