Parks

By Monica Macoubrie, Wildlife Education Specialist I recently saw the most incredible meme: It compared hiking with a naturalist versus hiking with someone who was there for physical activity. The naturalist finished the 1-mile hike in about 3 hours, while the person motivated by exercise finished in about 11 minutes. You may be wondering why the naturalist took so long to finish the hike. Well, if you have ever hiked with a naturalist, or someone who appreciates nature, you know …

Topside photo of a dryad’s saddle, a.k.a. pheasant’s back or hawks wing, in Nebraska. Photo by Greg Wagner/Nebraska Game and Parks Commission. Along with finding and picking morel mushrooms, there is another edible wild fungus growing in your moist woodlands that you should know and consider harvesting and making for dinner — the dryad’s saddle. The Dryad’s saddle. What the heck is that? The dryad’s saddle (Cerioporus squamosus, formerly known as Polyporus squamosus), and referred to as the pheasant’s back or …

Due to drought conditions and extreme fire danger, many Nebraska state recreation areas and some wildlife management areas are temporarily banning campfires until further notice. Although everyone should be cautious when using fire throughout Nebraska, the list of areas with temporary closures includes: Southwest Region: Medicine Creek, Red Willow, Swanson, Enders, Sutherland and Buffalo Bill SRAs Southern Panhandle Region: Lake McConaughy, Lake Ogallala, Lake Minatare and Wildcat Hills State SRAs, and Ash Hollow State Historical Park Central Region: Sherman and Victoria …

Because of the fire hazard created by dry and windy conditions, a burn ban is in effect at Calamus State Recreation Area until further notice. This ban includes all open fires, such as campfires, and those in any place throughout the SRA. Calamus SRA includes nearly 5,000 acres of native grassland in the Sandhills region of Nebraska. For more information about Nebraska state park areas, visit OutdoorNebraska.org.

Guests interested in dining at the aptly named The View at Mahoney can enjoy that experience without having to purchase a park entry permit during the month of April. Located inside Peter Kiewit Lodge at Eugene T. Mahoney State Park, the restaurant offers family friendly dining options. The View also offers to-go purchases of pizza and wings, and caters as well. “The restaurant offers a stellar view of the Platte River and is a great place for a night out, …

Nothing brings out paddlers like unseasonably warm temperatures. Those enjoying Nebraska’s water bodies and water trails are urged to be cautious this spring. While air temperatures can warm quickly, water temperatures still can be dangerous. Nebraska Game and Parks has the following safety tips for spring kayakers: There’s safety in numbers, so paddle with a friend or friends. Let someone know where you are going and when you expect to return home. Watch the weather forecast; it can change quickly. …

In registering visitors for campsites, Nebraska’s largest reservoir sailed uncharted waters in 2021. The predominant verdict is that it was a highly successful voyage. Last April, the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission implemented changes needed to create a safer, family-friendly environment at the 22-mile-long Lake McConaughy and the smaller reservoir below its dam, Lake Ogallala. One change was requiring reservations during the peak season for camping at the two state recreation areas. The new system, largely implemented to combat problems …

April is a month of fun and games at Arbor Lodge State Historical Park. Arbor Lodge Mansion will host the History of Games on April 2 and 9 in celebration of National Board Game Day, which is April 11. Various historic games will be set up throughout the mansion for guests to enjoy. Learn the history behind such games as Mansion of Happiness, Checkers, Dominos, Fox and Geese, Tic-Tac-Toe, Tiddlywinks, and many more. Also, the lodge will host an Easter …

With migration underway and spring on our doorstep, now is a great time to get outside, bring some binoculars and walk a trail to see wildlife. Nebraska has many opportunities thanks to our diverse habitats – everything from prairie to ponderosa pine, wetlands and more than 23,000 miles of rivers and streams. Nebraska’s state parks are an ideal place to see the wildlife they hold, with a vast number of trails located in natural settings. Here are some of the …

Several park improvement projects this year will increase opportunity at Nebraska Game and Parks in northeast Nebraska, while others recently completed addressed lingering effects of the destructive 2019 flood. The following is a roundup of those projects: Summit Lake SRA getting new equestrian trail Work will be completed this spring on a 10-mile equestrian trail around Summit Lake near Tekamah. A grand opening for the trail is planned for late summer. The trail will feature a shallow-water crossing on the …