Category: Nebraska State

Ponca State Park
Ponca State Parkis on the Missouri River bluffs in northeastern Nebraska.  It is the “…eastern gateway to the 59-mile section of the Missouri National Recreational River, one of two unchannelized stretches of the river bordering Nebraska.” 
Reviewed on AllTrails.com  Described on StateParks.com.
Here is the Park website.    Phone 402-755-2284.   Map
There is a “paved hike/bike trail at the park that is easy and wheelchair accessible. It is a 1 mile trail that starts at the Missouri National Recreational River Resource and Education Center within the park.”  Thank you, Jessica, Outdoor Educator at Ponca SP.

Indian Cave State Park
Indian Cave State Park “… is well known for its beautiful camping and picnicking spots, as well as for its 22 miles of scenic hiking and biking trails. The park boasts sweeping views of wide, winding Missouri river and a majestic hardwood forest that puts on a spectacular show of colors each autumn.”
Here is the Park website.   Phone  402-883-2575   Map
The superintendent at the Park, Kevin Holliday, writes that although the park’s location on the  Missouri river bluffs  makes most of the trails very strenuous, they “do have easier and more flat trails within the park. Our scenic wetland trail is mostly flat and also a couple woodland trails are less strenuous than most others. The park has maintained concrete roads that you can travel throughout the park and experience what the park has to offer.”  Call 402-883-2575 for information.

Smith Falls State Park
Smith Falls is on the Niobrara River, a National Scenic River.  The Smith Falls is Nebraska’s highest waterfall.  “Not only is the land home to the beautiful falls, it is also an area of biological significance where several ice age species can still be found.”      Here is the Park website.    Phone 402-376-1306  Map
Both Trip Advisor and Yelp give it good reviews.
The trail to the falls is fine hard packed gravel and is wheelchair accessible.

Pawnee State Recreation Area
Pawnee SRA has 2544 acres of which 740 are the lake.
Here is their website.    Phone  402-796-2362   Map
There are six miles of trails.  Kristi replied to my inquiry that, “The trails at Pawnee SRA for the most part are good for guests of all ages.   The trails are not wheel chair accessible.”  Call 402-796-2362 to learn more.

Wildcat Hills State Recreation Area
Wildcat Hills SRA has 1,094 acres of wilderness. “The park, which is situated high on a rocky escarpment in the Wildcat Hills, offers an escape to the region’s signature rugged topography and evergreen-studded canyons. Not to mention, the area features an extraordinary view of the North Platte River Valley from its system of trails and observation decks at the nature center. “
Here is the SRA website.  Phone  308-436-3777   Map
From “Oh Ranger”:  “More than three miles of nature trails wind through the canyons and rocky bluffs, with four main trailheads and foot bridges on three trails. The primary trail is located below the large shelterhouse and is accessible to hikers of all ages and abilities.”

Fort Kearney State Recreation Area

Here is the SRA’s website.   Phone 308-865-5305   Map
Fort Kearny SRA “…offers 186 acres dotted with sandpit lakes. In the spring, the world’s largest concentration of sandhill cranes and waterfowl gathers in
the central Platte River valley. ”
Fort Kearney Hike-Bike Trail begins at the park and extends 1.8 miles to Bassway Strip Wildlife Management Area, crossing both channels of the Platte River and was once a segment of the Burlington and Missouri River Railroad. TrailLink describes the trail as wheelchair accessible.

Nebraska State Parks and Recreation Areas
Here is a map showing the 76 State Parks and Recreation Areas.  There are links to maps for each area and from the map you can link to the Park or Area website.
Phone for Nebraska Game and Parks is  402-471-0641.