Skip to content
North Overlook Picnic Shelter (Ia) Campground in Iowa
Hard to Book

North Overlook Picnic Shelter (Ia) Campground

Lake Red Rock, Iowa

Sold out? We check North Overlook Picnic Shelter (Ia) Campground for cancellations and email you the moment a site opens.

Sold out for your dates?

Free to start. Email alerts included.

As of October 2026, North Overlook Picnic Shelter (Ia) Campground is a campground in Iowa with 1 campsite. North Overlook Picnic Shelter (Ia) Campground is booked through Recreation.gov.

  • PermitSnag checks North Overlook Picnic Shelter (Ia) Campground for availability and tells alert holders when a site opens up.
  • North Overlook Picnic Shelter (Ia) Campground is located at 41.3639ยฐ N, 92.9865ยฐ W.
people allowed on each site
250

North Overlook Picnic Shelter (Ia) Campground reservations and next available dates

October 2026

open, tap to book on Recreation.govsold outin your alert

Stay and booking rules

  • Group bookings open: 6 Months
  • Maximum stay: 14 nights
  • Military discount available

Published by Recreation.gov for North Overlook Picnic Shelter (Ia) Campground, read on September 28, 2026.

Campsites at North Overlook Picnic Shelter (Ia) Campground

  • Group 1
  • Accessible 1
  • Hookups 1

Amenities

  • restrooms
  • potable water

At a glance: Setting: Forest ยท Access: Paved road.

Things to do: fishing, boating, swimming, hiking, wildlife, photography.

All sites at North Overlook Picnic Shelter (Ia) Campground, as listed by Recreation.gov

Every site is in the North Overlook Picnic Shelter loop.

SiteTypeSleepsHookupsAccess
North Overlook Picnic ShelterGroup250ElectricAccessible

About North Overlook Picnic Shelter (Ia) Campground

Overview

North Overlook Picnic Shelter is located adjacent from North Overlook Campground on Lake Red Rock, Iowa's largest lake. It is just 10 minutes from Pella, known for its Dutch heritage, and 15 minutes from Knoxville, the Sprint car capital of the world. Visitors enjoy boating, fishing, hiking, biking and viewing wildlife.

For more information regarding the Army Corps of Engineers and the Lake Red Rock Project, click here: Lake Red Rock Website

Recreation

Lake Red Rock offers excellent boating, water skiing and swimming opportunities. Miles of water trails for kayakers and canoeists are designated along the shoreline.

Anglers will find crappie, walleye, largemouth and striped bass, channel and flathead catfish, northern pike and bluegill.

Several miles of trails for hiking and biking are in the area. The 15 mile paved Volksweg Trail stretches west from Pella to the Des Moines River and to the Cordova Recreation Area.

Facilities

North Overlook Picnic Shelter is a conventional open shelter that offers 20 amp electrical service, picnic tables, an outdoor grill, fire ring, water fountain and nearby flush toilets.

If your event is open to the public, greater than 100 people, involves live or amplified music, or if alcohol will be available to attendees, you may need an event permit. Click the link below to apply for an event permit:

Special Event Permit

If shelter is not reserved, it is available free of charge on a first-come, first-served basis.

Shelter occupancy is permitted until dusk.

Natural Features

Lake Red Rock is situated on the Des Moines River. Hardwood forests cover the lake shore at North Overlook, offering shade and scenic views.

Wildlife is abundant around the lake. 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 small animals are commonly viewed around the lake.

Nearby Attractions

Des Moines, Iowa's capital, is an hour away, with numerous shopping and dining opportunities, museums and the Blank Park Zoo.

Charges & Cancellations

A $10.00 service fee will apply if you change or cancel your reservation. The $10.00 service fee will be deducted from the refund amount. Cancel or change reservations through recreation.com or by calling 1-877-444-6677. Late cancellations are subject to additional fees.

Rules and notices at North Overlook Picnic Shelter (Ia) Campground

Recreation.gov does not date these notices. We last read them on September 28, 2026. Check North Overlook Picnic Shelter (Ia) Campground on Recreation.gov

Notices from Recreation.gov

Shelter occupancy is permitted until dusk.

This is a Day-Use area. There is no overnight camping allowed.

Golf carts, UTVs, and ATVs are not permitted.

Inflatable play equipment (i.e. bounce houses and similar equipment) is not permitted without a Special Event Permit. Please contact the Lake Red Rock Project Office at 641-828-7522 with questions or to inquire about the process for obtaining a permit.

North Overlook Picnic Shelter (Ia) Campground FAQ

How hard is it to get a campsite at North Overlook Picnic Shelter (Ia) Campground?

North Overlook Picnic Shelter (Ia) Campground is rated "Hard to Book" based on historical demand. This campground is popular and often books out weeks in advance. Your best strategy is to monitor cancellations.

How do I find last-minute availability at North Overlook Picnic Shelter (Ia) Campground?

Cancellations happen frequently at North Overlook Picnic Shelter (Ia) Campground, especially 1-2 weeks before check-in dates. PermitSnag monitors availability 24/7 and sends instant alerts when sites open up due to cancellations. This is often the best way to snag popular campsites.

How many campsites does North Overlook Picnic Shelter (Ia) Campground have?

North Overlook Picnic Shelter (Ia) Campground has 1 campsites.

Campgrounds

Browse Campsites

Monitor campsite availability across federal and state parks. Get alerts when sites open up at sold-out campgrounds.

One tick helps us more than youโ€™d think

Google lets you pick the sites it highlights for you. Add PermitSnag and our campground pages get marked as one of yours in AI Overviews and AI Mode.

Add PermitSnag in Google

Takes less than a minute.