Pilot Knob State Park, State park in Hancock County, Iowa

Pilot Knob State Park is a 368.81-acre Iowa state park southeast of Forest City. Its rustic observation tower, built of rubble granite by CCC Company 1757 in 1934, rises 33.6 feet (10.2 m) atop Pilot Knob. The park also holds a 15-acre man-made lake for boating and fishing and the 4-acre Dead Man's Lake, a floating sphagnum bog.

Citizens purchased the land in 1920 through fundraising and established it as a state park in 1923, making it one of Iowa's earliest protected areas. The 1930s saw major development when the Civilian Conservation Corps built infrastructure that shaped the park.

The Civilian Conservation Corps left visible marks through limestone structures like the amphitheater and picnic shelters that shape the park experience today. These buildings from the 1930s show how public work programs shaped the land for visitors.

The park has campgrounds with electrical hookups, modern shower facilities, and clearly marked trails for hiking and horseback riding throughout the grounds. Wear sturdy footwear since trails cross varied terrain and conditions change with the seasons.

Dead Man's Lake is a 4-acre (1.6 ha) floating sphagnum bog, the only one of its kind in Iowa. The bog area supports a variety of flora and waterfowl. It lies southwest of the picnic shelter, near the timber.