Parks

LINCOLN – From June through August, Nebraska Game and Parks Commission conservation officers, in conjunction with the Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office and the Nebraska State Patrol, will conduct special enforcement patrols focusing on state recreation areas (SRA) and other Commission-managed property in Lancaster County. The special patrols will focus on reducing the potential for alcohol-related vehicle and boat crashes around Branched Oak SRA, Pawnee SRA, Bluestem SRA, Wagon Train SRA, Stagecoach SRA and Wildwood Wildlife Management Area. The efforts will …

Chadron State Park will celebrate its distinction as Nebraska’s first state park and its 95th anniversary Saturday, June 11, with a wide variety of activities for all ages. Park employees are encouraging people to spend the entire day, as all of the park’s regular activities will be in full swing along with many special offerings at the Trading Post and other locations. Start and end times of the activities vary from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., but almost all of …

LINCOLN – A health advisory is in effect at Pawnee Lake in Lancaster County. During testing earlier this week, the Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality detected elevated levels of toxic blue-green algae at the lake. Visitors to Pawnee State Recreation Area should avoid full body contact activities such as swimming, wading, skiing, jet skiing, etc. Non-contact activities such as boating, fishing and camping are OK. The lake will be tested weekly through the summer months, and the health advisory will …

LINCOLN – Throughout June, Niobrara State Park will hold a variety of family-friendly events for outdoor enthusiasts of all ages. Scheduled events are: • June 11, National Park Service Special Event: Children will participate in interactive activities at an educational trailer. • June 17, National Park Service presents “Life on the Missouri:” Learn more about the historic people and river craft of North America’s longest river. • June 18, Buffalo Cookout: The meal will be served at 6 p.m. at …

Beaches and Nebraska – two words you don’t tend to associate with one another. Think again, though: thanks to the Sandhills, we have several natural white-sand beaches to enjoy. Many more inviting beaches and lakes can be found throughout the state. If you’re ready to explore Nebraska’s beach scene, here are a few places you should make a beeline for. Lake McConaughy State Recreation Area (west-central NE) With its pristine white sand and cool, clear waters, Lake McConaughy would fit …

LINCOLN – Recreational users of the Missouri River now have an interactive guide available to aid them in navigation and planning outdoor adventures – the Missouri River Outdoor Recreation Access Guide. The river and lands open to public access on its banks offer excellent fishing, hunting, boating, canoeing and kayaking and other activities. This guide shows approximately 160 public access sites for those activities along the Missouri as it flows downstream along Nebraska’s border. This guide also was designed as …

LINCOLN – Anglers of all ages interested in learning all aspects of carp fishing are invited to attend Carp-O-Rama on June 18 at Branched Oak State Recreation Area (SRA). This free event will run from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Lieber’s Point. Carp caught by anglers will be used in demonstrations on cleaning, preparing and cooking the fish. The cooked fish then will be served as a free lunch. Other activities include fish printing and Dutch oven cooking demonstrations. …

The high country of the Nebraska Panhandle is about as far as one can get from what’s considered to be swampland. It is, however, a place you can find a little taste of most outdoor experiences if you look for them. Among my favorite fishing excursions each spring and early summer is taking the kayaks into the flooded timber of Box Butte Reservoir State Recreation Area, one of the Panhandle’s irrigation lakes that have much higher water levels in spring …

LINCOLN – Get outdoors and celebrate National Trails Day on June 4 in Nebraska’s state parks. Activities will be held in three state park areas to commemorate the day. Ash Hollow State Historical Park (SHP) – Meet at the Ash Hollow Visitor Center at 9 a.m. for a 3-mile hike through the park along the Oregon-California Trail. The park superintendent will lead the hike and talk about the history of the trail. The park is located 3 miles south of …

A summer series of Friday night informational and entertaining programs in northwestern Nebraska’s two state parks kicks off this week. The first presentation, which is Friday, May 27, at 7 p.m. near the Trading Post at Chadron State Park, will guide attendees on how best to enjoy the many popular locations managed by the National Park Service, which turns 100 years old in August. The presenter will be Dr. William Earl, a seasonal ranger for the park service. The series …