Parks

Upgrades to Lake McConaughy State Recreation Area near Ogallala in 2022 have improved boating access, traffic flow, fishing amenities, beach access and more. A $3.5 million boating access project significantly upgraded Martin Bay’s entrance, parking area and high-water boat ramp, and the Cedar View Bay boat ramp. The Martin Bay high-water boat ramp has an 11% grade, compared to 3.5% before the project. The steeper grade makes launching boats easier. The two-lane ramp has a turnaround and boat staging area. …

Plenty of improvements in Nebraska’s state parks await visitors in central Nebraska this year. Projects completed in 2022 or to be finished in 2023 will appeal to an array of park users. The following is a roundup of those improvements and projects: Merritt Reservoir State Recreation Area At Merritt Reservoir State Recreation Area near Valentine, multiple campgrounds saw improvements. Cedar Bay Campground electrical was upgraded at a cost of $155,973 and the shower house for $19,750. The existing dump station …

Spring has sprung! The amount daylight is increasing. The weather will be warming. In Nebraska, there are a multitude of activities that you can do in early spring. Here are eight to encourage you to step outside. (1) View Early Spring Birds. A wide variety of opportunities await Nebraska bird watchers in early spring. The migration of wild fowl is truly something to behold! The spring spectacle of the sandhill crane migration along the Platte River in south-central Nebraska should …

Visitors to state park areas in southeast Nebraska will find enhanced day-use and camping amenities. Projects completed in 2022 or to be finished in 2023 will appeal to an array of park users. The following is a roundup of those improvements and projects: Indian Cave State Park A new boardwalk to the cave at Indian Cave State Park has been installed, replacing the one destroyed by mudslides in 2019. This boardwalk is compliant with the American with Disabilities Act and …

Updated March 17, 2023 Guests at northeast Nebraska state park areas were treated to some improvements in 2022, with more set to be completed in 2023. The following is a roundup of those improvements and projects: Summit Lake State Recreation Area Summit Lake State Recreation Area near Tekamah saw aquatic habitat and angler access improvement projects completed to improve the fishery and guests’ experience. The west and south sediment basins were excavated to restore them to their original capacity and …

Visitors to Nebraska’s south-central state parks will notice several improvements this year. Projects completed in 2022 or to be finished in 2023 will appeal to an array of park users. The following is a roundup of those improvements and projects: Johnson Lake State Recreation Area At Johnson Lake State Recreation Area near Lexington, 70 campsites are being upgraded to 50-amp electrical service and one site is being upgraded to be compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act. This project, to …

By Renae Blum, Nebraska Game and Parks Commission Every spring Nebraska’s central Platte River valley hosts one the most remarkable wildlife spectacles in North America: sandhill crane migration. More than 500,000 cranes will descend there to rest and refuel before continuing their journey north. One popular place to view these birds is Fort Kearny State Recreation Area, located southeast of Kearney. At dawn and dusk, visitors can walk the park’s hike-bike trail to a bridge over the Platte, where birds …

Rock Creek Station State Historical Park in Jefferson County will conduct several prescribed burns on tallgrass prairie and forested areas within the park in the coming weeks. The objectives of the burns are to enhance the growth of native grasses and reduce non-native and woody vegetation, protecting prairie and woodland habitats. The burns also will reduce standing and dead vegetation, helping prevent the potential for destructive wildfires. The grasses will regenerate quickly following the burns. Burn dates will be determined …

Box Butte State Reservoir State Recreation Area soon will have capacity to accommodate more campers. Those campers even will have a new facility for cleaning up during their stay. Workers soon will begin construction of an $840,000 addition at Box Butte that includes 20 new electrical campsites and the installation of a shower house and sewage dump station. Mike Morava, regional park superintendent for the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, said construction is scheduled to begin in March. He is …

Registration is open for Crofton’s Dam Race 2023, which will be July 29 at Lewis and Clark State Recreation Area. Choose your adventure between three events: a triathlon, half-marathon, or 12-mile bike race. Crofton’s Dam Race, which is open to athletes of all experience levels, will help raise funds for a new hike-bike trail at the SRA. Here’s a closer look at the events, which finish in Crofton: Triathlon – Kayak 1.5 miles on Lewis and Clark Lake, run a …