Elk Rock State Park
Notice: Elk Rock State Park: Modern Facilites Closure — details
- Status
- Open (per official listing)
- Entrance fee
- Not posted
- Day-use reservations
- None mentioned
- Dogs
- Statewide rule — see below
- Camping
- Yes
- Official site
- iowadnr.gov(641) 842-6008
Official page last checked Oct 29, 2026. How we keep this current
Current alerts 2
Weather Elk Rock State ParkThe Elk Rock State Park campground will be closing December 1st 2026 for the season and will re open February 28th 2027. No camping will be allowed… (more)
The Elk Rock State Park campground will be closing December 1st 2026 for the season and will re open February 28th 2027. No camping will be allowed at this time. For further information please call the park office at 641-842-6008.
Posted by the park 2026-10-15. Official alert
Closure Elk Rock State Park: Modern Facilites ClosureModern Facilites Closure: All modern restrooms and shower buildings will be closed starting Monday October 19, 2026 and re-opening mid-April 2027.… (more)
Modern Facilites Closure: All modern restrooms and shower buildings will be closed starting Monday October 19, 2026 and re-opening mid-April 2027. For further information please call the park office at 641-842-6008. (Posted 9/25/2026)
Posted by the park 2026-09-25. Official alert
Overview
Covering about 998 acres, Elk Rock State Park lies in Marion County, about 6 miles north of Knoxville.
Popular activities here are horseback riding and boating. On the water side, there is a boat ramp. Camping is available: campsites, including RV sites with electric hookups, group camping, equestrian camping, and showers.
Pets
Privately owned animals must be on a leash of max six feet or confined; pets may not be left unattended in campgrounds; most cabins/yurts are pet-free.
Statewide rule from Iowa's park system (source). This park’s page doesn’t state its own pet rules, so check for local restrictions.
Reservations
- Day use
- No day-use reservation requirement mentioned
- Camping
- Required
- Booking system
- Iowa State Parks reservation system (ReserveAmerica)
- Phone
- 1-877-427-2757
The campground is 100% reservable and a reservation is required.
We link to the official booking system rather than showing live availability, which changes minute to minute.
Camping
| Campground or site type | Sites | Hookups / features | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Campsites Hike through woodland habitats and remnants of prairie along the park’s 13-mile multi-use trail system. Trails radiate from the equestrian campground and provide ample opportunity for horseback riding, mountain biking and cross country skiing and snowmobiling in the winter. A one-mile, all-weather trail provides convenient access from the campground to the back area of the park.
Camp in one of two campgrounds at Elk Rock. The equestrian campground contains both electric and non electric sites, a shower building, horse stalls, hitching rails and a riding arena. The non equestrian campground… | — | Electric, equestrian campsites; Non electric, equestrian campsites; Electric campsites; Non electric campsitesShowers | — |
Camping details from the park
Hike through woodland habitats and remnants of prairie along the park’s 13-mile multi-use trail system. Trails radiate from the equestrian campground and provide ample opportunity for horseback riding, mountain biking and cross country skiing and snowmobiling in the winter. A one-mile, all-weather trail provides convenient access from the campground to the back area of the park.
Camp in one of two campgrounds at Elk Rock. The equestrian campground contains both electric and non electric sites, a shower building, horse stalls, hitching rails and a riding arena. The non equestrian campground features both electric and non electric sites, a modern shower building and dump station. Advanced reservations can be made online through the online reservation system for Elk Rock State Park.
From the official park page, checked Oct 29, 2026. Site counts and prices can change; confirm when booking.
Things to do
Horseback ridingBoatingCamping
Boating and paddling
Boat or fish in the waters of Lake Red Rock. Two boat ramps provide easy access to the lake and are located near the main entrance and park office. Anglers can also enjoy fishing for a variety of species at the lake, including bluegill, crappie, largemouth bass, channel catfish and more.
Fishing
Open 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.
The Teeter Creek boat ramp area just east of State Highway 14, access to which is the first road to the left upon entering the park.
A state fishing license is usually required.
Amenities
Facilities
- Restrooms
- Flush toilets
- Showers
- Playground
Water
- Boat ramp
- Marina or boat slips
Camping
- RV dump station
- RV camping
- Electric hookups
- Group camping
- Equestrian camping
Recreation
- Horse trails
✓ listed by the park · ✕ the park says it is not available. Anything not shown here isn’t mentioned by the official source — that means unknown, not unavailable.
Getting there
- Address
- 811 146th Avenue
Knoxville, IA 50138 - Nearest town
- Knoxville — about 6 mi north (straight line)
- Coordinates
- 41.4000, -93.0840
- Phone
- (641) 842-6008
- Elk_Rock@dnr.iowa.gov
Nearby state parks
Sources and freshness
- Iowa State Parks — park page — last checked Oct 29, 2026
- Iowa DNR 'All Parks' directory (Drupal view, ?page=0..3) — state parks, recreation areas, a state preserve and state forests
- Wikidata
- USGS PAD-US 4.1 (boundary and acreage)
“Last checked” is when our system last read the official source. No change has been detected since this page was first published. Hours, fees and rules can change without notice — confirm with the park before you go. Methodology