Pick a unit on the map to see its reservation calendar.
No detected openings were recorded in the last 90 days. Campsite Sniper monitors North Overlook Picnic Shelter (IA) continuously and will alert you if that changes.
Of the 12 tracked reservation dates (Apr 22 – May 3, 2027): 12 open for online reservation.
Of the open reservation dates on mapped day-use units, 6 fall on weekdays and 6 on weekends (Fri–Sun).
April holds the most room. 9 of 9 reservation dates are still open there.
| Window | Date | Units open | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Memorial Day | FRI May 28 | 0 | None open |
| SAT May 29 | 0 | None open | |
| SUN May 30 | 0 | None open | |
| MON May 31 | 0 | None open |
Memorial Day: no online availability on any tracked date.
| Shelter | Open reservation dates |
|---|---|
| North Overlook Picnic Shelter | 12 |
This shelter currently has 12 reservation dates available.
Campsite Sniper's data for this facility starts Apr 22, 2027. That is about 171 days after the current snapshot was taken, so dates before Apr 22, 2027 are not covered by what Campsite Sniper tracks here — they are not known to be unavailable. The reservation dates shown on this page describe Apr 22, 2027 onwards only. Check Recreation.gov for earlier dates.
| Shelter | Open reservation dates | Consecutive dates | Dates |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Overlook Picnic Shelter | 12 | 12 dates | Apr 22, 2027, Apr 23, 2027, Apr 24, 2027, Apr 25, 2027, Apr 26, 2027, Apr 27, 2027, Apr 28, 2027, Apr 29, 2027, Apr 30, 2027, May 1, 2027, May 2, 2027, May 3, 2027 |
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
Features
15 - Picnic tables
6 - Standard electrical outlets
1 - 44" x 40" outdoor grill
62 - Paved parking stalls
2 - Enclosed fireplaces
Overhead lighting
Deck
Water fountain
Close to restroom
Close to Volksweg trial access
Close to beach access
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.
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.
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.
Des Moines, Iowa's capital, is an hour away, with numerous shopping and dining opportunities, museums and the Blank Park Zoo.


1007 Hwy T15 Knoxville, Iowa 50138 From Pella, Iowa, take County Highway T-15 southwest for 3 miles, then follow signs to North Overlook Picnic Shelter.
View on Recreation.gov ↗ Get directions ↗
Reservations for North Overlook Picnic Shelter (IA) are made through Recreation.gov. The current snapshot shows substantial availability: 12 of 12 tracked reservation dates are open (100%), though availability can change. 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.
No. Campsite Sniper sends alerts and direct Recreation.gov links. It never books, pays for, holds, hoards, or resells reservations.
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 Nov 2, 2026 15:20 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.
April 2027, with 9 open reservation dates in the current snapshot of 9.
Campsite Sniper cannot answer that from the current snapshot. The availability data held for North Overlook Picnic Shelter (IA) begins Apr 22, 2027 — about 171 days after this snapshot was taken, so any earlier dates are outside what Campsite Sniper is tracking here rather than known to be unavailable. Check Recreation.gov for dates before Apr 22, 2027.
Choose the reservation dates you want at North Overlook Picnic Shelter (IA).
Campsite Sniper can monitor this facility and notify you if a selected date becomes available.
When a selected date becomes available, you get a push with a Recreation.gov link so you can review and book it yourself.