Pick a unit on the map to see its reservation calendar.
No detected openings were recorded in the last 90 days. Campsite Sniper monitors Miner's Retreat Enclosed Shelter (IA) continuously and will alert you if that changes.
Of the 17 tracked reservation dates (Sep 18 – Oct 4, 2026): 12 open for online reservation · 5 reserved.
Of the open reservation dates on mapped day-use units, 8 fall on weekdays and 4 on weekends (Fri–Sun).
September holds the most room. 9 of 13 reservation dates are still open there.
| 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.
| Shelter | Open reservation dates |
|---|---|
| Miner's Retreat Enclosed Shelter | 12 |
This shelter currently has 12 reservation dates available.
The next bookable date is Sep 21; the first open weekend starts Sep 25. Campsite Sniper can watch later dates for you.
| Shelter | Open reservation dates | Consecutive dates | Dates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Miner's Retreat Enclosed Shelter | 12 | 7 dates | Sep 21, Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 24, Sep 25, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29, Sep 30, Oct 1, Oct 2, Oct 3 |
Miner's Retreat Enclosed Shelter is located 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
Inside
Air Conditioned
Refrigerator
Electric Stove
Microwave
Restroom
Electric baseboard heaters
7 – Standard electrical outlets
6 - 6’ x 30” rectangle tables
44 - Folding chairs
Outside
8 - Picnic Tables
2 - 46” Square handicap accessible
tables
1 - 36” x 29” Outdoor grill
1 - 6 ft. diameter fire ring
40 - Gravel parking spaces
Paved parking shared with beach parking lot for approx. 120 spaces
Close to beach access
Spacious grassy area
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
Miner's Retreat is an enclosed shelter that offers 20 amp electrical service, air conditioning, electric baseboard heaters, refrigerator, electric stove, microwave, and 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
Shelter occupancy is permitted until dusk.
Lake Red Rock is situated on the Des Moines River. Hardwood forests cover the lakeshore at Miner's Retreat Enclosed Shelter, 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.
971 Hwy S71 Knoxville, Iowa 50138 From Knoxville, take County Highway T-15 northeast for 8 miles. Turn north onto County Highway S-71 and continue 2 miles, following signs to the campground.
View on Recreation.gov ↗ Get directions ↗



Reservations for Miner's Retreat Enclosed Shelter (IA) are made through Recreation.gov. The current snapshot shows substantial availability: 12 of 17 tracked reservation dates are open (70.6%), 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 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.
September 2026, with 9 open reservation dates in the current snapshot of 13.
As of the Sep 18, 2026 snapshot: the next open date is Mon, Sep 21 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.
Choose the reservation dates you want at Miner's Retreat Enclosed 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.