North Overlook Picnic Shelter (ia)

North Overlook Picnic Shelter is adjacent to 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. This is a conventional open shelter with 20 amp electrical service and six standard outlets, 15 picnic tables, a large outdoor grill, a fire ring, two enclosed fireplaces, overhead lighting, a deck, a water fountain and 62 paved parking stalls. Flush toilets are nearby, as are Volksweg trail access and beach access. Shelter occupancy is permitted until dusk. If the shelter is not reserved, it is available free of charge on a first-come, first-served basis. 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. Lake Red Rock offers excellent boating, water skiing and swimming, and 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 hiking and biking trails are in the area, including the 15-mile paved Volksweg Trail, which stretches west from Pella to the Des Moines River and to the Cordova Recreation Area. Lake Red Rock sits on the Des Moines River, and 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 in spring and fall; bald eagles can be observed from November through March; and white-tailed deer, turkeys and other small animals are commonly seen. Des Moines, Iowa's capital, is an hour away, with numerous shopping and dining opportunities, museums and the Blank Park Zoo.