Hitchcock Nature Center

Located at Hitchcock Nature Center, the Loess Hills Lodge includes an exhibit gallery, welcome desk, gift shop, restroom facilities, observation deck & tower, and more.

Due to COVID-19 the Loess Hills Lodge gift shop & welcome desk are observing the following hours of operation at this time.

Monday: CLOSED
Tuesday - Saturday: 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Sunday: 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Additional closures may be necessary, check back for updates.

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Bring your bow and arrows to Hitchcock Nature Center to practice your archery skills amidst the beautiful Loess Hills. The archery range at Hitchcock Nature Center is open to the public during regular park hours. A shelter area and picnic table are available for public use and provide a wonderful place to have a picnic or spend an afternoon. 

This walk-in site provides practice targets at different ranges for all levels of archers and abilities, and require the use the field point arrows. Try your hand at each target, or bring your own and set them up as you desire. Targets are provided at a variety of distances, visitors must bring their own archery equipment. 

The archery range is walk-in only without staff assistance. For our guests with disabilities or mobility challenges we are happy to facilitate a trip to the archery range. Please call 712-545-3283 for more information. 

Adventure out and explore the Loess hills as you navigate on this modern day treasure hunt toward one of two geocaches placed within the park. Bring your own GPS unit or borrow one from the Loess Hills Lodge reception desk to begin your technological quest. Follow your GPS compass as it leads you along trails in search of a hidden cache; once you find the cache, sign the logbook and record your adventure and take one of the tokens left by prior visitors. Just remember to leave something for others to find in return! 

For more information, or to log your cache online, log onto www.geocaching.com. 

Hitchcock Nature Center also offers the opportunity to explore the Loess Hills and experience some of Hitchcock’s most pristine and treasured places by venturing to four Earthcaches located throughout the park. Earthcaching is designed to introduce explorers to significant landforms and breathtaking vistas, and utilizes GPS technology to lead you to worthwhile destinations. Earthcaching offers no treasure box waiting to be discovered at the end of the trail; instead, the journey itself becomes the treasure to behold as you discover some place new. 

To find Hitchcock Earthcache coordinates, click here or visit the Loess Hills Lodge Welcome Desk to check out GPS units and choose from our six destinations.

Every year, from September through December, birds-of-prey enthusiasts gather at Hitchcock Nature Center to observe and count thousands of eagles, hawks, and other raptors as they migrate south. The broad expanse of the adjacent Missouri River Valley, combined with prevailing westerly winds that move through the Loess Hills, creates the perfect conditions for migrating raptors as they journey south. This “hawk highway” sees thousands of birds each year and our team of volunteers is there to record their numbers, contributing to a datatbase of valuable raptor research.

HawkWatch volunteers & staff position themselves on top of Hitchcock Nature Center's 45' observation tower from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. daily to scan the skies for migrating raptors. Once a specimen is spotted it is identified & recorded by these trained volunteers. Visitors to Hitchcock Nature Center are welcome to climb the tower & visit our team but we do ask that you remember that this is an active scientific research project. All equipment located on the tower is restricted to HawkWatcher use only & volunteers may be unavailble to answer questions. 

Due to COVID-19 access to the top deck of the observation tower may be restricted to HawkWatch personel only. Thank you for understanding. 

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The Natural Areas Management program manages an annual deer hunt at Hitchcock Nature Center each fall to maintain the carrying capacity of the deer herd of the site. The HNC deer hunt is a controlled hunt with a limited number of hunters allowed each year. For information about an application, rules and regulations, or any other questions about the hunt, please contact Kody Wohlers, Conservation Technician, at 712-328-5749 (desk), 402-680-4922 (cell), or kody.wohlers@pottcounty-ia.gov.
 
Hitchcock Nature Center is NOT a public hunting area. This is a strictly managed hunt that varies from year to year to accommodate the best interests of the deer herd. Please contact Kody with any questions or to get on the application list for next season

The Loess Hills of Iowa are a globally significant landform located along the eastern edge of the Missouri River Valley. Westerly winds carrying silt and glacial material from the floodplain were deposited into massive drifts. Following this deposition, periods of erosion sculpted the land into the steep ridges and rolling hills we see today. The Loess Hills are characterized by this rugged terrain and deep deposits of loess (60-200 feet deep). The unique nature of the Loess Hills landform enables it to support rare plants, animals, and biological communities.

Explore the Loess Hills playground near the park entrance during you next visit to Hitchcock Nature Center. Kids will love the giant spider web, hidden cave, zip line, and swing set. Surrounding grass offers open space for kids to play, and with picnic areas nearby it’s a great place to spend an afternoon with the family.
 

Visit Hitchcock Nature Center throughout the seasons to experience new activities and enjoy the changing faces of nature. See the lists below for ideas on what below for ideas on what you can do in the park during each of the four seasons. 
 

Fall

-Explore woodland trails and experience the changing faces of fall.
-Bring insect nets and try to catch butterflies feeding on wildflowers, grasshoppers leaping from one leaf to another, and dragonflies buzzing overhead.
-Visit the Loess Hills Lodge interpretive facility to learn about migrating raptors and the fall migration season. Head out to the 45' observation tower to view these birds as they journey south. 
-Walk the Boardwalk trail and enjoy a picnic at the nearby shelter or along the trail. 
 

Winter

-Bring your sleds and intertubes to the Chute Trail- Hitchcock's notorious sledding hill. 
-Rent a cabin and spend a quiet winter evening in the park.
-Rent snowshoes from the Loess Hills Lodge Welcome Desk and take to the hills for a winter hike.
-Enjoy a winter hike & explore the architecture & beauty of the Loess Hills without our prairie camoflage

Spring

-Explore the trails and look for songbirds building their nests and listen for them singing in the trees.
-Break out the camping gear and head out to the campground for a weekend of cooking over a fire and sleeping under the stars. 
-Spend an afternoon at the playground & enjoy a picnic in the nearby shelter.
 

Summer

-Check out adventure packs from the Loess Hills Lodge Welcome Desk. Kids will love the open-ended activities and the chance to explore Hitchcock with new tools, including binoculars, bug jars, and magnifying glasses.
-Pick a campsite and pitch your tent for a weekend at the campground. For the adventuresome, hike to one of Hitchcock's primitive camping spots for a quiet evening in the Loess Hills. 
-Hone your archery skills at the archery range.
-Head out to Hitchcock's remnant prairies to view the blooming wildflowers and breathtaking tallgrass. 

Explore the Loess Hills in a whole new way on your own snowshoe adventure. Snowshoes are available for guest rental at the Loess Hills Lodge at Hitchcock Nature Center during regular business hours.

December through February 
*hours adjusted due to COVID-19

Friday & Saturday: 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Sunday: 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Snowshoes are available for daily rental during the hours listed above. Snowshoe rentals MUST BE RETURNED BY END OF BUSINESS.

Rental fee for all snowshoes is $6.00 per day. To rent snowshoes guests please visit the welcome desk at the Loess Hills Lodge. Renters must read & complete a rental agreement/waiver, pay the rental fee & leave an item for collateral. Accepted items are keys, photo ID, or a credit card.

Rental Information: 

• There must be a minimum of 4 to 6 inches of snow on the ground for snowshoes to be rented. Staff & volunteers at the lodge at the time of your visit make the determination & may decide conditions are not safe for snowshoe rentals.
• Snowshoes are available on a first come, first served basis & may not be reserved in advance. Snowshoes may not be available during snowshoe programs, please call 712-545-3283 to confirm snowshoe availability.
• Renters must be age 18 & over, guests under 18 must have snowshoe waiver signed by a parent or guardian and be under adult supervision at all times.
• Renters are responsible for all damages beyond normal wear & tear up to a replacement charge of $150.00 per pair. Damages are assessed by staff.
• Snowshoes that are lost will be subject to a replacement cost of $150.00 per pair. 
• Snowshoes not returned by end of business will be charged for another days rental.

Click Here to Download our Snowshoe Rental Rules

Click Here to Download our Handy Guide, "How to Wear Snowshoes"

Click Here to View our Snowshoe How-To Video on YouTube

Hitchcock Nature Center offers ample opportunity for hiking, birdwatching, snowshoeing, cross country skiing and other endeavors on its 10 mile trail system. The trails are not open to bikes, horses, or ATVs (though you may encounter staff on an ATV or tractor from time to time). The trails network together so visitors can be creative to enjoy any length of hike they desire. Due to the rugged terrain of the Loess Hills, the trails vary from easy ridgeline walks to difficult climbs. Spend a little time studying the trail map to choose your route, and consider bringing drinking water. We suggest insect repellent during the summer months. 

Hitchcock Nature Center Trails Map

To help you enjoy your time at Hitchcock Nature Center, Adventure Packs are available for check-out at the Loess Hills Lodge reception desk during regular lodge hours. Each Adventure Pack includes animal ID cards, track cards, cloud ID chart, binoculars, kaleidoscope, bug box, compass, thermometer, and nature books. 
Adventure Packs may be checked out to anyone; however, children ages 18 or under must be accompanied by an adult for use. There is no fee to use an Adventure Pack; however, visitors must fill out an information form as well as leave collateral in one of the following forms: vehicle keys or credit card information.