South Tailwater Picnic Shelter

South Tailwater Picnic Shelter is located on the Des Moines River on the south end of Red Rock Dam, adjacent to the visitor center 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. South Tailwater is a conventional open shelter offering 20 amp electrical service across four standard outlets, six picnic tables, one 36-by-28-inch outdoor grill, a water fountain and 40 paved parking stalls. Flush toilets and a playground are close by, along with river fishing access and two fish cleaning stations. 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. If the shelter is not reserved, it is available free of charge on a first-come, first-served basis, and shelter occupancy is permitted until dusk. Lake Red Rock offers excellent boating, water skiing and swimming opportunities, 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 trails for hiking and biking 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. South Tailwater is situated on the south bank of the Des Moines River, offering 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; and white-tailed deer, turkeys and other small animals are commonly viewed around the lake. Des Moines, Iowa's capital, is an hour away, with numerous shopping and dining opportunities, museums and the Blank Park Zoo.