Part of the Missouri National Recreational River, both a unit of the National Park System and the National Wild and Scenic River Systems. The overlook, by the Newcastle-Vermillion Bridge on Highway 15, offers a spectacular view of the Missouri River. Handicapped accessible for a good portion, the paved walk to various lookouts is moderately strenuous, but well worth it. Interpretive panels tell local stories.
Newcastle, NE
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With 1,234 acres, it has more than 12 miles of hiking trails and a two-mile hike-bike trail that follows an old railroad grade and which crosses the Niobrara on a vintage iron truss bridge. Ferry Landing located two miles downstream close to Standing Bear Bridge.
The park offers guided horseback rides, playground equipment and a swimming pool, and hosts seasonal bison stew cookouts. This is part of the Missouri National Recreational River, a portion of the Missouri that has not been dredged and straightened for barge traffic, and which still resembles the wild river that Native Americans and explorers like Lewis and Clark would have known.
Tent camping and cabins overlooking the Niobrara and Missouri Rivers. 35 tents, 76 trailers, 19 cabins
Summer Office hours 8am to 6:30 pm
At junction of the Niobrara and Missouri Rivers, one mile west of town on Highway 12 | Niobrara, NE | 402-857-3373
www.outdoornebraska.ne.gov
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4,500 acres of mostly wetlands, with some mixed woods and grasslands. Often known as “Nebraska’s Everglades,” the high water table is a result of Gavins Point Dam downstream.
The area is two miles east of town on Highway 12 | Niobrara, NE
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Cowboy Recreation and Nature Trail at, a multi-purpose trail suitable for walking, bicycling and horseback riding. Surface is either pavement or crushed limestone.
Trailheads are located in Norfolk and Valentine. Camping – 22 trailers, $6-$9.
2201 S. 13th St. | Norfolk, NE | (402) 844-2180
www.ci.norfolk.ne.us/parks
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A 1,633-acre area with a 700-acre lake. The area has a swimming beach, two playgrounds, an eight-mile hiking/horseback trail around the lake and seven rock jetties. 7 fishing piers, waterskiing, windsurfing, shotgun hunting, shelters and trails. 18 tents, 101 trailers, $11-$15.
2 miles Southwest | Pierce, NE | (402) 329-4053
www.outdoornebraska.ne.gov
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Has access to Nebraska’s only coldwater trout stream, Verdigris Creek. The 2,000-acre area is mainly rolling grassland and mixed trees. The Trout Rearing Station boasts more than 200,000 fish yearly and is adjacent to the wildlife area.
Two miles north of Royal, NE | 402-893-5468
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216 acres along the Platte River, of which 93 are bottomland forest and 123 are islands and river.
Go a half mile west of town on Highway 30, then three miles south on a county road | Schuyler, NE
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