Cabins near Carter Lake, Iowa provide convenient access to numerous recreational activities within the Loess Hills region. This unique landform features windblown silt deposits that create distinctive ridge-like terrain, rising up to 200 feet above the Missouri River floodplain. Winter cabin accommodations remain available at several locations when temperatures drop below freezing, though advance reservations become essential during peak summer months.
What to Do
Archery practice: Hitchcock Nature Center offers an on-site archery range for visitors staying in their cabins. "As a family we go to Hitchcock a few times a year for the hiking and the archery range they have on-site. Both are excellent and a nice escape from the city!" notes Pat V.
Hawk watching: The elevated observation tower at Hitchcock County Nature Center provides exceptional bird viewing opportunities during migration seasons. "When your done with your hiking, climb up to the top of the towering platform and bring your binoculars to checkout the visiting hawks and occasional eagle," recommends Matt S.
Water recreation: Multiple lakes at Two Rivers State Recreation Area support various water activities beyond fishing. "The fishing is easy in all the lakes and they have a pay fishing trout lake that nearly guarantees success. Our kid and her friends love the swimming beach," shares Rick J.
Loess Hills exploration: The unique geography around cabin accommodations creates distinctive hiking experiences. "The trails are well marked and easy to follow. I was very impressed on the hike in campsites...The views from the two south east campsites are amazing, looking over the Missouri River valley and the Omaha skyline in the distance," writes Aaron A.
What Campers Like
Educational programming: Platte River State Park Campground offers regular interpretive events beyond standard amenities. "When I think of 'nature center' I think of a stuffy little cabin with taxidermy. This site is far far more than that, with hiking trails, educational programs, a museum, event halls, and of course camping," says Lynn G.
Varied accommodation options: The range of cabin styles satisfies different comfort preferences. "There are a couple of different kinds of cabins. There's a bunch of trails! The park in general is beautiful," reports Jordan H.
Train caboose lodging: Union Pacific Cabooses — Two Rivers SRA offers unique converted train car accommodations. "If you enjoy some extra comforts, rent one of the train cabooses which feature a small kitchen, bathroom, AC and beds with mattresses. Our kids loved the lofted full sized bed," explains Carla D.
Secluded sites: Some cabins provide more isolation than others. "The campgrounds are a little way away from the road and more secluded so they're very quiet. You do have to pack your stuff down a bit of a steep hill," notes Karen W.
What You Should Know
Site selection timing: Cottonwood — Two Rivers SRA operates a specific process for non-reserved sites. "The walk up process is a little strange. You get put on a waiting list and have to return to main office at 3. Then the start at beginning of list and people start choosing so get on waiting list early," explains Shannon G.
Weather preparedness: Some cabin areas experience severe weather during summer months. "There was a major storm that rolled though... They didn't seem concert about it however news reports were saying other wise of his very storm system producing 90-100mph winds," reports Eileen H.
Noise considerations: Highway proximity affects some cabin locations. "The only not so good thing about camping in this park is that it is so close to the interstate. My son was unable to fall asleep. We ended up leaving at 4am," shares Maricris C.
Seasonal programs: Activities vary throughout the year with some only available during specific months. "During the winter they even over snowshoeing events. It is really a nice place to get outdoors anytime of the year," notes Pat V.
Tips for Camping with Families
Kid-friendly trails: Arrowhead Park Campground offers accessible pathways for younger children. "The kids enjoyed riding bikes up and down gravel roads, looking for frogs, and playing on the playground. Canoe and paddle boat rental is extremely reasonable. Hiking trails near the park entrance are rugged," notes Sarah H.
Multi-family accommodations: Some cabin sites accommodate larger groups with shared spaces. "Our family and another family shared a primitive tent site near the back of the park... This site was well maintained and had enough space to easily accommodate two families of four. We even had a picnic shelter all to ourselves," writes Sarah H.
Water recreation options: Designated swimming areas provide safer water access for children. "This is a great campground for camping and fishing with kids. The fishing is easy in all the lakes and they have a pay fishing trout lake that nearly guarantees success. Our kid and her friends love the swimming beach," shares Rick J.
Year-round educational events: Schedule visits around specialized programming for children. "They have Nature education events, archery range, a handicapped accessible boardwalk trail, hiking trails, camping, etc. There are miles of trail available with backcountry camping available for $10 per night," explains Pat V.
Tips from RVers
Site spacing: Eugene T. Mahoney State Park Campground has varying site dimensions. "This is the Walmart of camping grounds. The campsites are stacked on top of each other and are always packed!" warns Jordan H.
Accessibility issues: Entry and exit at some locations present challenges for larger rigs. "The entrance/exit is difficult and it looks like it's not their fault as they have been trying to get permits to fix it but the NE transportation is not being cooperative," explains Stacy M.
Site selection priorities: Some cabin areas have specific limitations requiring advance planning. "We were given an inappropriate size space for the rig we stated, super narrow and we stuck over the road by 2 feet. They had larger sites all around us but were told we could not change," cautions Stacy M.
Dump station location: Facilities may be positioned in less than ideal locations. "The dump station is hard to find, the bathrooms are in short supply, and the swimming beach is pretty gross," notes Sarah N.
