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.
About Backcountry Campsite #3 - Cottonwood
- Single tent camping pad and fire ring
- Challenging terrain hike, approximately 1.4 miles from the main parking area near the Loess Hills Lodge
- Westernmost ridge of the park with expansive views of the Missouri River Valley
- Offset from the main trail for privacy
About Backcountry Camping
- Backcountry campsites are primitive and do not include access to modern amenities including drinking water or restrooms.
- Campers are responsible for physically carrying in and carrying out their own supplies including drinking water.
- Campers are responsible for the disposal of all human waste. Please bury human waste away from the established campsite and no less than 200 yards from water.
- ALL TRASH MUST BE CARRIED OUT WHEN YOU VACATE THE CAMPSITE. Thank you!
Amenities
Fire Ring
Pets Allowed
Location Details
Backcountry Campsite #3 - Cottonwood is located along Westridge Trail in the southwestern section of the park. It is accessible via challenging terrain and is approximately 1.2-miles from the Fox Run Ridge Trailhead in the main parking lot near the Loess Hills Lodge. It may also be accessed from the Badger Ridge trailhead.
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.
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.
Please note that date changes will not be allowed within two weeks of the scheduled reservation.
Cancellation Refunds
Please note that processing fees are non-refundable. ALL cancellations or requests for refunds cannot be done online and must be made by calling the Park Office at 712-328-5833.
Cancellation refunds will be paid based on the following schedule:
- 30 days or more notice.....................................100% refund
- 29-15 days notice............................................50% refund
- 14 days or less notice......................................No refund
Pottawattamie Conservation observes a NON-REFUNDABLE reservation policy for cancellations that occur within 14 days of the rental date 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
Fees
Backcountry camping is $10.00 per tent/hammock per night.
- A 4% nonrefundable processing fee is applied to all credit card reservations
- All campsites must be reserved online; walk-up reservations are no longer available for backcountry camping
- 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.
- All vehicle information including descriptions and license plate information will need to be entered during the checkout process to avoid a ticket or being towed. This includes vehicle information for additional guests who arrive separately and stay overnight.
- 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
