Lake Icaria is the recreation jewel of southwest Iowa – a 650-acre county lake just north of Corning in Adams County, with a diverse fishery, excellent camping and a full menu of outdoor activities. Loaded with fish structure and ringed by campgrounds, cabins and a swimming beach, it’s a destination for anglers and families across the region. This guide is part of our growing Iowa Lakes Database.
Lake Icaria at a glance
- Surface area: ~650 acres
- Depth: maximum ~30 ft
- Elevation: in the rolling hills of southwest Iowa
- Location: Adams County, about 4 miles north of Corning
- Top fish: largemouth bass (15″ min), walleye, wiper (hybrid striped bass), crappie, bluegill, channel catfish
How deep is Lake Icaria?
Lake Icaria reaches a maximum depth of about 30 feet across its 650 acres – good depth for a southwest-Iowa lake. The county has packed it with over 100 fish structures – brush piles, stake beds and rock piles – making it one of the most structure-rich, angler-friendly lakes in the state.
Fishing Lake Icaria
Icaria offers a genuinely diverse catch: largemouth bass (with a 15-inch minimum length), walleye, hard-fighting wiper (hybrid striped bass), crappie, bluegill and channel catfish. A Iowa fishing license is required. With over 100 fish attractors, several 5-mph no-wake fishing zones, a handicapped-accessible pier, numerous docks and jetties, access is excellent from boat and shore. It’s a year-round fishery with good ice fishing in winter.
Camping, swimming and recreation
Lake Icaria Recreation Area is a full-service county park: two campgrounds (Lake View and Timber Ridge) with 153 graveled sites – including full-service, electric and tent sites – plus 14 cabins and 2 cottages, open year-round. The lake has a swimming beach, boat ramps and a fish-cleaning station, and the area offers kayaking, hiking, an 18-hole disc golf course, archery and hunting. It’s one of the best all-around recreation lakes in southwest Iowa.
Water level
Lake Icaria is a stable county reservoir, though levels can vary with rainfall. Check conditions before launching.
Getting there and what’s nearby
Lake Icaria is about 4 miles north of Corning in Adams County, southwest Iowa, off US-34. Corning and the rolling southwest-Iowa countryside surround it.
Know before you go
- Fishing license: an Iowa license is required; 15-inch minimum on bass.
- Camp, swim & fish: 150+ campsites, cabins, a swim beach and 100+ fish structures.
- Best seasons: spring and fall for walleye and bass; summer for catfish, wipers and swimming.
Frequently asked questions
What fish are in Lake Icaria?
Largemouth bass, walleye, wiper (hybrid striped bass), crappie, bluegill and channel catfish, with over 100 fish structures.
Can you camp at Lake Icaria?
Yes – two campgrounds with 153 sites plus 14 cabins and 2 cottages, open year-round, along with a swimming beach.
How deep is Lake Icaria?
About 30 feet at its deepest, across roughly 650 acres.
Where is Lake Icaria?
In Adams County, southwest Iowa, about 4 miles north of Corning.
Related: explore more of the largest lakes in Iowa, or head back to the Iowa Lakes Database.
Explore more Iowa lakes: the largest lakes in Iowa and the deepest lakes in Iowa.
