Rock Creek State Park

Horseback riding, and skiing and snowmobiling in the winter, are also popular on the trails.Boat in one of central Iowa’s most popular lakes at Rock Creek Lake. Any size boat motor may be operated at a maximum speed of 5 mph, and several boat ramps are located around the lake. Boat and paddlesport rentals are offered at the park concessionaire along with fishing bait and snacks. Boat slips can be rented from April 15 to October 15.Fish for crappie, bluegill, largemouth bass, walleye and channel catfish at the lake. Bow fishing is also a popular activity with a healthy population of big carp in the lake. Anglers can fish along 15 miles of shoreline, an artificial jetty or the accessible fishing pier near the south boat ramp. Ice fishing is available in the winter once the lake freezes.Camp in one of several campsites near the park’s lake, featuring both electric and non-electric sites, a modern restroom and shower building. Several campsites sit on the water’s edge and provide beautiful views of Rock Creek Lake. Advanced reservations can be made through the online reservation system for Rock Creek State Park and 100% of the campsites are reservable and a reservation is required. The campground accepts reservations April 1 - November 15 and is closed November 16 - March 31.Reserve a shelter for a picnic during your visit. The open picnic shelter sits by the lake and can be reserved through the online reservation system for Rock Creek State Park. Two other shelters, one on the west side and one on the south side of the lake, are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Open picnic areas and a playground are also located within the campground.Marina & ConcessionsRock Creek Marina offers concessions roughly April 15 through October 15; open daily (closed on Easter). Sunday: 7 a.m. - 7 p.m.Monday - Thursday: 7 a.m. - 8 p.m.Friday - Saturday: 7 a.m. - 9 p.m. Services include:Boat rentals (pontoons, fishing boats, canoes, kayaks, pedal boats)Live bait and tackleIceFirewoodFishing licensesCamping accessoriesConvenience store itemsSnacks, and moreCall 641-236-3876 or 641-485-2445 for more information.After Hours FishingOpen to fishing activity between the hours of 10:30 p.m. and 4 a.m. in addition to normal park hours. All fishing must be done from the bank in the areas designated for each lake or river. Vessels are not permitted on the lakes after 10:30 p.m. Parking is allowed in specially marked lots only.Both sides of the County Road F27 causeway across the main north portion of the lake.Amenities at a GlanceHiking trailsHorseback ridingPlaygroundConcessionsSwimming beachPaddlesport rentalBoat rentalBoat ramps; ADA accessibleDock slipsFishing pierFishing jettiesFish cleaning stationSheltersModern restroomShowersElectric campsitesNon electric campsitesYouth group only campsitesBuddy campsitesDump stationFirewood salesExplore the Park Rock Creek State Park map and flyer (571.54 KB) .pdf Rock Creek State Park campground map (2.34 MB) .pdf Volunteer Volunteer at Iowa State Parks! Iowa state parks and forests rely on individual and group volunteers to help keep them thriving and welcoming places to visit. Learn more about how you can help today! Become a volunteer Know Before You Go Beach Information For current beach advisories please visit the beach monitoring dashboard or call the monitoring hotline at 515-725-3434.The dashboard and hotline are updated on Fridays during the monitoring season. Beach monitoring dashboard