Viking Lake is a 150-acre lake in the rolling farmland of southwest Iowa, the heart of Viking Lake State Park near the Swedish-heritage town of Stanton. With a swimming beach, a wooded campground, boat rentals and good bass-and-panfish fishing, it’s a relaxed family getaway just off US-34 in Montgomery County.
This guide covers Viking Lake: the fishing, the state park, and access. It’s part of our growing Iowa Lakes Database.
Viking Lake at a glance
- Surface area: ~150 acres at Viking Lake State Park
- Location: Montgomery County, southwest Iowa (near Stanton & Red Oak)
- Top fish: largemouth bass, bluegill, crappie, channel catfish, walleye
Fishing Viking Lake
Viking Lake is a solid warmwater fishery: largemouth bass, bluegill, crappie and channel catfish, with walleye stocked as well. An Iowa fishing license is required. The lake’s coves, jetties and timber give anglers good structure, and it fishes well from the bank and small boats. The winter ice fishery for panfish is popular locally.
The state park and Stanton
Viking Lake State Park offers a swimming beach, a campground with modern sites, cabins, boat rentals and trails around the wooded shore. Nearby Stanton – the “Little White City” – celebrates its Swedish heritage with a famous coffeepot-shaped water tower, adding a dash of local character to a visit. It’s a quiet, friendly corner of southwest Iowa.
Getting there and what’s nearby
Viking Lake is near Stanton off US-34 in Montgomery County, southwest Iowa, about 1 hour east of Council Bluffs. Red Oak and the rolling Loess Hills country are nearby.
Know before you go
- Fishing license: an Iowa license is required.
- Family park: a beach, campground and cabins make it an easy family weekend.
- Best seasons: spring through fall for bass and panfish; winter for ice fishing.
Frequently asked questions
What fish are in Viking Lake?
Largemouth bass, bluegill, crappie, channel catfish and walleye.
Where is Viking Lake?
Near Stanton in Montgomery County, southwest Iowa, off US-34 about an hour east of Council Bluffs.
Related: explore the small lakes of Iowa, or head back to the Iowa Lakes Database.
