Construction/Renovation

Facilities and Activities

Picnicking/Shelters
Rock Creek is a popular picnic spot and the open picnic shelter may be reserved online through the park reservation system. A playground is located within the campground. A beautiful open shelter sits next to the lake by the beach.

Camping
Rock Creek is one of central Iowa's camping hotspots. The large campground bordering the lake has 200 campsites (101 with electrical hookups) and modern rest rooms and showers. Advance campsite reservations can be made through the park reservation system. Half of the campsites are available on a first-come, first-serve basis.

Trails
Hiking, horseback riding, cross country skiing and snowmobiling are enjoyed on a system of multi-use trails around the park.

Lake Activities (swimming, boating, fishing)
The beach provides an ideal spot to sunbathe and swim. The lake's 15 miles of shoreline gives anglers a chance to try their hand at catching bass, crappie, bluegill, catfish, saugeye and bullhead. The deepest water is approximately 18 feet and the average depth is about nine feet. The lake is excellent for trolling or casting. Ice fishing offers anglers a chance to catch king-sized bluegill and crappie.

Rock Creek is one of central Iowa's most popular boating lakes. Any size boat motor may be operated at "no wake" speeds. Dock spaces are available for rent at several convenient locations around the lake.

Nearby Towns
Kellogg is three miles west and two miles south of the park. Newton is four miles south and ten miles west on Highway 6 and is the county seat. Grinnell is seven miles east of Rock Creek and is the home of Grinnell College.

Rock Creek is one of central Iowa's major state parks and was officially dedicated on August 24, 1952. The 602-acre Rock Creek lake is the third largest state operated artificial impoundment. Rock Creek State Park truly offers something for everyone.

The park is a haven for many different species of wildlife. At the lake's far north end, the Iowa Department of Natural Resources maintains a game management area open to public hunting. Thousands of ducks migrating to their summer breeding grounds take refuge in the solitude of Rock Creek. The concentrations of teal, bluebills and mallards offer an excellent opportunity for bird watching. In the spring, ducks in their full plumage perform their courtship flights. Even in winter, mallards may often be seen on the south end of the lake where the spillway area is relatively free of ice. A variety of animals including white-tailed deer are often seen by park visitors.

Contact Information
5627 Rock Creek East
Kellogg, IA 50135
ph.641/236-3722
fax: 641/236-5599

E-mail address: Rock_Creek@dnr.iowa.gov