Hitchcock Nature Center

The Loess Hills Lodge is seated at the highest point in the park (which means you’ll have to hike uphill to reach it!). It features park restrooms, a gallery and gift shop, an observation deck and tower, a back patio with picnic tables, meeting rooms, and park staff office space.

Restrooms: Available 365 days a year from 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.

Gallery: Hours change seasonally. Please see below for current hours.

• Monday: Closed
• Tuesday - Thursday: 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
• Friday and Saturday: 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
• Sunday: 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Please note: Trails are not open to bikes, horses, or ATVs—though you may encounter staff on an ATV or tractor from time to time!

Hitchcock Nature Center has a 10-mile trail system that provides one-of-a-kind opportunities for hiking, trail running, birdwatching, snowshoeing, and backcountry camping. 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. 

Trail maps can be found at Fox Run Ridge, Badger Ridge, Boand Hohneke trailheads or at the Loess Hills Lodge during gallery hours.

Download a trail map HERE.

What to bring: Water, tall socks, close-toed shoes or boots, a hat, sunglasses, sunscreen, and insect repellent during the summer months.

There are eight parking areas at Hitchcock Nature Center—two at the campgrounds and six leading up to the Loess Hills Lodge. The overflow lot is about halfway between the park entrance and the Loess Hills Lodge and features a new pedestrian trail that you may follow to the lodge and Fox Run Ridge trail.

Please note:

• The park speed limit is 15 MPH.
• Some roads throughout the park are one lane. You may occasionally need to make room or wait for drivers who are entering or leaving the area.
• ADA parking stalls are available near the Loess Hills Lodge. 
• Please do not drive past the ADA parking line unless you are parking there. Vehicle entry beyond this point is reserved for authorized vehicles only.

We love providing an area for you and your pup to enjoy the outdoors! With that, please make sure you and your pet respect park property and other visitors’ experience.

Rules:

• Dogs must be leashed at all times.
• Please pick up pet waste and dispose of it properly in a park trash can. 
  • Make sure to bring pet waste bags with you.
  • Trash cans are not available along trails, so be prepared to carry it with you until you reach a parking area or the lodge. Better yet, clip or tie it to your pup’s harness and let them do the work!
  • Pet waste changes the ecology of the park’s precious loess soil, flora, fauna, and water and leaves behind harmful bacteria.
• Certified service animals are welcome inside the lodge and cabins with their owner. All other pets need to stay outdoors, thank you!
• Pets are not permitted in cabins.

Hitchcock Nature Center offers RV campsites, tent campsites, a group campsite, and three camping cabins in the park campground, and seven backcountry camping sites spread throughout the park along hiking trails. Get back to your roots and enjoy a rustic evening tucked away in the Loess Hills!

To get in touch with the campground office, please call: 712-545-5833

RV Sites (First-come, first-served; Non-reservable)

• $25 per night 
• 17 sites in total
• Amenities include: 50 amp electric service, water hookups and hydrants, shower house with flush toilets, picnic table, fire ring, satellite restrooms (non-flush), dump station, wifi

Tent Sites (First-come, first-served; Non-reservable)

• $10 per night 
• 9 sites in total
• Amenities include: Satellite restrooms (non-flush), shower facilities nearby, water hydrant located near restrooms, picnic table, fire ring, wifi

Modern Group Tent Site

• $50 per night
• Fits six 4-person tents
• Amenities include: Satellite restrooms (non-flush), shower facilities nearby, water hydrant located near restrooms, picnic table, fire ring, wifi

Camping Cabins

Please note: Pets and smoking are prohibited in cabins.

• $50 per night
• 3 cabins in total
• Sleep up to 5 people
• Amenities include: Electricity, water hydrant, satellite restrooms (non-flush), shower facilities nearby, mini fridge and microwave, heating and A/C, picnic table, fire ring, patio, grill, wifi

Backcountry Camping Sites

• $10 per night
• 7 primitive sites in total (varying capacity and distance from parking lots and lodge)
• Amenities may include: Fire ring, camping pad
• Hammock camping options available at Shea Way and Heritage sites
• Materials must be carried in and out (no wheeled vehicles, coolers, luggage, or wagons permitted)

The Loess Hills of Iowa are a globally significant landform that were formed by glaciers and winds carrying glacial till (rocks and other materials ground into fine silt) thousands of years ago. Eventually, periods of erosion sculpted the land into the surprisingly steep ridges and rolling hills we see today. While loess is found throughout the world, there are only two places where it reaches deposits of 200-feet deep or more - in southwestern Iowa and the hills at Hitchcock Nature Center and in Shaanxi, China.

This area of the Loess Hills harbors remnant prairie and woodland systems that not only are beautiful, but also protect water quality, support pollinators, and prevent erosion. With less than 0.1% of remnant prairie remaining in the state, it’s important to protect what little is left. Due to steep topography, areas in the Loess Hills are generally not farmable or able to be developed, making it a great area for recreation and even skiing in the middle of the Great Plains!

From September through December, birds-of-prey enthusiasts gather on top of Hitchcock Nature Center's observation tower 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 database of valuable raptor research.

Visitors to Hitchcock Nature Center are welcome to climb the tower and 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 unavailable to answer questions. 

Learn more about Hitchcock HawkWatch

Please note: Hitchcock Nature Center does not close during its strictly managed deer hunting season. The public is encouraged to stay informed of Hitchcock’s deer hunting season dates and make their own decision about coming out to visit us during that time. Hikers who do join us during hunting season are encouraged to wear bright-colored clothing and stay on trails, and the limited number of hunters are aware that hikers may be present.

Pottawattamie Conservation’s Natural Areas Management program manages an annual deer hunt at Hitchcock Nature Center to maintain a healthy deer herd population in the area. This is a strictly managed hunt that varies from year to year and allows a limited number of hunters that must undergo training from park staff.

For information about an application, rules and regulations, or any other questions about hunting at Hitchcock, please contact Jeremy Yost, Natural Resource Technician, at 712-328-5749 or email him at jeremy.yost@pottcounty-ia.gov.

There is so much fun to be had at Hitchcock Nature Center! Please see below for details:

• Adventure Packs
• Archery
• Geocaching & Earthcaching
• Playground
• Educational Programs (all ages)
• Snowshoe Rental

Adventure Packs

Adventure Packs are great for helping kids (and adults!) interact with their environment while they are exploring the park. These backpacks include animal cards, track identification cards, a cloud shape chart, binoculars, kaleidoscope, bug box, compass, thermometer, and nature books. Packs are free to check out from the lodge during gallery hours, but visitors will be asked to fill out an information form and leave a form of collateral (either car keys or a credit card). Children ages 18 or under must be accompanied by an adult for use. Have fun out there!

Archery

Practice your aim amidst the breathtaking Loess Hills! The park’s walk-in archery range is open to the public during regular park hours. The area also features a shelter and picnic table available for public use that provide a wonderful place to have a picnic or spend an afternoon. 

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.

• Visitors must bring their own equipment
• You are welcome to bring your own targets
• Field point arrows only; No broadheads

Geocaching & Earthcaching

Geocache: Bring your own GPS unit or borrow one from the Loess Hills Lodge during gallery hours to begin your technological quest to find two geocaches placed within the park! Follow your 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. 

Earthcache: Earthcaching is designed to introduce explorers to significant landforms and breathtaking vistas. While it offers no treasure box waiting to be discovered at the end of the trail, the journey itself becomes a treasure to behold as you discover someplace new! To find Earthcache coordinates in the park, click here or visit the Loess Hills Lodge Welcome Desk to check out a GPS unit and choose from six destinations.

Educational Programs

From Intro to Backpacking, to guided nature hikes, to monarch butterfly tagging and more, Hitchcock Nature Center hosts several events each month that cater to every level of outdoor enthusiast! Find the perfect program for you or your family today on our calendar page.

Are you a teacher interested in booking a field trip or someone looking for a special program for your group? Contact our Environmental Education team here.

Snowshoe Rental

Please note: There must be a minimum of 4 to 6 inches of snow on the ground for snowshoe rentals.

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 winter gallery hours and must be returned before the gallery closes. Click HERE for more information.

• Rental fee: $6 per day
• Availability: First-come, first-served. Snowshoes are not reservable.
• Renters must read and complete a rental agreement, pay the rental fee & leave an item for collateral. Accepted items are keys, photo ID, or a credit card.