South Overlook (ia)

South Overlook is on Lake Red Rock, Iowa's largest lake, just 10 miles from Pella, known for its Dutch heritage, and 15 miles from Knoxville, the Sprint car capital of the world. Visitors enjoy boating, fishing, hiking, biking and viewing wildlife. South Overlook offers two reservable picnic shelters with 20 amp electrical outlets and flush toilets nearby. The octagon shelter has seven picnic tables, two standard electrical outlets, an outdoor grill, a 6-foot-diameter fire ring, a water fountain and a restroom close by. The rectangle shelter has five picnic tables, two standard electrical outlets, an outdoor grill, a water fountain and a lake view. The two share 88 paved parking stalls, ample space for larger crowds. Shelter occupancy is permitted until dusk. 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, largemouth and striped bass, walleye, 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 South Overlook, offering shade and scenic views. Wildlife is abundant around the lake. A wide variety of waterfowl, including the American White Pelican, migrate 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.