Affectionately called "Iowa's Ocean", Rathbun Lake is one of the largest lakes in the state. Both constructed and maintained by the US Army Corps of Engineers, this outdoor paradise is located in Appanoose County, just north of Centerville. The Rathbun Dam and Reservoir were created to control flooding and for recreational purposes. It also aids in ensuring minimum stream flow on the Chariton, Missouri, and Mississippi Rivers.
The picturesque rolling hills of the Chariton River Valley provide the perfect backdrop for all the outdoor recreation you can imagine. Visitors to Rathbun Lake can jump in the water for a swim, use their motorized boats to tour the lake or water ski, or paddle to explore the expansive shoreline in a canoe or kayak. Avid anglers can fish in the lake and visit the state-run fish hatchery. Land-based activities are popular here too. There's hiking, biking, picnicking, and wildlife viewing for those who prefer to remain on solid ground.
Army COE campgrounds are plentiful at Rathbun Lake. There are hundreds of different campsites to choose from and most provide easy water access for swimming and boating. Large rigs are not a problem here and electric hookups are the norm.
Your trip to this Army Corps of Engineers park makes it easy to visit some nearby attractions. Also on the shores of Rathbun Lake, check out Honey Creek State Park. About an hour away, in Chariton, there's Stephens State Forest to explore. For a little variety, road-trippers can also visit Des Moines for a city break. It's less than two hours north.
All roads leading to Rathbun Lake and its recreation and camping areas are paved. Some roads within the campgrounds and the parking pads at the campsites may be gravel, but still easy to navigate in a larger rig.
Since this COE park is in Iowa, the winters can be rough. Be cautious of changing weather conditions on your drive and call ahead to confirm accessibility if there is snow or ice present on the roads leading to the lake.
There is ample parking at all the recreation areas of Rathbun Lake.
Open from the beginning of May to the end of September, Bridgeview boasts 106 campsites and 95 of them have electrical hookups. The sites can accommodate very large rigs, even ones up to 85 feet.
Just 13 miles northwest of Centerville, this COE campground has all the amenities you might need. Make use of the flush toilets, showers, and access to drinking water. Have a little fun with the whole family at the playground and horseshoe pits.
Outdoor recreation is the reason you visit Rathbun Lake and you'll have everything at your doorstep here. Head to one of the nearby trails or use the campground's boat ramp to spend some time on the water.
Buck Creek Campground near Centerville offers a total of 42 sites that can fit an RV or trailer over 100 feet. There are electric hookups here for convenience along with other amenities like toilets, showers, drinking water, and a dump station.
Getting in the water is easy here. They have a boat launch onsite and there is a marina nearby. Some of the campsites are even waterfront. Staying at this Corps of Engineers campground puts you in the heart of the action for outdoor pursuits. You can bike, hike, fish, boat, and swim all from this excellent waterfront location.
Eight miles southwest of Moravia, you'll find the Island View Campground with 187 campsites. All the sites, including the one group site, have electric hookups and there are three group picnic sites available too.
Amenities abound at this COE park with showers, toilets, drinking water, and a dump station among them. The kids can use the playground, baseball field or horseshoe pits and everyone can gather around the campfire at night for dinner using the grills provided.
At Island View all the recreation opportunities you're after are within reach. You can swim, boat, hike, and fish without leaving the comfort of this campground.
Along the northeast edge of Rathbun Lake, hikers can easily explore the North Shore Trail. At just over eight miles long, the trail alternates between paved and gravel sections. It stretches from Prairie Ridge Park to Honey Creek Resort State Park taking you through prairie and woodlands and offers stunning views of the lake.
At Rathbun, you can hike the shoreline as well. While not a designated trail, the rocks, beaches, and banks are sure to keep you interested.
You'll be glad you brought your camera with you as you explore the COE park of Rathbun Lake. There is enough wildlife here to keep anyone interested. You can see an array of birds, with perhaps the most majestic of them all, the bald eagle being a highlight. There's Canada geese and wild turkey as well.
Given the terrain of the area, you're likely to see small groups of white-tailed deer dotting the surrounding landscape as they feed on the local vegetation.
The North Shore Trail, which hits the northeast edge of the lake is approved for biking as well as hiking and snowmobiling. The trail is over eight miles in length and runs from Prairie Ridge Park to Honey Creek Resort State Park.
For more adventurous riders, you can cycle the more than 25 miles around the lake itself. There's low traffic and the route is of medium difficulty. The best place to start is in the town of Moravia.
Nestled between Buck Creek and Honey Creek, Prairie Ridge campground offers sites with electric hookups that can accommodate an RV or trailer that is 90 feet in length. Many of the sites here are waterfront and have wonderful views.
There are tons of things to do from this COE campground. The boat ramp is a popular launching point for motorized boats and wind surfers and catamarans. This is because the ramp is protected on three sides. Add biking and hiking to your do do list here.
Staying at one of the 55 sites here gives you access to plenty of amenities. The sites themselves have the standard fire pits and picnic tables. The grounds have toilets, seasonal showers and water, and a dump station. For entertainment there's a playground, picnic shelters, and a boat dock.
Another option for camping at Rathbun is the COE Rolling Cove Campground. There are 45 sites at this pet-friendly location, which can accommodate an RV or trailer up to 60 feet.
There are no hookups here and the amenities are fairly limited - just restrooms and showers. Use the boat ramp to launch your water craft and tour the lake or go fishing. There's also a marina nearby.
Reservations are not available for this campground, it is only first come, first served.
Fishing is fun and easy at Rathbun Lake. There are boat launches at most of the parks, fish cleaning stations, and plenty of fish in the lake. The most common fish found here are crappie, walleye, channel catfish, and different species of bass.
The best time of year to fish for crappie is in the spring since they are spawning which forces them inland. The summer, during June and July, is the best time to fish for walleye and trolling using artificial lures is recommended. For channel catfish, your best chance of a catch is from the end of June until September. Largemouth bass are more often caught in the spring and fall.
Located just below the main dam, the Rathbun Fish Hatchery is a worthy stop. Those interested can take a self-guided tour on weekdays year-round. This warm water hatchery is responsible for producing hundreds of thousands of catfish and walleye every year. Learn more about Iowa's fish hatcheries, and specifically Rathbun at the Iowa Department of Natural Resources.
Aside from swimming, paddling in a canoe or kayak is a great way to navigate the 155 miles of shoreline at Rathbun Lake. Motorized boats can be used here so visitors can enjoy waterskiing and tubing on the beautiful blue water.
Use one of the many boat launches within the park to start the fun. There are two marinas, one at each end of the lake, for supplies, gas, and even moorage. When boating, take care to avoid the swimming beaches and the whirlpool in front of Rathbun's control tower.
It's not surprising, since Rathbun Lake's nickname is "Iowa's Ocean", that one of the most popular activities at this 11,000-acre lake is swimming. You'll have the choice of three different designated swimming areas, all with change rooms, parking, and restrooms. Two of the areas are located in Buck Creek Park and the other is at Island View Park. Swimmers at Island View Park can also use the beach volleyball net to work up a sweat.
Visitors can technically swim at other locations at the lake but it is recommended that you stay within the designated areas. They are simply much safer. These beaches are constructed to eliminate hazards, buoyed, and are off limits to boats.
