Camp Crescent Campground

The Great Outdoors

Just on the other side of the lake from Camp Crescent is Blackhawk State Park in Wall Lake, Iowa. Those who plan to spend their Lake View RV rental excursion lake-hopping can head to this state park. You can enjoy the three boat ramps and head out onto the shores of the lake. You can try your luck at some fishing; resident fish include catfish, bluegills, and bass. Or, you can head to the maintained sandy beach and enjoy a quick dip in the cool waters. If you’d rather enjoy the lake from a distance, the Stubb Severson Nature Trail is a popular excursion. If you’re lucky, you might catch a glimpse of a deer or some local waterfowl.A short drive east of the campsites at Camp Crescent Campground is Brushy Creek State Recreation Area in Sumner. With 45 miles of trails, most of the trails are open to mountain bikers, equestrian use, and hikers. The 14-mile Lake and Pond Trail is only open for hikers and offers stunning views of Brushy Creek and its tributaries. If you want to explore the waterways more closely, you can take a canoe or kayak out onto the water and explore the area from your boat. And if you plan on traveling to Iowa in the early summer, Brushy Creek is known for its stunning mosaic of wildflower blooms.A relatively easy day trip from Camp Crescent is Loess Hill Falls State Forest near Moorhead. This state forest is broken up into four separate units, together totaling about 11,600 acres just waiting to be explored. You can immerse yourself in Iowa forests, the quintessential American prairie, and even the unique habitat of the Missouri River Bottomlands. As you traverse through the park, you might catch a glimpse of a prairie chicken, quail, or some white-tailed deer. The Loess Hill Falls area has undergone many natural changes and evolutions over the years.

Explore the City

History buffs will enjoy a quick trip to the nearby Allee Mansion. Just north of the campsites at Camp Crescent Campground, the Allee Mansion was built in the late 1800s. The Allee family made their fortune in the railroad industry, and you can see that opulence preserved in the home today. With historical pieces of furniture, housewares, and photographs of the family and the community, there is plenty to learn about the local history.Those who enjoy the slightly unusual can pay a visit to the Shrine of the Grotto of the Redemption. The world’s largest grotto, this place of worship was designed and built by Father Paul Matthias Dobberstein in the early 1900s. It was constructed from local rocks, semi-precious stones such as jasper and quartz, and precious stones such as rubies and sapphires. Father Dobberstein painstakingly worked to create this grotto in honor of the Mother Mary. Visitors can see various scenes depicted in mosaic and wander through the proverbial halls of this stunning architectural feat.After a day of exploring, you might want to relax a little. You can head just west of Camp Crescent Campground to the vineyard in Ida Grove. Here, you can take a tour of the grounds, and even try some of the local wines. While some may not think of Iowa as a wine-rich locale, the temperate climate of the region perfectly sets up the vineyards for success.When you book an RV in Sac County, you will need to keep yourself well fueled and well-stocked. Luckily enough, there are plenty of gas stations and grocery store options around Camp Crescent to keep you moving throughout your adventure.After exploring the wonders of Iowa, you will probably start to develop an appetite the size of the vast prairies. Find a local diner or restaurant and treat yourself to a local classic: the fried pork tenderloin sandwich. This generously sized pork tenderloin is fried and served on a warm bun. Different regions of Iowa sometimes have their own twist on this classic, so you can do a little more exploring to find which is your favorite.