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Here are the latest updates regarding facilities at your county parks.
Restrooms:
Modern restroom facilities at Arrowhead Park, Botna Bend Park, & Hitchcock Nature Center are now open for guest use. Restrooms at the Loess Hills Lodge at Hitchcock Nature Center will open June 11th. We remind our guests to be mindful of all CDC guidelines & recommendations – maintain proper social distancing & stand by & wait if the restroom is too crowded to do so. We also ask that guests please make use of the provided soap & wash your hands for 20 seconds to protect yourself & others when using the facilities.
Loess Hills Lodge at Hitchcock Nature Center:
The Loess Hills Lodge at Hitchcock Nature Center restrooms, welcome desk & gift shop will open for guest use on Thursday, June 11th. Hours will vary based on staff & volunteer availability, watch for an hours of operation announcement coming soon.
The Loess Hills Lodge exhibit gallery & facility rentals will remain closed at this time. These closures are being re-evaluated constantly & are subject to change, watch for additional updates.
Cabin Rentals:
Cabin rentals at Hitchcock Nature Center & Arrowhead Park are now open for reservations. Cabin use requires an advance, online reservation. Click here to check cabin availability & reserve your cabin today.
Cabin use is limited to immediate family or household members only, no additional guests or visitors are permitted.
The new, modern cabins at Arrowhead Park are not yet available for guest reservation. Watch for an announcement regarding these facilities coming soon.
Camping:
Tent, RV, & backcountry camping are currently open at your county parks. To open our campgrounds safely & follow the provisions laid out by the State of Iowa we have implemented some very important restrictions & adjustments to our camping facilities at all Pottawattamie Conservation Parks.
RVs are permitted in designated spots only, some spaces may be closed to allow for proper distancing
Tent camping is only permitted in designated areas
Campground restrooms & showerhouses are now open at Arrowhead Park, Botna Bend Park, & Hitchcock Nature Center
Campers must maintain proper physical distance (minimum 6′ separation)
Campsites are to be occupied by registered campers only & comprised of immediate family or household members only – no additional guests or visitors are permitted
Backcountry camping at Hitchcock Nature Center is currently open for campers as well. Reservations will still be required for backcountry camping at Hitchcock Nature Center, & backcountry sites will be the only sites available for tent campers. All other restrictions listed above will apply. Click here to view & reserve backcountry campsites.
Campers are expected to maintain proper physical distancing (at least 6 feet of separation), limit groups to maintain social distancing recommendations & practice proper hygiene. To help stay in line with distancing guidelines we are restricting campsite occupation, only campers staying at the campsite are permitted at the campsite, no guests or visitors please. Campers at adjoining campsites are asked to maintain their distance & not congregate.
Additionally, Pottawattamie Conservation has identified campsites that may not comply with the recommended physical distancing requirements. Certain campsites may be closed to occupation to help keep our campers safe. Please do not move any ranger placed barricades or attempt to occupy a campsite that has been closed for safety reasons.
RV Campers are asked to self-register at the kiosks in each park to reduce contact with park staff. RV campsites are $15.00 per night & tent camping is $10.00 per tent per night, please bring exact change or pay for your camping with a check, we will not be able to process credit cards or provide change. Backcountry campers may reserve their campsites online as usual for $7.50 per tent or hammock per night. Firewood will be available for sale from the campground host & park ranger for $5.00 per bundle & will be handled by delivery or pickup with proper social distancing. Please check with the host or ranger at your park for more details.
Other Facilities:
Park offices are now open, park staff may limit the number of guests permitted in park offices to maintain social distancing.
Playground facilities & picnic shelter rentals at Botna Bend Park, Arrowhead Park, & Hitchcock Nature Center are now open. Guests are reminded these facilities are not sanitized by park staff. We recommend taking proper hygiene precautions before, during, & after use & that all visitors maintain social distancing standards when using the facilities. Limit your groups to an appropriate number of guests to allow for the observation of proper social distancing measures.
Breezy Lodge at Arrowhead Park & Olsen Lodge at Botna Bend Park are now open for reservations & will operate at 50% guest capacity until further notice. Click Here to check availability & book your lodge rental.
Paddleboat & canoe rentals at Arrowhead Park will remain closed for the time being. Staff is working to outline appropriate cleaning & disinfecting procedures for this equipment & hope to open rentals again soon. Watch for updates.
Narrows River Park:
Many of the closures at Narrows River Park were in place before the COVID-19 pandemic & are the result of damage sustained during last year’s flood event. Repairs are progressing & Narrows River Park is open for day use but many amenities remain closed at this time. Closures include:
Restrooms
Playground
Picnic shelters & reservations
Missouri River boat ramp
We will be updating this list as repairs are completed so watch for updates!
For more information regarding Pottawattamie County Conservation campgrounds, parks, and facilities, call (712) 328-5638 or email mark.shoemaker@pottcounty-ia.gov. Information is also available online at www.pottcoconservation.com or on Pottawattamie County Conservation’s Facebook pages.
