North Tailwater Picnic Shelter
Lake Red Rock — lakeside, fishing, hiking
Location: Pella, IA, IA
Price: From $50 per night
Rating: 4 out of 5 (0 reviews)
Season: May through October
North Tailwater Picnic Shelter is located on the Des Moines River on the North end of Red Rock Dam. 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.
Cell coverage (FCC estimate): moderate signal. Actual signal may vary in remote areas. Best carrier: Verizon. Verizon 4G: 100%. AT&T 4G: 100%. T-Mobile 4G: 0%.
Amenities: Fire Rings, Picnic Tables, Flush Toilets, Electric Hookups, Fishing
Availability alerts: Set a free cancellation alert at camperwatch.org/campground/north-tailwater-picnic-shelter to be notified when sites open up.
North Tailwater Picnic Shelter offers excellent fishing and boating on the Des Moines River at Red Rock Dam, with convenient access to Pella's Dutch heritage attractions and outdoor recreation including hiking and biking.
Wildlife alert: White-tailed deer, Eastern chipmunks, Canada geese, ring-billed gulls, red-breasted mergansers, brown pelicans, and western painted turtles documented in the area
Insider tips for North Tailwater Picnic Shelter: Book early as this is a federal campground with limited availability Located just 10 minutes from Pella and 15 minutes from Knoxville for nearby attractions Excellent for fishing and water activities on the Des Moines River
Skip North Tailwater Picnic Shelter if: You need RV hookups — most sites have no hookups available. You plan to camp outside May-October — seasonal operations only. You prefer larger campgrounds — only 1 tent site available.
Best time to visit North Tailwater Picnic Shelter: May-October — Campground operates seasonally May through October only.
Nearby campgrounds: North Overlook Camp (Pella, IA), Howell Station (Pella, IA), South Tailwater Picnic Shelter (Knoxville, IA), South Overlook (Ia) (Knoxville, IA).
Cell Phone Coverage at North Tailwater Picnic Shelter
Cell signal at North Tailwater Picnic Shelter (Pella, IA): moderate overall signal based on FCC broadband data. Best carrier: Verizon.
- Verizon 4G LTE: 100% coverage
- AT&T 4G LTE: 100% coverage
Coverage data source: FCC Broadband Data Collection (BDC). Actual signal may vary due to terrain, tree cover, and distance from towers. Camper reports are more reliable than coverage maps in remote areas.
North Tailwater Picnic Shelter is located on the Des Moines River on the North end of Red Rock Dam. 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.
Verified facts
RIDB / Recreation.gov official databaseAmenities
RIDB /facilities /campsites · owner-verifiedStraight talk
CamperWatch intel · curated from camper reportsKnown issues, each with the workaround. Read before you book.
Insider tips & when to go
CamperWatch intel · hand-curated entryBook early as this is a federal campground with limited availability
Located just 10 minutes from Pella and 15 minutes from Knoxville for nearby attractions
Excellent for fishing and water activities on the Des Moines River
Campground operates seasonally May through October only
Things to do nearby
RIDB /activities /recareas + intelConditions today
LiveCell signal
FCC BDC · quarterly datasetFCC maps are theoretical — camper reports confirm signal. Best carrier: Verizon.
Wildlife nearby
iNaturalist · research-grade · 8 kmLocation
Leaflet · OpenStreetMap tiles
Getting there →
1004 216th Place, Pella, IA 50219. From Pella, Iowa, take Highway T-15 southwest for 5 miles, then turn east on Idaho Drive to 198th Place. Travel south and follow signs to North Tailwater Recreation Area.
Campground entrance
Google Maps APICommunity
#community · posts, photos & Q&A · AI-moderated (Claude Vision)Pro tips
- Book on recreation.gov exactly 6 months ahead at 10am ET — Lake Red Rock fills fast in peak season.
- Check current road conditions at Lake Red Rock before arrival — seasonal closures common.
Frequently asked questions
RIDB facts + intel · FAQPage schema, speakableHow much does North Tailwater Picnic Shelter cost per night?+
What season is North Tailwater Picnic Shelter open?+
Does North Tailwater Picnic Shelter have hookups?+
What is the maximum RV length at North Tailwater Picnic Shelter?+
How do I make reservations at North Tailwater Picnic Shelter?+
What is the cell service like at North Tailwater Picnic Shelter?+
What season is North Tailwater Picnic Shelter open, and what are check-in times?+
●Data sources on this page
CamperWatch never fabricates data. Where data is unavailable, it is not shown.
Nearby Campgrounds
Own a campground nearby?
List free on CamperWatch — we take 5% only on bookings we send. No monthly fee.