Pilgrim Heights Camp & Retreat Center is a Christian camp on over 120 acres in the bluffs of the Iowa River near Montour, serving campers for more than 50 years. It offers residential summer church camp for grades 6–12, programs for grades K–5, and a summer day camp for youth ages 7–13. Activities include hiking, swimming, boating, arts and crafts, games, music, and campfires.
The practical details
We list only what the camp itself publishes, and programs change — dates, prices, ages and availability can all move after we check. Confirm the details on the camp’s own website and contact Pilgrim Heights Camp & Retreat Center directly before you register or pay. Last checked August 2026.
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★★★★★Jesse LampGreat place! Comfortable, a home away from home. Whether you stay a day a week or a month reasonable prices and kind helpful caretakers make this place a trip worth making. The 4 Seasons venue with its open spaces and beautiful views make your special occasions shine!
★★★★Mark YThe good: At night you'll have crickets and frogs singing for you, and in the morning birds will take over. Waking up to a sun rising over the lake is wonderful. The host was friendly, and they provide pretty much everything you'll need. There is a great truck stop just a few minutes away, too. The bad: There were dead bugs everywhere. The bed wasn't the most comfortable. The road is in terrible condition, and I worried about getting out if it rained. If I'd been on the motorcycle it would have been impossible to do. Overall, the good outweighed everything else. Sitting outside sipping coffee while the birds serenade you is a wonderful way to start the day.
★★★★★Tina WeberHad a wonderful stay over the Christmas Weekend. My husband, our dog & I stayed in a room in the Autumn house. It was very cozy and cutely decorated. We had our own room with bathroom attached. Everything we needed was nicely organized in our room. Towels, wash cloths, body soaps & shampoo. We even had our own coffee pot in our room. Although we enjoyed our coffee in the commons area. This worked great for us as we were celebrating Christmas with family in the area. We have also stayed in a small cabin about a year ago when attending a family wedding. We really enjoyed the area it’s a very beautiful setting. We hope to stay again and wish we lived closer to enjoy the many activities they offer.
★★★★★Sienna SchaefferOur family had a great weekend staying in Shagbark! Pilgrim heights also has summer camps for kids so everything we needed was free for us to use - fishing poles, kayaks/canoes, life jackets, lots of balls to play volleyball/soccer, even a grill and firewood and sticks for roasting marshmallows. The staff were kind and very attentive. We brought our dogs and had a great time.
★★★★★Nathan MastersPilgrim Heights hosted our weekend retreat and made us feel like honored guests. They have a wonderful location with plenty to do outdoors, and their buildings are in good order. Sometimes these places can feel cramped due to periods of expansion, but Pilgrim Heights has thankfully managed to arrive at a large organizational level without feeling constrained or like the facilities impede the natural beauty of the place.