Open
Open for the season April through September. Reservations required via Recreation.gov before occupying a site. Check-in is 3:00 PM, check-out is 2:00 PM.
About
Ivans Recreation Area is a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers campground situated just below the Red Rock Dam on the south side of the Des Moines River. All 21 campsites feature 50-amp electric hookups and accommodate RVs, trailers, and tents. The campground provides flush toilets, showers, and drinking water, though campers needing dump station services must use other Lake Red Rock facilities.
Lake Red Rock offers excellent recreational opportunities including boating, water skiing, wakeboarding, and swimming. Miles of water trails are designated for kayakers and canoeists along the shoreline. Anglers will find crappie, walleye, largemouth and striped bass, channel and flathead catfish, northern pike, and bluegill. The 15-mile paved Volksweg Trail stretches west from Pella to the Des Moines River.
Hardwood forests cover the riverbanks, offering shade and scenic views. A wide variety of waterfowl, including the American White Pelican, migrates through the area in spring and fall. Bald eagles can be observed from November through March. White-tailed deer, turkeys, and other wildlife are commonly seen around the lake.
Directions
From Knoxville, take Highway T15 and turn east onto Jewell Drive, then turn north on 198th Place. Address: 1125 198th Place, Knoxville, IA 50138.
