A gravel road curving into a high mountain valley at first light, the peaks catching the sun.

Army Corps of Engineers campground

Prairie Ridge (Rathbun Lake)

Army Corps of Engineers campground in Rathbun Lake, Appanoose County, Iowa. 936 feet. 3.7 miles from Moravia.

Managed by
Army Corps of Engineers Rathbun Lake
Elevation
936 ft USGS elevation model, at the mapped point
Sites
55 54 standard electric, 1 group standard non-electric
Longest rig
75 ft The longest vehicle any site is listed for
Hookups
Electric
Reservations
Recreation.gov

Overview

Prairie Ridge Park is located 6 miles, SW of the Jct of Iowa Highway 5 and J18 at Moravia. Awesome Sunsets- No Extra Charge! Rathbun's off-the-beaten path park offers unique opportunities for lover's of the outdoors. Nestled between Buck Creek and Honey Creek, the high ridge offers wonderful vistas of the lake while surrounded by Iowa's Natural and enhanced prairie life community, with woodland draws and timbered hillsides.

Recreation

Prairie Ridge Boat Ramp is protected on three sides and has been long popular with both motorized craft and a launching area for wind surfers and catamarans. A courtesy dock with fish cleaning station aid families on and off the water.

Facilities

Fifty-four family friendly, Large, campsites are available in two seperate camp areas. Two shower houses, drinking water and RV dump stations is available. A modern playground offers activities for our younger visitors.

Natural Features

Rathbun's most extensive trail, eight miles in length, takes hikers and bikers into Iowa's wild, and links to Iowa's Premier destination park at Honey Creek Resort.

Nearby Attractions

The park is within a few minutes of lake conveniences, bait, dining, and fuel. Rathbun's fish hatchery is open to the public on weekdays. Groups are encouraged to make appointments. 14 minutes west, on Hwy S70, one of Southern Iowa's best off-roading opportunities is at the 125 Acre Rathbun OHV Park. There's even a tot lot beginner's area. Search Rathbun OHV Park on-line for actual dates of operation and applicable rules.

The description, directions and fees are the Army Corps of Engineers’s own words, from its record on Recreation.gov.

What people do here

  • biking
  • boating
  • camping
  • canoeing
  • day use area
  • fishing
  • hiking
  • kayaking
  • picnicking
  • sailing
  • swimming
  • water access
  • wildlife viewing

The land around Prairie Ridge (Rathbun Lake)

The ringed pin is this campground; the others are its nearest neighbours. Switch on forest roads or BLM routes to see the way in.

Interactive map. Drag to pan, scroll or pinch to zoom, and select any point to see which agency manages the land. Arrow keys pan and the plus and minus keys zoom when the map has focus. A list of every state with its share of federal land is on the Explore page.

Map layers

Layers
Base map
Legend

Federal land, by managing agency

  • Bureau of Land Management (BLM)
  • US Forest Service (USFS)
  • National Park Service (NPS)
  • US Fish and Wildlife (USFW)
  • Bureau of Reclamation (USBR)
  • Department Of Defense (DOD)
  • Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA)
  • Other Federal
  • State
  • Local
  • Alaska Native Lands (Patented or Interim Conveyed)
  • Alaska Native Allotment

Federal campgrounds, by agency

  • Forest Service
  • Bureau of Land Management
  • National Park Service
  • Army Corps of Engineers
  • Reclamation, Fish and Wildlife and others

State and local land (USGS PAD-US)

  • State land
  • County and city land
  • Regional agency or district
  • Land trust or conservancy

Gaps with no tint inside public land are private parcels, often old mining claims and homesteads. They are not open to the public.

Dashed clay lines on the base map are unpaved tracks from OpenStreetMap. They show what exists on the ground, not what is legal to drive.

Select any point to see who manages the land.

Boundaries are approximate and land status changes. This map is a planning aid, not a survey or a statement of access. Confirm routes, closures and camping rules with the managing office.

Source: Recreation Information Database (Recreation.gov), record updated February 25, 2026. Elevation from the USGS 3D Elevation Program. Seasons, fees, water and fire rules change; the managing office has the final word.