ALERT: Park Ranger & Environmental Education Intern applications are live! Apply by April 1st to join our summer crew. Apply Today
ALERT: Oppose Senate File 516 and protect public land and recreation opportunity in Iowa. Learn More
ALERT: Narrows River Park will reopen for the 2023 season on Thursday, March 30th at sunrise. Park hours will be sunrise to sunset. Learn More
Photo 2Photo 3Photo 4Photo 5

Hitchcock Backcountry Campsite #5 Badger Ridge

Hitchcock Backcountry Campsite #5 Badger Ridge
Hitchcock Nature Center
27792 Ski Hill Loop
Honey Creek, Iowa 51542
712-545-3283

Check-in: 4:00pm
Check-out: 2:00pm

Starting at $10.00
Add up to 1 tent for $10.00/night

Reserve Now

For those seeking an adventure and a truly unique camping experience, Hitchcock also offers seven primitive backcountry campsites located deep within the park. We ask that backcountry campers camp with integrity & enjoy the outdoors responsibly by employing Leave No Trace ethics and principles.

  • Two-tent campsite with larger camping pads and fire ring
  • Moderate terrain hike, located approximately 0.75-mile from the main parking lot at the Loess Hills Lodge
  • On the border between expansive remnant prairie and Loess Hills woodlands
  • Adjacent to main trail

Amenities

Fire Ring iconFire Ring
Pets Allowed iconPets Allowed

Location Details

Backcountry Campsite #5 - Badger Ridge is located along the the Badger Ridge Trail on the southern section of the park. It is located in and accessible via moderate terrain and is approximately 0.75-mile from the Badger Ridge Trailhead in the main parking lot near the Loess Hills Lodge.

Restrictions

  • Keg beer is not permitted  
  • Wheeled vehicles are not permitted, this includes wheeled coolers, bicycles, wagons, & wheeled luggage
  • Please, only place tents on designated tent pads
  • Hammocks are only allowed to be hung at the designated hammock campsites (Backcountry Campsite #6, Shea Way and Backcountry Campsite #7, Heritage)
  • Campers are permitted to harvest dead fall wood from the ground for burning but may not cut down or damage live trees
  • Please help us limit the spread of pests and DO NOT TRANSPORT FIREWOOD ACROSS STATE OR COUNTY LINES
  • There is no swimming, fishing or water harvesting permitted in Hohneke Pond

Cancellation Policy

Date Changes
All date changes must be made by calling the Park Office at  (712) 328-5833.   Recognize that we must first administratively cancel your existing online reservation, and then create a second reservation for the new date. An Administrative Fee of $25 will be assessed to complete this transaction. Please consider this procedure prior to making your initial reservation. (NOTE: Date changes will not be allowed within two weeks of the scheduled reservation) 

Please understand at the time of booking your reservation that you immediately prohibit other people from reserving and utilizing that facility - they therefore go elsewhere to locate a facility for that date. We will observe a NON-REFUNDABLE RESERVATION FEE policy with the following exceptions:

  • Accident, serious injury or death of an immediate family member
  • Travel conditions where a substantial risk is required in order to travel such as a winter storm where a travel advisory has been issued 
  • We are unable to provide your facility (or like facility) in operable condition for the date of your event

ALL cancellations or requests for refunds cannot be done online and must be made by calling the Park Office at  (712) 328-5833.

Fees

Backcountry camping is $10.00 per tent/hammock per night.

  • 4% Processing fee applied to all credit card reservations
  • All campsites must be reserved online; walk-up reservations are no longer available at the park 
  • All camping is first reserved, first served
  • Maximum stay is 14 days
  • Campsites are considered occupied when an online reservation has been submitted and the camping fee paid
  • Paid camping registration includes admission to the park for one vehicle. Additional guests, their vehicles and their license plates, that will be arriving separately and staying overnight must be noted in the appropriate fields. Additional guests will need to purchase a $5.00 per vehicle daily entrance pass at the front gate or have a valid Pottawattamie County Parks annual permit
  • Keg beer is not permitted  

Interactive Map to Hitchcock Backcountry Campsite #5 Badger Ridge

Stay connected with Pottawattamie Conservation.

Subscribe to our e-Newsletter