Pottawattamie - Hitchcock Nature Center

Book this Campsite Online

Backcountry Campsite #7 - Heritage (Multi-Hammock Campsite)

• Three-hammock campsite with central anchor hammock post and fire ring; a single tent is welcome but there is no camping pad available at this location
• Moderate terrain hike, located approximately 0.65-mile from the main parking lot at the Loess Hills Lodge
• Loess Hills woodlands setting
• Adjacent to main trail

What do I need to know about backcountry camping at Hitchcock Nature Center?

• All campsites must be reserved online; walk-up reservations are no longer available at the park 
• All camping is first reserved, first served
• Backcountry camping is $7.50 per tent or hammock per night
• Maximum stay - 14 days
• Checkout time - 2:00 p.m.
• Check-in time - 4:00 p.m.
• Campsites are open 365 days a year
• Campsites are considered occupied when an online reservation has been submitted and the camping fee paid
• All non-registered guests must leave the park by 10:00 p.m.
• 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 "Event Info" field during the My County Parks checkout process. Additional guests will need to purchase a $3.00 per vehicle daily entrance pass at the front gate or have a valid Pottawattamie County Parks annual permit
• Keg beer is not permitted  
• Wheeled vehicles are not permitted, this includes wheeled coolers, bicycles, wagons, & wheeled luggage
• Leashed pets are welcome, owners are responsible for the removal and disposal of pet waste
• Each backcountry sites is outfitted with a gravel tent site(s) or designated center anchor post, & a fire ring with a grill
• Please, only hang hammocks from the designated center anchor post
• Hammocks are only allowed to be hung at the designated hammock campsites (Backcountry Campsite #6, Shea Way and Backcountry Campsite #7, Heritage)
• Firewood is available for purchase from the campground office, campground host, or park ranger
• 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
• Refunds will be permitted via the refund policy in the Facility Contract

What do I need to know about hammock camping at Hitchcock Nature Center?

• Only use the established hammock campsites (Shea Way and Heritage) and the designated center anchor poles to set up your hammock. Designated center anchor posts at established hammock campsites are marked with red tops.  Nearby trees can be used as your second anchor point
• Always use “tree saver” straps. These are wide straps made out of nylon/polyester webbing that go around the tree to minimize girdling and damage to the bark and cambium layer, which can cause wood tissue death.  Leave No Trace recommends straps with a minimum width of 1″
• Never break or alter tree branches to accommodate strap and anchor placement
• Never use anything made from a non-tree-friendly material, such as plastic zip cords or metal straps
• Never hammer/screw anything into the trees
• Always hang your hammock from live trees, never dead trees. It is more likely that you could hurt yourself (and others) and alter the area around you if a dead tree were to fall or break from the hanging of your hammock 
• Even if your chosen tree looks alive, check above you for dead branches that could fall

PLEASE NOTE - Backcountry campsites are PRIMITIVE & do not include access to modern amenities including drinking water or restrooms. Campers are responsible for carrying in and carrying out their own supplies including drinking water & the disposal of all human waste. Please bury human waste away from the established campsite and no less than 200-yds from water. ALL TRASH MUST BE CARRIED OUT WHEN YOU VACATE THE CAMPSITE.