Hitchcock Nature Center - Lewis and Clark Trail Experience

Information

6:00 am to 10:00 pm

(712) 545-3283 ext. 5833

$5.00 per vehicle, payable with exact change or check at the gate

lat: 41.4144721 long: -95.856667

While Lewis and Clark never passed directly through Loess Hills, where the Hitchcock Nature Center is located, it is nevertheless a sight not to be missed. Loess Hills itself held a significant meaning to the expedition of Lewis and Clark as it was not too far from Council Bluffs, Iowa. If the name sounds familiar, it is because it was the meeting point of the Lewis and Clark expedition party and the Otoe tribe.

Today, the Hitchcock Nature Center is perfect for the outdoor recreation enthusiast as it offers a plethora of opportunities for its visitors. The park boasts an archery range, hawk watching, geocaching, earthcaching, hunting, seasonal activities, a playground for children, snowshoe rentals, trails for hiking, and adventure packs. The facility also offers a multitude of various campsites for the visitors who wish to extend their stay.

Nearby Attractions

Distance Unit:

Neale Woods

Neale Woods

14323 Edith Marie Ave, Omaha, NE 68112, USA
Distance: 5.34 Away

Outdoor Experiences Viewpoints

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Lewis and Clark Monument Park

Lewis and Clark Monument Park

19962 Monument Rd, Council Bluffs, IA 51503, USA
Distance: 8.18 Away

Viewpoints Outdoor Experiences Walks and Hikes LC Features

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Fort Atkinson State Historical Park

Fort Atkinson State Historical Park

Fort Atkinson State Historical Park, South 7th Street, Fort Calhoun, NE, USA
Distance: 8.60 Away

Forts Museums and Interpretive Centers Outdoor Experiences LC Features

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General Crook House and Museum

General Crook House and Museum

826Q+3R Omaha, Nebraska
Distance: 8.99 Away

Museums and Interpretive Centers

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Fort Omaha

Fort Omaha

825V+26 Omaha, Nebraska, USA
Distance: 9.03 Away

Forts Guided Tours

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Missouri Valley, Iowa

Missouri Valley, Iowa

Missouri Valley, Iowa, USA
Distance: 9.93 Away

Cultural Districts

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Malcolm X Birthsite

Malcolm X Birthsite

3448 Evans St, Omaha, NE 68111, USA
Distance: 10.19 Away

General History

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Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail Visitor Center – History Markers

Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail Visitor Center – History Markers

Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail Headquarters and Visitor Center, Riverfront Drive, Omaha, NE, USA
Distance: 10.91 Away

Museums and Interpretive Centers LC Features

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Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail Visitor Center – River Markers

Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail Visitor Center – River Markers

Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail Headquarters and Visitor Center, Riverfront Drive, Omaha, NE, USA
Distance: 10.91 Away

Guided Tours Museums and Interpretive Centers LC Features

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Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail Visitor Center – Flora Markers

Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail Visitor Center – Flora Markers

Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail Headquarters and Visitor Center, Riverfront Drive, Omaha, NE, USA
Distance: 10.91 Away

Guided Tours Museums and Interpretive Centers LC Features

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Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail Visitor Center – Notable Markers

Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail Visitor Center – Notable Markers

Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail Headquarters and Visitor Center, Riverfront Drive, Omaha, NE, USA
Distance: 10.91 Away

Museums and Interpretive Centers LC Features

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The Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail Headquarters Visitor Center

The Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail Headquarters Visitor Center

Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail Headquarters and Visitor Center, Riverfront Drive, Omaha, NE, USA
Distance: 10.91 Away

Museums and Interpretive Centers LC Features

View Listing

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Our bi-weekly newsletter provides news, history, and information for those interested in traveling along along the Lewis & Clark Trail.

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Instagram Feed

Check out our YouTube Channel! We have some great

Check out our YouTube Channel!

We have some great content being posted there every Saturday - you’ll see videos related to personal stories and adventures on the trail, special reports on various trail locations, and much more!

Be sure to subscribe and share with friends as well!

https://www.youtube.com/@lewisandclarktrailalliance

Our new APP is now available! Check it out if you

Our new APP is now available! Check it out if you haven’t yet to bring the adventure and magic of the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail on your mobile device. Scan the QR code here or find it on your app store.

Site of the Week: Pompey’s Pillar National Monum

Site of the Week: Pompey’s Pillar National Monument

William Clark christened the rock formation “Pompey’s Tower” on July 25, 1806, as he and his party descended the Yellowstone River. Clark gave the huge monolith the nickname that he himself had fondly bestowed upon Sacagawea’s young son, Jean Baptiste Charbonneau. Nicholas Biddle, as he edited the journals upon Lewis and Clark’s return, changed the name to “Pompey’s Pillar.”

Pompey’s Pillar is known for being the only site with visible physical evidence of Lewis and Clark’s journey: Clark carved his name and the date onto the rock’s face. Now covered by a clear panel, the signature is protected from the elements while still being visible to visitors willing to climb up the steps to see it. Visitors can continue up the steps to the top of the rock where they can enjoy a 360-degree view of the landscape surrounding the site. There is also a highly informative and very well-designed visitor’s center at the base of Pompey’s Pillar, along with several outdoor educational structures and hiking trails.

Photos credited to Cait Clark.

#lewisandclark #history #adventure #travel #pompeyspillar #Montana #pompeyspillarnationalmonument

Check out our YouTube Channel! We have some great

Check out our YouTube Channel!

We have some great content being posted there every Saturday - you’ll see videos related to personal stories and adventures on the trail, special reports on various trail locations, and much more!

Be sure to subscribe and share with friends as well!

https://www.youtube.com/@lewisandclarktrailalliance

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Here’s a summary of a recent video you can find there:

“The phrase "Point of Departure" originates from Captain Meriwether Lewis himself. On May 14, 1804, he wrote in his journal: "The mouth of the River Dubois is to be considered as the point of departure." That spring day, as the Lewis and Clark Expedition set out from what is now Wood River Creek, they embarked on a journey that would reshape the future of the United States.

After more than a year of preparation, the Expedition launched from Camp River Dubois on May 14, 1804. The crew included Captain William Clark, Clark’s enslaved servant York, interpreter George Drouillard, Seaman the dog, 34 enlisted men, and several French engagés—all traveling in a barge and two large pirogues. Their destination: uncharted territory up the Missouri River, starting with a stop in St. Charles where Captain Meriwether Lewis joined them after traveling overland.

Preparation began in December 1803, with winter quarters built at Camp River Dubois, across from the Missouri River’s mouth. Lewis gathered intelligence from St. Louis traders and secured supplies and gifts for diplomacy with Native nations. Meanwhile, the soldiers trained under strict military discipline, preparing for the immense challenges ahead.

A pivotal moment came in March 1804, when Lewis and Clark witnessed the transfer of Upper Louisiana from Spain to France—and then, just one day later, to the United States. This marked the dawn of a new American frontier, and the Expedition was ready to set forth into the unknown.”

(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yvhg1Gs3cvs)

Site of the Week: Knife River Indian Villages Nati

Site of the Week: Knife River Indian Villages National Historic Site

The Knife River area, according to archaeological studies, has been inhabited by people for over 11,000 years. For hundreds of years it was a significant place of trade for the local tribes, a characteristic that would eventually be used to the advantage of fur traders starting in 1750. It remained a place of trade and mixing cultures until a smallpox epidemic decimated the population in 1837. Following this, the local Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arikara moved north and established another village.

During the time of the Lewis and Clark Expedition, the Knife River villages were flourishing, providing a booming trading economy in what is modern-day North Dakota. It was from one of these villages that a young woman by the name of Sacagawea would emerge and take her place in the history of the expedition. She was Shoshone and had been taken captive by the Hidatsa during a raid against her tribe before she was won or otherwise purchased by French Canadian fur trader Toussaint Charbonneau.

Today, Knife River Indian Villages National Historic Park has a visitors center as well as a rebuilt earthlodge which holds replica artifacts in the summer months. Knowledgeable park rangers are available for tours, and there are multiple trails of varying lengths that are available to hike. There are birding checklists available in the visitors center, so make sure to pick one up so you can keep an eye out for the various bird varieties that are present at the site.

https://www.nps.gov/knri/index.htm

Photos credited to Cait Clark

#lewisandclark #history #adventure #travel #kniferiver #kniferiverindianvillagesnationhistoricsite #nationalparkservice #northdakota