The new Hickory Ridge camp at Lake Red Rock is destined to become a favorite destination for paddlers, scouting groups and others looking for a quiet get-away in the area. The camp opened July 22-23 during a weekend of special activities to dedicate and celebrate donors and volunteers who have helped make the camp a reality.

Visit Hickory Ridge

Make plans to experience the new Hickory Ridge Camp at Lake Red Rock soon. Visit the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers website to learn more about Hickory Ridge rules, regulations and reservation information.

Click photo to see Hickory Ridge slideshow. Photo by Ron Huelse.

Hickory Ridge is located on a quiet cove south of the Whitebreast Recreation Area, north of Knoxville and west of Pella. The 200-acre public camping area has been created as a place on the lake for enjoyment of nature, with primitive camping available for scouts, paddlers and others. The camp is expected to be a favorite overnight spot on the new 37-mile roundtrip water trail that is nearly completed.

Partners

Primary partners protecting and restoring Hickory Ridge have been the Red Rock Lake Association, the Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation and the federal U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The groups coordinated a two-year effort to fund the purchase and restoration of the area, reaching the project goal of $405,000 this past winter after receiving a major grant from Prairie Meadows.

More than 130 contributors included 32 major donors of over $1,000. The Iowa DNR’s River Programs provided $33,000 in grant assistance and the water trails conservation crew and local volunteers designed and constructed the landing beach, trails and campsites.

According to Jamie Gyolai, the USACE’s Hickory Ridge project leader, “The Corps is glad to be able to help make Hickory Ridge available for public use. We are also excited to be able to have the unique opportunity to offer the Leave No Trace workshops and water trail-related events as part of the weekend.”