RESERVE YOUR ROOM ONLINE | ONLY 15 MINUTES TO LAKE RATHBUN!

RESERVATIONS

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Restaurant and bar have been closed due to COVID-19 pandemic,
We apologize for any inconvenience it may have caused with your trip.

Things to Do


COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES



Monroe County Aquatic Center

The Monroe County Aquatic Center is open to the public June – August. Admission is only $2.50 and includes 2 slides and 2 diving boards, as well as a children’s playcenter.

Albia Golf Course

Albia Golf & Country Club, located in Albia, is a privately owned course that is open to the public. From the back tees, the course will challenge even the best of golfers. The course is a challenging 9-hole course complete with carts.

Green Fees and Rates Please call 515-932-5002 for current rates.

Rathbun Lake

Rathbun Lake is a treasure that defines itself as a great outdoor recreation area. The Rathbun Lake area has become a premier destination for outdoor entrhusiasts and has something for everyone to enjoy.

Rathbun Lake's outdoor recreation includes golfing, hiking or biking on scenic trails, variety of fishing opportunities for any angler, the lake is very popular with sail boaters, power boaters and water skiers. Another opportunity in the Rathbun Lake area includes hunting for a variety of game. The outdoor opportunities are almost endless and we encourage you to visit Rathbun Lake.

Most people think of Rathbun Lake for its outdoor recreation but we have so much more to experience. You'll discover area communities rich in history and have a variety of museums to visit. Lively downtown areas full of shops and antiques. A treasure truly awaits you.

Many guests use slips at the Rathbun Marina to store their boat. This allows our guests to go to our hotel and come back the next morning. Staying at Indian Hills Inn is a less expensive lodging choice than staying at the lake.

Fishing

Rathbun Lake provides a variety of fishing opportunities for any angler. This primarily includes crappie, channel catfish, walleye and large mouth bass. Fishing for crappie is very popular on Rathbun Lake. The best time to fish for crappie is in the spring, when they become shore bound due to spawning. Walleye fishing is at it's peak from the frist part of June until the end of July. Trolling artificial lures is one of the more productive methods to fish for walleye. White bass are caught on a variety of spoons, jigs and plugs. Look for large schools of these fish to break the surface when they feed. Channel catfish becomes most productive from the end of June until September and are caught through out the lake. Largemouth bass fishing is best from late April through the middle of June and again during late September and October. For questions regarding fishing at Rathbun Lake, please call the Rathbun Fish Hatchery at 641-647-2406 or for fishing licenses and laws log on to the Iowa DNR website

Hunting

Rathbun Lake offers many opportunities for a variety of game. Deer, pheasant, quail, turkey, duck, geese, rabbit, squirrel may be found on public hunting lands.

The north side of Rathbun Lake has more wooded areas and blocks of timber than the south side. The oak-hickory stands of the north side provide excellent habitat for turkey, deer and squirrel. The south shore of the lake has more areas of warm season grass and smaller woodlots. Upland species such as phesant and quail are hunted here.

Waterfowl hunters can take advantage of the six marshes located on thw two forks of the lake.

OHV Park

What costs less than the price of a movie ticket, popcorn and soda, yet offers an opportunity for year-round enjoyment? The registrationof your ATV, dirt bike or side by side! Registering your machine in Iowa allows you to ride at any of the eight riding parks in the state. Rathbun Lake is fortunate to have one of these riding areas located in the northwest portion of Appanoose County.

The 125 acre Rathbun Off-Highway Vehicle Area is located on S70 south of the Bridgeview Campground. Trails consisting of dirt and rock climb, fall, and twist, as they follow the lay of the land through woods or along the shore of the lake. The difficulty level ranges from easy to technical offering a riding adventure which can be leisurely, challenging, or anywhere in between. The interconnecting layout makes for hassle free navigating around the ROHVA. The go fast crowd can take laps on the practice track. The is a separate Tot Lot where novice riders can learn the fundamentals of off road riding. The ROHVA is open year-round except when conditions would be detrimental to the trails such as during the spring thaw and after excessive precipitation. For open/closed status please refer to the Iowa DNR website. The open hours of the park are from sunrise to sunset. The parking lot at the area is large enough to accommodate pickups with large trailers. Amenities include a convenient unloading/loading ramp, vault toilet, tow shelter area with pinic tables, and two water faucets during warmer months.

There are certain requirements to ride at the ROHVA. A current registration must be properly displayed on all machines. Helmets are mandatory for all riders. ATV riders ages 12 through 17 require a safety certificate. For a complete listing of Iowa's regulations regarding all off highway area, please visit the Iowa DNR website.

The ROHVA is maintained by the South Central Dirt Riders. This dedicated group volunteers their labor for the upkeep of the riding area. They receive funding for maintenance from registration dollars. Thus, it is imperative ATV, dirt bike, and side by side riders renew their registrations every year to insure the riding area will have sufficient funds to keep it open. SCDR club information is posted ont he bulletin board near the entrance of the parking lot. Their email address is [email protected]

One day of riding isn't enough? Campgrounds, cabins, hotels, and the Honey Creek Resort, are nearby options for an overnight stay. Camping is not allowed in the riding area. There are also numerous eateries in close proximity of the park. Please let the proprietors know you are riding at the RHOVA!

Trails

One of the great amenities Rathbun Lake area has to offer is the area trails. The North Shore Trail at Rathbun Lake opened in the spring of 2012. The eight mile trail stretches across 620 acres of southern Iowa woodland, tall grass prairies, riparian habitat and scenic view of Rathbun Lake and secluded areas.

The Rathbun Lake area provides plenty of opportunities to hit the trails for any type of trail enthusiasts.

The Rathbun Water Trail has over 20 miles of water trails mapped for self-guided paddling from beginner to expert level enthusiasts. The map identifies trail heads and access points or with GPS coordinates and describes amenities available near the trail. Road signs direct users to the trail heads as well.

The Rathbun Snowmobile Trail is a 47 mile trail that circles Rathbun Lake. Maintained by the Rathbun Snow Riders Snowmobile Club, the trail is open when sufficient snow has fallen.

Special Events