List of Nebraska state parks facts for kids
Nebraska is a state in the central United States. It has many amazing natural and historical places for people to visit and enjoy. These special places are called state parks, state historical parks, state recreation areas, and a state recreational trail. They are all managed by the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission. This group helps protect these areas and makes sure everyone can have fun there.
Contents
- State Parks
- State Historical Parks
- Arbor Lodge State Historical Park
- Ash Hollow State Historical Park
- Ashfall Fossil Beds State Historical Park
- Bowring Ranch State Historical Park
- Buffalo Bill Ranch State Historical Park
- Fort Atkinson State Historical Park
- Fort Hartsuff State Historical Park
- Fort Kearny State Historical Park
- Rock Creek Station State Historical Park
- State Recreation Areas
- State Recreational Trail
- Images for kids
State Parks
State parks are places where you can enjoy nature, go camping, hiking, or just relax outdoors. Nebraska has several wonderful state parks, each with its own unique features.
Chadron State Park
Located in Dawes County, Chadron State Park is the oldest state park in Nebraska. It covers about 974 acres. This park is a great spot for outdoor adventures.
Eugene T. Mahoney State Park
You can find Eugene T. Mahoney State Park in Cass County. It's a large park with many fun things to do, like swimming, horseback riding, and even an indoor water park. The beautiful Platte River runs right by it.
Fort Robinson State Park
Fort Robinson State Park is in Dawes and Sioux counties. It's huge, covering over 22,000 acres! This park used to be a U.S. Army fort. Today, you can explore its history and enjoy activities like trail rides.
Indian Cave State Park
In Nemaha and Richardson counties, Indian Cave State Park is known for its ancient Petroglyphs (rock carvings). It also has a restored village called St. Deroin, showing how people lived long ago.
Niobrara State Park
Niobrara State Park is in Knox County. It's a great place to enjoy the Niobrara River. The park includes a historic railroad bridge over the river.
Platte River State Park
Also in Cass County, Platte River State Park is smaller but packed with fun. It has modern observation towers for great views and cozy cabins that were once part of older campgrounds.
Ponca State Park
Ponca State Park is located in Dixon County, right on the banks of the mighty Missouri River. It's a beautiful spot for nature lovers.
Smith Falls State Park
In Cherry County, Smith Falls State Park is home to Nebraska's highest waterfall, Smith Falls! It's a wonderful place to see this natural wonder.
State Historical Parks
State historical parks are special places that help us learn about Nebraska's past. They protect important historical sites and buildings.
Arbor Lodge State Historical Park
Located in Otoe County, this park was the home of J. Sterling Morton. He was the person who started Arbor Day, a day to plant trees!
Ash Hollow State Historical Park
In Garden County, Ash Hollow was a very important stop for pioneers traveling on the Overland Trail. It's a great place to imagine what life was like for early settlers.
Ashfall Fossil Beds State Historical Park
This amazing park in Antelope County has fossil remains from animals that lived 12 million years ago! You can see ancient rhinos and camels preserved in volcanic ash.
Bowring Ranch State Historical Park
Bowring Ranch, in Cherry County, was a Hereford cattle ranch. It was given to the state by former U.S. Senator Eve Bowring.
Buffalo Bill Ranch State Historical Park
In Lincoln County, this park was the home of the famous frontier showman, Buffalo Bill Cody. You can learn all about his exciting life here.
Fort Atkinson State Historical Park
Located in Washington County, this park is a reconstruction of the first U.S. military post built west of the Missouri River. It shows what a frontier fort looked like.
Fort Hartsuff State Historical Park
In Valley County, Fort Hartsuff was a typical army outpost in the 1800s. It protected settlers and travelers on the Plains.
Fort Kearny State Historical Park
This park in Buffalo County has parts of a fort that protected people traveling on the Overland Trail. It's a glimpse into the past of westward expansion.
Rock Creek Station State Historical Park
In Jefferson County, Rock Creek Station was a stop for stagecoaches and the Pony Express. You can see reconstructed buildings from that time.
State Recreation Areas
State recreation areas are places mainly for outdoor fun like fishing, boating, camping, and picnicking. They often have lakes or rivers.
- Alexandria State Recreation Area
- Arnold State Recreation Area
- Atkinson Lake State Recreation Area
- Blue River State Recreation Area
- Bluestem State Recreation Area
- Bowman Lake State Recreation Area
- Box Butte Reservoir State Recreation Area
- Branched Oak State Recreation Area
- Bridgeport State Recreation Area
- Brownville State Recreation Area
- Buffalo Bill Ranch State Recreation Area
- Calamus State Recreation Area
- Champion Lake State Recreation Area
- Cheyenne State Recreation Area
- Conestoga State Recreation Area
- Cottonmill Lake State Recreation Area
- Crystal Lake State Recreation Area
- Dead Timber State Recreation Area
- DLD State Recreation Area
- Enders Reservoir State Recreation Area
- Fort Kearny State Recreation Area
- Fremont Lakes State Recreation Area
- Gallagher Canyon State Recreation Area
- Johnson Lake State Recreation Area
- Keller Park State Recreation Area
- Lake Maloney State Recreation Area
- Lake McConaughy State Recreation Area
- Lake Minatare State Recreation Area
- Lake Ogallala State Recreation Area
- Lewis and Clark State Recreation Area
- Long Lake State Recreation Area
- Long Pine State Recreation Area
- Louisville State Recreation Area
- Medicine Creek State Recreation Area
- Memphis State Recreation Area
- Merritt Reservoir State Recreation Area
- Mormon Island State Recreation Area
- North Loup State Recreation Area
- Olive Creek State Recreation Area
- Oliver Reservoir State Recreation Area
- Pawnee Lake State Recreation Area
- Pelican Point State Recreation Area
- Pibel Lake State Recreation Area
- Pioneer State Recreation Area
- Red Willow Reservoir State Recreation Area
- Riverview Marina State Recreation Area
- Rock Creek Lake State Recreation Area
- Rock Creek Station State Recreation Area
- Rockford State Recreation Area
- Sandy Channel State Recreation Area
- Schramm Park State Recreation Area
- Sherman Reservoir State Recreation Area
- Stagecoach State Recreation Area
- Summit Lake State Recreation Area
- Sutherland Reservoir State Recreation Area
- Swanson Reservoir State Recreation Area
- Two Rivers State Recreation Area
- Union Pacific State Recreation Area
- Verdon State Recreation Area
- Victoria Springs State Recreation Area
- Wagon Train State Recreation Area
- Walgren Lake State Recreation Area
- War Axe State Recreation Area
- Wildcat Hills State Recreation Area
- Willow Creek State Recreation Area
- Windmill State Recreation Area
State Recreational Trail
A state recreational trail is a long path designed for activities like hiking, biking, or horseback riding.
- Cowboy State Recreational Trail
Images for kids
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Chadron State Park
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The Platte River, near Eugene T. Mahoney State Park
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Comanche Hall at Fort Robinson State Park
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Indian Cave State Park
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Historic Niobrara River railroad bridge
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Observation tower at Platte River State Park
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Smith Falls, Nebraska's highest waterfall
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Arbor Lodge
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Valley of the North Platte River at Ash Hollow
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Fossil quarry at Ashfall Fossil Beds
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Scout's Rest Ranch, home of Buffalo Bill
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Powder magazine at Fort Atkinson
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Fort Hartsuff compound
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Reconstructed blacksmith shop at Fort Kearny
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East Ranch at Rock Creek Station State Historical Park
