Nebraska Game and Parks Commission
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SPOTLIGHTS

Lewis and Clark State Recreation Area

Lake McConaughy State Recreation Areas

A full service park and Nebraska's second largest lake, Lewis & Clark Lake straddles the northeast border with South Dakota and is about 16 miles long and 3 miles wide. The area gets its name from the Lewis & Clark Expedition, which camped nearby on their epic journey exploring the Louisiana Purchase. This recreation area offers beautiful scenic views of the lake and the bluffs.

For those that would like to enjoy the lake in the comforts of a cabin, Lewis and Clark has 10 fully furnished cabins right along the shoreline. Each cabin has 2 bedrooms and can sleep up to 7 people. Bathroom with shower, full kitchen a living room. Sliding doors on onto a patio that overlooks the lake which makes some spectacular sun sets. Each cabin has a picnic table and grill/fire pit for evening campfire and S'mores.

In addition to the 10 shoreline cabins, the area offers 10 modern cabins along the water as well as 150 camping pads with electricity, 24 non-pad sites with electricity, and 140 non-pad sites without electricity. There is great fishing available at Lewis and Clark for a variety of species including walleye, sauger, largemouth and smallmouth bass, bluegill, crappie, and catfish. Excellent waterfowl hunting is available as well. Lake boating covers the gamut from pontoons to high-powered speedboats to personal watercrafts.

Not only are the above amenities available, Lewis and Clark State Recreation Area offers much more, including, hiking and biking, bird watching, snowmobiling, ice fishing, ice skating, cross country skiing, picnicking, swimming, playgrounds, scuba diving, water skiing and stargazing. This area offers all of the traditional outdoor activities and visitors should be able to find many different pursuits to keep them entertained.

RECREATION

Looking for Fall activities to do with your families besides the events below? Come to the 9th Annual Missouri River Outdoor Expo on September 21st and 22nd, 2013.

The Missouri River Outdoor Expo is designed to inform, educate and recruit new members into the outdoor community along with rekindling the interests of those experienced in the outdoors. The Expo is for families and people of all skill levels from novice to seasoned outdoor enthusiasts. Everyone will find opportunities to learn about and participate in hands-on outdoor activities.

The Expo will feature hands-on activities, exhibits, seminars and demonstrations on topics such as fishing, hunting, game calling, camping, outdoor and game cooking, trapping, wildlife and the arts, outdoor survival, wildlife watching and optics, bird dog training, canoeing/kayaking, biking, outdoor photography, fish and wildlife management, live fish display, fly tying, conservation history, hunter ethics, firearms safety, habitat stewardship, shooting sports (shotgun, pellet rifle, muzzleloader, and archery), and many, many more.

All the activities at this event are free to the public. A valid Nebraska Park Entry Permit is required. Free hayrack shuttles to different venues and through Ponca State Park's early fall colors are available. Expo hours are from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM on Saturday and 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM on Sunday. Food vendors are available at this event.

ATTENTION-Firewood Alert
Voluntary Firewood Restriction
If you have brought firewood from another state, please burn it immediately and do not transport it to another location. Many invasive pests are being transported across our country in firewood. The Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) is a serious pest that is near Nebraska's border. Your cooperation to help prevent EAB from invading Nebraska woodlands and landscapes is vital to protecting our valuable natural resources.
If you need additional firewood, your options are:

  • Purchase firewood at parks that sell it.
  • Purchase firewood at vendors near many parks
  • Gather dead firewood laying on the ground within park boundaries.
Learn more about invasive pests and the risk of transporting firewood at:
www.emeraldashborer.info
www.dontmovefirewood.org

Events occurring in 2013 in the park system include:

Chadron

  • May 18, 2013 - The Chadron Adventure Race
  • June 15, 2013 - Chadron State Park 92nd Anniversary
  • July 12, 2013 - July 14, 2013 - Fur Trade Days at Chadron State Park

Fort Kearny

  • March 01, 2013 - April 08, 2013 - Crane Viewing
  • May 11, 2013 - Outdoor Discovery Program
  • May 18, 2013 - Free Park Entry and Fish Day
  • May 25, 2013 - May 27, 2013 - Memorial Day Weekend "Living History" at Fort Kearny
  • June 15, 2013 - Fort Kearny's Pony Express Re-Ride
  • July 04, 2013 - Living History at Fort Kearny
  • July 06, 2013 - July 07, 2013 - Living History Weekend at Fort Kearny
  • August 09, 2013 - August 10, 2013 - Family Fishing Night and Camping at Fort Kearny
  • August 31, 2013 - September 02, 2013 - Living History Weekend at Fort Kearny

Fort Robinson

  • May 12, 2013 - Fort Robinson State Park- Mother's Day Buffet
  • May 18, 2013 - Fort Robinson State Park- BBQ and Kid's Fishing Derby
  • June 07, 2013 - June 09, 2013 - Intertribal Gathering- Fort Robinson State Park
  • June 16, 2013 - Fort Robinson State Park- Father's Day Buffet
  • July 02, 2013 - July 04, 2013 - Western Art Show- Fort Robinson State Park
  • July 04, 2013 - Fort Robinson's 4th of July Celebration BBQ
  • November 04, 2013 - Fort Robinson's Ticket Sale for Christmas Dinner
  • December 07, 2013 - 18th Annual Fort Robinson Historical Christmas Dinner

Niobrara

  • May 25, 2013 - September 01, 2013 - Horse Trail Rides
  • June 01, 2013 - August 04, 2013 - Swimming Pool
  • June 15, 2013 - 4th ANNUAL FATHER'S DAY FISHING TOURNAMENT AT NIOBRARA STATE PARK
  • July 19, 2013 - July 20, 2013 - BECOMING AN OUTDOOR WOMAN ~ KAYAK WORKSHOP AT NIOBRARA STATE
  • August 05, 2013 - September 01, 2013 - Swimming Pool (Weekend Only)

Platte River SP

  • April 27, 2013 - May 19, 2013 - Outdoor Heritage Education Complex - Platte River State Park (Weekends & Holidays)
  • May 12, 2013 - Walter Scott Lodge Restaurant, Platte River State park
  • May 18, 2013 - May 19, 2013 - Trail Rides
  • May 18, 2013 - Plate River State Park's Free Fishing Day Clinic
  • May 19, 2013 - Walter Scott Lodge Restaurant, Platte River State park
  • May 25, 2013 - August 18, 2013 - Walter Scott Lodge Restaurant, Platte River State park
  • May 25, 2013 - August 18, 2013 - Trail Rides
  • May 25, 2013 - September 02, 2013 - Outdoor Heritage Education Complex
  • May 25, 2013 - August 11, 2013 - Swimming Pool
  • May 25, 2013 - August 15, 2013 - Paddleboat Rentals
  • May 25, 2013 - August 15, 2013 - Arts & Craft Center
  • August 17, 2013 - September 29, 2013 - Paddleboat Rentals
  • August 17, 2013 - September 02, 2013 - Arts and Craft Center
  • September 03, 2013 - October 12, 2013 - Outdoor Heritage Education Complex - Platte River State Park (Weekends & Holidays)
  • August 19, 2013 - Setpember 29, 2013 - Walter Scott Lodge Restaurant, Platte River State park
  • August 19, 2013 - October 13, 2013 - Trail Rides

Ponca State Park

  • January 01, 2013 - First Day Hike
  • February 15, 2013 - February 18, 2013 - Great Backyard Bird Count
  • March 02, 2013 - March 03, 2013 - March Madness
  • March 09, 2013 - March 10, 2013 - March Madness
  • March 16, 2013 - March 17, 2013 - March Madness
  • March 20, 2013 - Earth Day Celebration
  • May 04, 2013 - May 05, 2013 - Outdoor Cooking Camp
  • May 12, 2013 - Mother's Day Buffet
  • June 01, 2013 - June 02, 2013 - Scheels 3-D Archery Tournament
  • Mid June - Labor Day - Pool
  • June 15, 2013 - June 16, 2013 - Bugs & Bones Weekend
  • June 15, 2013 - Labour Day - Pool
  • June 16, 2013 - Father's Day Fried Chicken & Fish Fry
  • July 06, 2013 - Dutch Oven Cobbler and Ice Cream Social
  • August 24, 2013 - Lewis and Clark Heritage Day
  • Memorial Day - Labor Day - Trail Rides
  • September 21, 2013 - September 22, 2013 - 9th Annual Missouri River Outdoor Expo
  • October 05, 2013 - Homemade Living Day
  • October 12, 2013 - Hallowfest
  • October 19, 2013 - Hallowfest
  • December 14, 2013 - Annual Christmas Bird Count
  • December 28, 2013 - Winterfest

Rock Creek Station SHP

  • June 01, 2013 - June 02, 2013 - Rock Creek Trail Days

Eugene T. Mahoney SP

  • February 10, 2013 - February 14, 2013 - Valentine's Special
  • April 06, 2013 - April 07, 2013 - Platte River Art Show 2013
  • September 14, 2013 - Moonshell Storytelling Festival
  • October 05, 2013 - October 06, 2013 - Autumn Harvest Art Show