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SOLD OUT: 2-Night Backpacking @ Hitchcock


  • Hitchcock Nature Area 27792 Ski Hill Loop Honey Creek, IA, 51542 United States (map)

$395

Wander Women backpacking trips are designed for folks who are new to backpacking, looking for others to backpack with, or looking to explore Iowa from a different point of view. You’ll learn basic backpacking skills while on the trail, building confidence and knowledge as the weekend progresses. Our expert guides will help you with any questions or worries you have to ensure you feel confident after the weekend!

During the weekend, you’ll learn backpacking basics like:

  • Packing for a backpacking trip, and packing everything in a backpack

  • Filtering water

  • Pooping and peeing in the woods

  • Basic navigation and map reading

  • Backcountry camp cooking

  • Trail safety

  • And more!

If you’ve ever thought, “I wonder if you can backpack in Iowa…” or have been looking to get into backpacking and want a non-intimidating introduction, then you’re in the right place! 

Trip Details

  • Adventure Rating: Beginner/Intermediate

  • Main activities: Hiking/Backpacking

  • Hiking information: Around 8 miles / ~1250ft elevation gain

  • Camping details: Backcountry camping spots with no access to toilets. Participants must carry all supplies in and dig cat holes for going to the bathroom. There are modern restroom facilities available at the nature center, but it is about a one-mile hike back to that area. There are not a lot of natural water access areas in the park to filter water from, so we will be carrying a lot of water in our packs to make sure we have enough.

  • Skills learned on this trip: Packing a backpack, properly fitting and carrying a backpack, filtering water, pooping and peeing in the woods, basic navigation and map reading, Leave No Trace, backpacking planning, preparation, and safety, backcountry camp cooking, fire starting, proper use of hiking poles

Backpacking with Wander Women: Things to Consider

  • Wander Women backpacking trips are physically exerting as you will be carrying up to 25-30 pounds of weight in your backpack while hiking in hilly terrain.

  • If you are looking for a trip where you can sneak away for lots of alone time, this is probably not the trip for you. Although, there will be chill time built into the trip!

  • This is a very hands-on trip. You will be expected to help with different aspects of setting up and tearing down camp, and general camp duties. This will all be done under the guidance of experienced guides.

  • There will be personal items you will need to pack. We will provide you with a detailed packing list prior to the trip.

  • Be prepared to camp in all types of weather (rainy, cold, hot, stormy)

About Hitchcock Nature Area

Nestled on the rugged western edge of Iowa's Loess Hills, Hitchcock Nature Center (HNC) currently consists of 1,268 acres located near the center of the globally significant Loess Hills landform. The Loess Hills harbor some of the largest remaining prairie remnants in Iowa and provide refuge for plants and animals found nowhere else in the state. Hitchcock is open every day of the year for hiking, camping, picnicking, bird watching, snow sledding, star gazing, or simply enjoying nature.

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. Source: Pottawattamie County Conservation

All participants are subject to the Wander Women Trip Cancellation Policy.

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Fall in the Driftless: Effigy Mounds