Nebraska / Cedar County / Missouri National Recreational River

Bow Creek Primitive Camping

Open — Open year-round for first-come, first-served camping. A free camping permit is required.

About

Bow Creek Primitive Camping provides a rustic camping experience along the confluence of Bow Creek and the Missouri River within the Missouri National Recreational River. Located approximately 2 miles northeast of Wynot, Nebraska in Cedar County, this free camping area features five designated first-come, first-served sites marked by brown camping signs and metal fire rings. The campground is accessed via a series of gravel roads, with brown Bow Creek Recreational Area directional signs guiding visitors to the parking lot and trailhead. Campers can collect dead and down wood for campfires. This is a true primitive camping experience with no facilities, so visitors must be self-sufficient and practice Leave No Trace principles. A free camping permit is required, and the National Park Service encourages campers to call ahead at 605-665-0209 to leave their basic itinerary for safety purposes. The sites are not ADA accessible, and there are no hookups for RVs or trailers, though the area is accessible by car. Campers should pack out all trash as no receptacles are available on site.

Directions

Located about 2 miles northeast of Wynot, Nebraska in Cedar County. Follow the brown Bow Creek Recreational Area directional signs along a series of gravel roads to the parking lot and trailhead.

Nearby Campgrounds