Red Haw State Park

Check before you go

Park Alerts & Notices

For current closures or important information please visit, Park Alerts and Notices.

Park Alerts & Notices

About the Park

Red Haw State Park in south-central Iowa is a beautiful, year-round destination offering lovely views and diverse recreational activities in the 649-acre park. Red Haw is well known for springtime red buds blooming abundantly around the lake, drawing visitors and photographers to see the pink blossoms. 

Visitors also can enjoy swimming and boating in the summer, or cross-country skiing and snowmobiling in the winter.

Plan Your Visit

• Hike the four-mile grass trail through timbered areas and around the lake. An upper trail east of the lake, and short trails throughout the park, traverse less developed areas of Red Haw, with scenic views of the park’s wildlife, woods and flowers. Snowmobiling and cross-country skiing are available on the trails in the winter.
• Fish or boat at the park’s 70-acre lake, known as a premier pan fishing destination for large bluegill. Fishing jetties and shoreline provide easy access for bank fishing. Ice fishing is available in the winter. Boating is available at “no wake” speeds on the lake and two boat ramps provide easy access to the water. The lake boat ramps offer ADA-accessible kayak launchers, and the campground dock is ADA-accessible.
• Camp at Red Haw’s shady campground overlooking the lake. The campground contains electric hookups, paved roads, modern restrooms and showers and a trailer dump station. Some campsites are ADA accessible. One-fourth of the campsites are available on a first-come, first-served basis and advance campsite reservations can be made through the online reservation system for Red Haw State Park.
• Reserve one of five open shelters for an outdoor gathering during your visit. The historic stone shelter built by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) contains a large fireplace and can be reserved for large events such as family reunions or weddings. Open picnic areas with tables and grills are located near the lake and all shelters can be reserved through the online reservation system for Red Haw State Park.

Amenities at a Glance

• Hiking trails
• Playground
• Swimming beach
• Boat ramps (2)
• Fishing jetty
• Fish cleaning station
• Shelters
• Modern restrooms
• Showers
• Electric campsites
• Non-electric campsites
• Tent only campsites
• Dump station

Explore the Park

• Red Haw State Park map and flyer
• Red Haw Stewardship Plan