Just north of Algona in southern Kossuth Co. Starting from Algona, Smith Lake Park is three miles north on U.S. 169 from U.S. 18.

When entering from Hwy 169, the campground is to the left, and the Smith Lake Tree Garden is to the right. There is a playground area and many picnic tables. A bridge leads to the tree garden, which has mown paths. (Chiggers were an issue in June 2023.)  The Water's Edge Nature Center is the large building across the lake.

The Water's Edge Nature Center's parking lot is accessible from 250th Street (B30). This is a very nice facility with displays, bathrooms, feeders, a deck, and meeting space. 

There is a bird blind by the lake a short distance from the nature center.

To access a path through pine trees, walk from the nature center parking lot road as though exiting but stop when you see a path to the left of a lamp post (see photo).

There is a mown path along the edge of the lake from the Tree Garden to the nature center, so it's possible to walk all the way around the lake, which would include the campground area if going all the way around.