Openings · last 7 days
0
01 · Detected Opening History · the openings record · file CS-10239231
When South Tailwater Picnic Shelter reopens
South Tailwater Picnic Shelter's openings record: every site-date Campsite Sniper detected turning available, logged and time-stamped. Refreshed hourly.
Openings · last 30 days
0
Openings · last 90 days
25
Only 25 openings in the last 90 days: not enough recent activity for a reliable pattern. A free Campsite Sniper alert watches around the clock instead, and pings you the moment one opens.
02 · Availability Outlook · Sep 18 – Oct 18, 2026 · of 1 monitored site
Of the 31 tracked reservation dates (Sep 18 – Oct 18, 2026): 27 open for online reservation · 4 on sites not offered for online reservation (first-come, first-served or administrative).
Where the open windows are
12.9% of tracked reservation dates are not currently open for online reservation. 27 of 31 remain open; here is where they are.
Load status
Sep 18 – Oct 18, 2026Not open online12.9%
Open reservation dates27 / 31
Reserved (of online inventory)0 / 27
Weekday openings15
Weekend openings12
Of the open reservation dates on mapped day-use units, 15 fall on weekdays and 12 on weekends (Fri–Sun).
Open dates by month
Sep 2026 – Oct 2026October holds the most room. 18 of 18 reservation dates are still open there.
Holiday windows — day use
Units open per date · of 1 shelter| Window | Date | Units open | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Labor Day | SAT Sep 5 | 0 | None open |
| SUN Sep 6 | 0 | None open | |
| MON Sep 7 | 0 | None open |
Labor Day: no online availability on any tracked date.
Availability by shelter
Most open reservation dates · tracked window| Shelter | Open reservation dates |
|---|---|
| South Tailwater Picnic Shelter | 27 |
This shelter currently has 27 reservation dates available.
Next windows
As of Sep 18, 2026 snapshotNext open dateTue · Sep 22
Next open weekendFri · Sep 25
The next bookable date is Sep 22; the first open weekend starts Sep 25. Campsite Sniper can watch later dates for you.
Reservation dates
27 available reservation dates across 1 shelter at South Tailwater Picnic Shelter, from the same hourly snapshot as everything above.
All 1 shelter with current availability
| Shelter | Open reservation dates | Consecutive dates | Dates |
|---|---|---|---|
| South Tailwater Picnic Shelter | 27 | 27 dates | Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 24, Sep 25, Sep 26, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29, Sep 30, Oct 1, Oct 2, Oct 3 +15 more |
About South Tailwater Picnic Shelter
Overview
South Tailwater Picnic Shelter is located on the Des Moines River on the south end of Red Rock Dam adjacent from 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.
For more information regarding the Army Corps of Engineers and the Lake Red Rock Project, click here: Lake Red Rock Website
Features
6 - Picnic tables
4 - Standard electrical outlets
1 - 36” x 28” outdoor grill
40 - Paved parking stalls
Water fountain
Close to restroom
Close to playground
River fishing Access
2 - Fish cleaning stations
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
South Tailwater Picnic Shelter is a conventional open shelter that offers 20 amp electrical service, picnic tables, an outdoor grill, 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
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. White-tailed deer, turkeys and other small animals are commonly viewed around the lake.
Nearby Attractions
Lake Red Rock is just 10 minutes from Pella, known for its Dutch heritage, and 15 minutes from Knoxville, the Sprint car capital of the world. Des Moines, Iowa's capital, is an hour away, with numerous shopping and dining opportunities, museums and the Blank Park Zoo.
1 monitored shelterDay useWaterfrontRiverfrontPets OKFire pitsMax party 250
Getting there
1006 Hwy T15 Knoxville, Iowa 50138 From Pella, Iowa, take County Highway T-15 southwest for 4 miles, then follow signs to South Tailwater Recreation Area.
1106 Highway T15, Knoxville, IA 50138641-828-7522
BikingBirdingDay Use AreaFishingHikingPicnickingWildlife Viewing
View on Recreation.gov ↗ Get directions ↗
FAQ
How do I get a reservation at South Tailwater Picnic Shelter?
Reservations for South Tailwater Picnic Shelter are made through Recreation.gov. The current snapshot shows substantial availability: 27 of 31 tracked reservation dates are open (87.1%), though availability can change. Campsite Sniper has also detected 25 site openings here in the last 90 days, so further dates may appear. Pick the shelter on the map to see its reservation calendar, or set a free Campsite Sniper alert. You complete the reservation yourself on Recreation.gov.
Does Campsite Sniper book this facility for me?
No. Campsite Sniper sends alerts and direct Recreation.gov links. It never books, pays for, holds, hoards, or resells reservations.
How current is this availability data?
Campsite Sniper re-checks public Recreation.gov availability for this facility every hour and republishes whenever anything changes. This facility's data last changed at Sep 18, 2026 16:19 UTC; an older timestamp means nothing has changed since that time, not that checking stopped. Always confirm final availability on Recreation.gov when you book.
How often do new openings appear at South Tailwater Picnic Shelter?
Campsite Sniper detected 25 site-date openings here over the last 90 days, none in the last 7. A free alert watches around the clock and pings you the moment one appears.
Which month has the most availability at South Tailwater Picnic Shelter?
October 2026, with 18 open reservation dates in the current snapshot of 18.
When is the next open date at South Tailwater Picnic Shelter?
As of the Sep 18, 2026 snapshot: the next open date is Tue, Sep 22 and the next open weekend starts Fri, Sep 25. Detected openings can add earlier dates at any time; a free Campsite Sniper alert catches those the moment they appear.
Let the app watch this shelter
Pick dates
Choose the reservation dates you want at South Tailwater Picnic Shelter.
Watch
Campsite Sniper can monitor this facility and notify you if a selected date becomes available.
Get the ping
When a selected date becomes available, you get a push with a Recreation.gov link so you can review and book it yourself.