Drive-through adventure zoo's road leads visitors through several different 'lands' featuring Sandhill Cranes, antelope, deer and a large buffalo herd. Most of the animals freely roam this corner of the county. All can be seen from visitors' cars, but Wolf Woods section requires a short walk. The interactive nature exhibits can be explored hile out of the car.See more..
5.0Audubon Rowe Sanctuary(197 reviews) - A Great Wildlife Experience Monday: 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM Spent 2-3 hours Nature & Wildlife Areas
Conserving habitat along the Platte River focusing on Sandhill cranes, other wildlife and their habitats. Rowe sanctuary offers hiking trails, a visitor center, and gift shop. Seasonally, we offer viewing blinds which are strategically placed along the Platte River to provide excellent views of the Sandhill Cranes while they are on their river roost.See more..
4.5Pioneer Park Nature Center(153 reviews) - The great experiences of Pioneer Park Nature & Wildlife Areas • Parks
A 900-acre wildlife area that features hiking trails and other outdoor pleasures.See more..
4.5Fontenelle Forest Nature Center(146 reviews) - Many Great Trails in this Nature Hike! Monday: 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM Nature & Wildlife Areas
More than 1,000 acres of forested hardwoods and wildlife-filled wetlands include a nature center with animal exhibits and children's programs.See more..
Wildcat Hills State Recreation Area, Nature Center and wildlife reserve encompass 1,094 acres of rugged rock buttes and pine-clad canyons south of Gering. Geared primarily for day-use, the recreation area overlooks the North Platte River Valley and historic Scotts Bluff National Monument looms to the northwest. The park features over 4 miles of hiking/biking trails, stone-covered picnic shelters.See more..
4.5Heron Haven(33 reviews) - What a great place to relax. Nature & Wildlife Areas
One of my favorite places to spend an hour or half a day. It is quiet, usually very few people and those you meet share a love of nature. Beautiful butterfly garden, a pier out into the small lake/pond, and two blinds from which you can usually get good pictures of several species of birds, including ducks, geese, herons, etc. Did I mention it is free?See more..
As others have said, the railroad track is close by and trains are running all night. Bring earplugs. Our first night on a 16 day trip heading west, we camped one night in the A.C. Nelsen Camping Area 2 - the outhouse was the absolute worst smelling of our trip and for recent memory. Plus it had NO toilet paper! Other campgrounds had some scent in the outhouses to help with the smell, highly recommend the campground does this. The view of the Platte River was beautiful in the early morning.See more..
4.5Willa Cather Memorial Prairie(23 reviews) - Wonderful place to experience the plains the way Willa Cather knew them. Nature & Wildlife Areas
Protected 608-acres of land which is popular for visitors, from roadside viewing of a prairie landscape as well as for school groups, Cather Foundation tours and other tourists.See more..
4.5Prairie Queen Recreation Area(17 reviews) - Community Fishing Night by Nebraska Game and Parks Commission Spent 1-2 hours Bodies of Water • Nature & Wildlife Areas
Community Fishing Night by the Nebraska Game & Parks Commission was really nice for us with our son and two young grandsons! They had a lot of fun catching fish even though we arrived late! Staff and volunteers were very friendly and helpful. Free bait was provided and poles were available.See more..
This is a nice native tallgrass prairie near the small town of Denton, Nebraska. There are many miles of walking trails through more than 600 acres of native prairie. There are still wagon ruts from the Oregon trail cutoff etches deep in the soil. This is a great quiet place to unwind on a sunny day. The pond is fed by a spring all year and the wildlife around the pond in summer is wonderful.See more..
Traveling through Nebraska, we like to stay off of the main roads. That led us to Red Willow State Park, which was incredible. The park was almost empty during the week. The sites are huge, lots of grass and trees. Beautiful views. Restrooms, with showers, dump stations and a boat launching area (although the lake was low). We got a gorgeous site with views of the lake. It was peaceful, the honeysuckles were all blooming and the fragrance was everywhere. We would definitely stay there again. We travel in a motorhome with tow vehicle.See more..
4.5Valentine National Wildlife Refuge(11 reviews) - Valentine area Monday: 7:00 AM - 8:00 PM Spent 1-2 hours Nature & Wildlife Areas • Parks • Hiking Trails
In September I take a solo trip to areas I’ve never been before always off the beaten path I did a western tour, Colorado Wyoming Montana, North Dakota South Dakota Kansas staying off the Interstate,I stayed in valentine for two Nights at a wonderful small motel , the trade winds,I toured around the back roads of the Sandhills went to a cowboy shoot at the fairgrounds which was really really cool ,valentine is on US Route 20 the route I live on but it’s 1400 miles east and the geography is very different. I probably flew over valentine on my way to Denver to start my trip politicians refer to this as flyover country ,these places are the most magically wonderful areas of our country the people are friendly hard-working and great to talk to,so instead of going to Disneyland Las Vegas New York City or some other ridiculous place go to the Real USA valentine NebraskaSee more..
5.0Crane Trust Wild Rose Ranch(9 reviews) - Breathtaking opportunity Spent 1-2 hours Nature & Wildlife Areas
The Wild Rose Ranch is closed to the public. It includes the headquarters office, research laboratory, dormitory, Legacy Cabins, meeting/dining facilities, private crane-viewing blinds, and an outdoor deck and observation platform with breathtaking views of the tall-grass prairie and Platte River waterway. To access this private land, you must book a VIP Crane Viewing Experience on our website which can accommodate individuals, couples and groups of 4 to 12 couples (or 8 to 20 individuals) and guests must be 18 or older to attend. It is a memorable way to spend time with friends, family, colleagues or clients while enjoying the natural wonder of the crane migration at the Crane Trust.See more..
Extremely quiet campground... No road noise, no trains. Not very many campers on a fall weekday and most were fairly well spaced from each other. My husband enjoyed the fishing. I greatly enjoyed the 7.1 mile hike around the lake on a crushed limestone multi use path. There were lots of pockets of extraordinary scenery and early fall color. Dump station is in town behind the courthouse and easy enough to find. Take quarters to the shower house.See more..
Always a great place to camp and to fish. We love this park. Staff always helpful and kind. Stay in the Lakeside camping area, next to the lake to fish. Quiet and well taken care of . Staff kept to the Covid 19 precautions. Also enjoyed the hiking areas through the woods, and along the Platte River. We stay here each year to visit family in the area.See more..
We love camping here. The park is well taken care of. Lots of friendly campers around. The camp hosts are friendly and welcoming. It’s quiet at night which we enjoy. The shower houses could use a little work but other than that we highly recommend camping here. See more..
Our GPS went crazy trying to locate this site seeing adventure. We had to stop and ask locals to help find this place. The locals didn't even know but, did know the names of roads getting there. We went 3 more miles as a gas attendant suggested and we just happen to see the sign. After looking at tracks we drove down 500' to turned around to leave and then we seen another marker explaining everything-WOW! We would have missed this for sure so we spent another 20 mins reading and looking for tracks. All I can say is they need markers because it is a neat place indeed!See more..
I met my cousin out here and enjoyed a full day on the reservoir fishing. We caught some decent catfish and walleye. The burger at the Marina was a very great treat. On Sundays, you can get the giant burrito for $5. It was huge! If you need gear, like we did because it wouldn't stop raining, the Marina has everything from rain gear to lures to equipment to gas for your boat. Definitely looking forward to next year's trip to catch some giant walleye!See more..
I camped here and absolutely loved it. There are several campground areas so none of them seemed to be over crowded or too loud. The lake was clean enough for swimming and boating. It is about a 20-30 minute drive to Valentine so the access is still easy if you want to go out to eat or explore the Valentine area. The scenery was great and I would certainly recommend it to anyone looking to get off the beaten path.See more..
Lovely old growth trees,, small well kept campground. Very clean,, the shower house & bathrooms are very clean. We stayed in a 27' RV site # 19. Nice shade,, option of 30 or 50 Amp at most sites. The deer come out of the woods at dusk,, I think they are looking for crab apples that fall from the trees on the southern edge. Its just very nice,, history here also, which we love. A footbridge connects the campground to the recreation area that has a lake with paddle boats. Very limited Verizon signal,,sometimes text would work,, but our receiver for Dish network functioned nicely. See more..
4.5Prairie Loft Center(5 reviews) - Prairie Loft is a gem... Spent 2-3 hours Nature & Wildlife Areas • Farms • Educational sites
Prairie Loft Center for Outdoor & Agricultural Education is open for scheduled activities and events. Please check our Facebook page and website for current events. On a 75-acre program site on the edge of Hastings, Nebraska, Prairie Loft offers shared outdoor activities for all ages to help create a more active, aware, and appreciative community. Activities include family programs, community events, field trips, festivals, private events and more. Prairie Loft's mission is to teach agriculture appreciation, outdoor education, cultural connections, and the wise use of natural resources. Located just west of Hastings, Nebraska, the beautiful barns were once part of a working farm that fed over one thousand people for 80 years at the state mental hospital. Buildings on site are undergoing renovations to provide energy-efficient, multi-purpose space for expanded programs and events.See more..
My husband fishes here and I wondered what the attraction was. Go there yourself you will be surprised.See more..
3.5Memphis Lake State Recreation Area(3 reviews) - Hidden gem. Bodies of Water • Nature & Wildlife Areas • Parks A very quiet State Rec area. A tornado a few years back threw leaves into the lake. When they decomposed they took all of the oxygen out of the water and all the fish died. They took this as an opportunity to dredge it, add fish jetty's and other additions to create a healthier lake. Great spot for families.See more..
4.5Samuel R. McKelvie National Forest(3 reviews) - Relaxing Place Spent More than 3 hours Bodies of Water • Nature & Wildlife Areas • Dams
Not very popular among visitors so it makes it a peaceful place to visit. Not much to see, but it's still worth the drive, especially if you're already going to be visiting Merritt Reservoir.See more..
We were on our way to the World Chairlift Expo and happened across this hidden jewel. Highly recommend and worth going out of the way for!See more..
4.0Railside Green Arboretum(3 reviews) - A Small Arboretum with a Caboose Nature & Wildlife Areas
We made a stop here on our social distancing roadside attraction summer vacation. I had never visited Schuyler, Nebraska before. It's a quiet little town & this very small arboretum sits on the edge of downtown. It features a concrete path down the center with trees & flower beds flanking each side of the walkway. At about the mid point is an old caboose on display. Many of the trees do have info plates. This green space has been touted as the states smallest arboretum. It could use pruning. And the caboose has broken windows & quite a bit of graffiti. A nice walk, but could be better. Free Dog friendly Good for Social Distancing Open from sunrise to sunsetSee more..
4.5Bridgeport State Recreation Area(3 reviews) - Beautiful Recreation Area Bodies of Water • Nature & Wildlife Areas • Parks Took the dog for a stroll around the grounds. Many lakes, camping areas, boating areas, and a swim beach. Perfect for trail running or a nice walk. See more..
4.5Gilbert-Baker Wildlife Area(2 reviews) - Hunting paradise Nature & Wildlife Areas Gorgeous area to deer hunt in. So many draws, fields and ridges, you’ll be able to find something no problem. Be careful to watch the sun in the evening, it goes down very quickly!See more..
First time here, when the lake was rather low for dam toe drain replacement, still busy with people on a summer Sunday afternoon. Nice campsite deep in trees, and a fun kayak tour of the lake. However, was disappointed by the new and old trash all over campgrounds and out on the shorelines. It doesn't appear that anyone cares enough to do regular clean-up, including park staff. I picked up and deposited a lot of stray garbage.See more..
4.0Rainwater Basin Wetland Management District(1 review) - 10,000,000 birds! Spent More than 3 hours Nature & Wildlife Areas We were visiting the Audubon Rowe Center in Gibbon during the migration of 500,000+ Sandhill Cranes. And at least one Whooper But the nearby east and west Rainwater Basin refuges are not to be missed. The center has literature, maps and advice on where the most current activity is. 10,000,000 ducks and other birds, Snow Geese, and so much moreSee more..
3.0Mosaic's Bethphage Mission Wetland(1 review) - Local fishing, birding, hiking, on the historical register Monday: 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM Spent 1-2 hours Bodies of Water • Nature & Wildlife Areas This is a private campus with key buildings on the historical register. They serve disabled children. They have built trails around their lake and allow fishing. The attendant restored wetland is great for fall migration birdingSee more..
3.0Yellowthroat Wildlife Management Area(1 review) - Abundant waterfowl, muskrats and turtles for birders, fishers and hunters Monday: 7:00 AM - 8:00 PM Spent 1-2 hours Nature & Wildlife Areas
Yellowthroat Wildlife Management area has a small lake on the east side and an extensive marsh on the west side. The lake is open to fishing, hunting and boating (paddles and electric motors only). The marsh is used by diverse waterfowl (teals, mallards, mergansers, coot, and wood ducks) for nesting. There is a beaver lodge in the lake, and you might spot muskrats, night herons, terns, and snapping turtles feeding in the lake or marsh edges. The area is little visited with no amenities aside from the boat launch. Wildlife is active early in he morning or just before dusk. Birdwatching is especially good during spring and fall migration. Drive south of Ainsworth, NE on route 7 about 15 miles. Look for the Yellowthroat WMA sign on the east side of the road. Follow the dirt road about a mile to the boat launch. The WMA is open from sunrise to sunset. Fires, overnight camping and driving off road is prohibited. There is no admission charge.See more..
3.0Ballards Marsh Wildlife Management Area(1 review) - Secluded camping in the Sandhills with nearby hunting and fishing Monday: 12:00 AM - 11:59 PM Spent More than 3 hours Nature & Wildlife Areas
Ballards March Wildlife Management Area is about 20 miles south of Valentine, NE on US Highway 83 in the heart of Nebraska's sandhills. The large marsh and adjacent grasslands are managed by Nebraska Game and Parks Commission. It is a great place to see common birds and wildflowers of the sandhills. Perhaps you will hear a coyote or see the bald eagles which nest in trees just up the road. A free primitive campground is available with room for a half-dozen tents or trailers. There are a couple of picnic tables, fire boxes, a hand-operated water pump and an outhouse. The gravel loop road allows easy maneuvering for trailers. The campground is well shaded by large elms and is a delightful stop for a picnic during the summer. I camped here in late June, and had the place to myself. I was delighted to hear the trill of meadowlarks and the chirp of crickets and see fireflies at night. Staying at Ballards Marsh allows an early start for those who want to fish, hunt or watch birds at Valentine National Wildlife Refuge (about 3 miles to the South on Route 83).See more..
