Parks

Fort Hartsuff State Historic Park, in conjunction with the Grand Army of the Frontier (GAF), will present “The Timeline of American Military Firearms 1860-1990” on October 4 and 5 , 2014. Visitors will view a collection of original and reproduced firearms that were used by the American military, beginning with the muzzleloading firearms of the Civil War to the more modern weapons utilized in Desert Storm. GAF members dressed in period uniforms along with Col. Jerry Davenport, Department of the …

The public is invited to get up-close and personal with bird populations at two parks in the Nebraska Panhandle this fall. During the coming month, banding stations will be operating at Wildcat Hills State Recreation Area near Gering and Chadron State Park near Chadron. The public is invited to join the bird-banders during two special sessions, Saturday, Aug. 30, at Chadron and Saturday, Sept. 13, at Wildcat Hills. Attendees of the informational sessions will watch as biologists retrieve birds from …

Community wellness is the goal during the annual Try-Athlon at Chadron State Park this weekend. The annual event, sponsored by the Chadron Lifespan Wellness Team, will be Sunday, Aug. 24, at 3 p.m. Entrants of the Try-Athlon are challenged to swim, bike or run, either individually or with team members. Check-in begins at 2 p.m. at the park swimming pool and participants may sign up and pay the $10 registration fee the day of the event. Organizers bill the event …

Trail Rides are a new addition to Buffalo Bill Ranch State Historical Park (SHP) and State Recreational Area (SRA) this year. The rides, provided by Dusty Trails LLC, take visitors through the SRA traveling along the scenic North Platte River. The hour-long rides are a great way to show visitors the beautiful area, some wildlife including deer, turkeys and many bird and plant species. Jason Tonsfeldt, Superintendent of Buffalo Bill Ranch SHP and SRA is pleased with the amount of …

From a moonlit ride along the riverside, to a deep canyon descent into forested bluffs, witnessing the beauty of Nebraska from the saddle is an exhilarating experience. With accommodations for both the two- and four-legged, the following locations offer a glimpse of the myriad of riding opportunities to be had throughout the state, which include diverse terrain, unique wildlife viewing opportunities and the wide horizon lines that make Nebraska worth riding. Remember, trail and camp availability is subject to change. …

Just sharing some fun #ThrowbackThursdayNEParks photos with you. Formerly known as Cowles Lake, this popular state recreation area was acquired in 1958 and opened to the public in 1960. It remains a very popular place for outdoor recreation today!  Here’s an old photo of the Cowles Lake Concession. Alright, now for a present-day photo of the concession on the state recreation area. Do you recognize it? Here’s a couple more old photos of Cowles Lake for you to enjoy. Ready for the answer? The name of the state …

On a sunny, but muggy, morning last June, six Game and Parks Commission and Northern Prairies Land Trust biologists gathered at Indian Cave State Park. Our mission for the next two days: trek the park’s rugged, wooded hills in search of the elusive yellow lady’s-slipper orchid (Cypripedium parviflorum). A common and widespread North American species, the yellow lady’sslipper grows in coniferous and deciduous forests and wetlands across much of Canada and the U.S. Nebraska, however, supports only a handful of …

The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission has cooked up a program to help people improve their outdoor cuisine. The presentation, led by Commission outdoor education specialist Amanda Filipi, will be at the Chadron State Park Trading Post’s fire pit on Friday, July 25, at 5 p.m. Participants can expect to dine on a delicious meal after learning to cook it using techniques such as Dutch oven, foil and open fire. Filipi encourages people to sign up soon. The registration deadline …

Last two Buffalo Cookouts of the summer will be held July 19 and August 30 at Niobrara State Park. Cookout meals of buffalo burgers, beans, salads and ice cream will be served at 6 p.m., followed by a special program. Attendees must register and purchase meal tickets at the park office before noon on the day of the cookout; tickets for adults (13 and older) is $12 and children is $8. Program is free to attend. The cookout on July …

The quiet boating times of the early 1900s are almost impossible to imagine today, their last vestige being yellowed and dog-eared photo postcards from a time when men wore straw boater hats and women wore long white dresses, when boating was nearly as silent as the photographs of it. In those days there were two means of propelling most boats in Nebraska – an oar on the starboard side, an oar on the port side. The only sound was a …