Description
Summary
Featuring the second largest lake in the Salt Valley, Pawnee State Recreation Area is northwest of Emerald. This popular area offers a full range of facilities to go with its 740 water acres. Pawnee has modern restrooms and showers, plus electrical hookups for campers.
Attractions
Visitors have plenty of room to pitch their tent or park their rig to enjoy a day or a week of outdoor fun. Boaters will find four docks provide easy access to the lake, and anglers can haul in northern pike, walleye, largemouth bass, bluegill and two kinds of catfish among others.
More than 1,800 acres of land are open to hiker, hunters, shutterbugs and anyone else who enjoys the out-of-doors. Hunters will find abundant upland and small game, waterfowl and deer. As on all state recreation areas, hunting is permitted in season beginning the first Tuesday after Labor Day.
Campground Notes
Pawnee State Recreation Area's Lakeview Campground provides campers with a shady modern electrical campground with shower facilities, fishing, boating, picnicking, hiking and wildlife viewing. Boaters will find four docks provide easy access to the lake, and anglers can catch white bass, walleye, largemouth bass, bluegill and two kinds of catfish among others.
Services & Amenities:
- ATM/CASH MACHINE
- Archery
- Bicycling
- Bird Watching
- Boat Ramp
- Boating
- Camping, Equestrian
- Camping, Equestrian Group
- Camping, Improved Site
- Camping, Primitive
- Canoeing
- Car Rentals
- Comfort Station
- Convenience Store
- Dock, Boat
- Docks, Fishing/Crabbing
- Dump Station
- Dump Station, Camper
- Dump Station, Campers
- Fish Cleaning Station
- Fishing
- Fishing Lake
- Fishing, PARK LAKE
- Fuel, Boats
- Grills
- Grocery Store
- Hiking
- Horseback Riding (Guest must bring their horses)
- Horseshoes
- Hunting
- Information/Contact Station
- Jet-Skiing
- Jogging/Running
- Kayaking
- Kiosk
- Maintenance, RV/Camper
- Medical Clinic
- Office/Ranger Station
- Paddle Boating
- Parking
- Pay Telephone
- Photography
- Picnic Area
- Picnic Pavilion
- Picnic Shelter
- Picnic Tables
- Picnicing
- Pier, Fishing
- Playground
- Powerboating
- Restrooms
- Retail , Bait & Tackle
- Retail, Drinks/Ice/Snack
- Retail,Supplies
- SWIMMING, PARK LAKE
- Sail Boarding
- Sail Boating
- Showers
- Skiing - Water
- Sunbathing
- Swimming
- Telephone
- Trails, Hiking/Walking, Easy
- Trails, Mountain Bike
- Walking
- Water Access, Park Lake
- Water Drinking
- Wildlife Viewing
- Windsurfing/Sailboarding
- Airport
- Hospital
- Maintenance,Vehicle
Alerts and Important Information
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:
1) Purchase firewood at parks that sell it.
2) Purchase firewood at vendors near many parks.
3) 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
Camping reservations may be made a minimum of three days in advance of arrival and a maximum of 180 days in advance of arrival.
CHECK IN AND OUT SCHEDULE- If you check out early, the unused portion of your payment will be forfeited.
Office Details
Office Hours are Memorial Day Weekend - Labor Day 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Monday - Friday
Office phone: (402)796-2362 or email ngpc.pawnee@nebraska.gov
Concession List
Castaways - 402-783-2221
A Nebraska State Park Permit is required to enter this park area. A
Nebraska Licensed Vehicle Park Entry Permit is $30 for an Annual Permit, $15 for a Duplicate Annual Permit (used for that second vehicle in your family) or a Daily Permit which is $6 per day you are staying. A
Non-Nebraska Licensed Vehicle Park Entry Permit is $60, $30 for a Duplicate Annual Permit or a Daily Permit which is $12 per day. You may purchase your Park Permit prior to your stay by shopping online at
OutdoorNebraska.org.All vehicles entering a Nebraska Park Area are required to have a valid park entry permit.
See Reservation Policies details
Notes
Modern camping facilities are open (depending on weather conditions) beginning in May and normally through mid October. Camping is available year-round, including campsites with electricity. When modern facilities are closed, a winter rate camping fee is charged.
Non Licensed motorized vehicles are not allowed in the areas
Only one camping unit is allowed per campsite in Lakeview Campground. An extra tent may be used for dependant children only. Quiet hours are from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. Generators may not be operated during these hours. Pets are allowed, but they must be kept on a leash that is no longer than 6 feet. Campers staying over must re-register by 2 p.m. Check in time is 4 p.m. and check out time is 2 p.m. Campers must vacate their campsite no later than 2:00 p.m. on the date the camping reservation or registration expires. All persons entering the campground must be registered. Upon arrival, campers MUST have their camping equipment and be prepared to set up.
When a reservation is made one year to the date in advance, the arrival date must remain the same within that reservation. No cancellation of that arrival date is allowed.
Getting There:
GPS Info. (Latitude, Longitude):
40.84972,
-96.88167
40°50'59"N,
96°52'54"W
Pawnee State Recreation Area Driving Directions
Westbound I-80 or Northbound on Hwy 2:
Take I-80 exit 401 to Hwy 34, Continue West on Hwy 34 8 mi.,
Turn South on N.W. 112th St. Continue South on N.W. 112th St. 2 mi.
Eastbound I-80
Take I-80 to exit 388 (Pleasant Dale/Crete exit), Turn South and continue 1/2 mi. to Hwy. 6. Turn East on Hwy. 6. Continue East on Hwy. 6 for 6 mi. Turn North on N.W. 84th St. (this intersection located in Emerald, NE) Continue North on N.W. 84th 2 mi. Turn West on W. Adams St. Continue West on W. Adams St. 1 1/2 mi.
Westbound Hwy 6:
Take Hwy. 6 West 3 mi. (from Lincoln city limit). Turn North on N.W. 84th St. (intersection located in Emerald, NE). Continue North on N.W. 84th 2 mi. Turn West on W. Adams St. Continue West on W. Adams St. 1 1/2 mi.
Contact Information:
Mailing Address:
Pawnee SRA
3800 NW 105th
Lincoln
NE
68524-8814
Phone Number:
Project Office:
(402) 796-2362