Contact Information
Park office number: 660-665-6995
Emergency number: 911
Camping is limited to one designated site on Thousand Hills Trail.
Backpackers must register before starting their trip. Camping is free, but registration is required.
Be sure to pack in plenty of water. The closest water source to the backpack camp is roughly 1/3 mile away.
- Campfires are prohibited. Stoves must be used for cooking.
- Cutting implements such as saws and hatchets are not allowed on the trail.
- Permitted camping is only allowed for backpackers at the designated site. Checkout time is 2 p.m. on the day of departure.
Overnight parking for hikers is allowed at the main trailhead located off Big Loop Road within Thousand Hills State Park. It is the first parking lot on the right after the park office. Overnight parking is also allowed at the Rainbow Basin Trailhead located within Big Creek Conservation Area. The trailhead is located at the end of Rainbow Basin Trail Road. Trailhead locations: 1) 40.18708, -92.64885; 2) 40.17050, -92.61782.