Fremont Lakes State Recreation Area

Thousands of people enjoy the recreational facilities at Fremont Lakes State Recreation Area each year, Whether they be campers, fishermen, boaters, swimmers or picnickers. Few areas can offer more diversified recreation than this one located 3 miles west of Fremont on U.S. 30. Facilities include picnic tables, fireplaces, playground equipment water, lights, electrical hookups, modern restrooms, a sanitary dump station, a shelter house and boat launch sites.

The first tracts were acquired here by the state in 1926. Later acquisitions brought the total area to 666 acres of land and 210 acres of water in the form of sandpit lakes. Intensive management by the Game and Parks Commission began in 1960.

A valid Nebraska park entry permit is required for all vehicles on the area. Fee camping is available, with an additional charge for electricity. Stays are limited to 14 days. Concessions located on the area offer fishing, hunting and park permits, as well as bait and tackle and refreshments. All vehicles in the camping area between 10:30 p.m. and 6:30 a.m. must pay the camping fee. The 20 sandpit lakes in the Fremont complex provide a locale for just about any type of activity fishing, boating, camping, swimming, picnicking or just loafing. While power boating is allowed only on Lake Nos. 10, 15, 16 and 20, all lakes are open to non-powered craft. Swimming is permitted only in designated areas and is at your own risk. Flotation devices other than those approved by the U.S. Coast Guard are prohibited.

For safety and to ease congestion, special restrictions apply to Victory Lake and to Lake No. 20. On Victory lake, it is unlawful to tow more than two individual skiers behind any boat. On Lake No. 20, fishing from a boat is prohibited from 10 a.m. to ne hour before sunset, year-round, when the lake is open to high-powered boating. Boat speeds are limited to 5 mph f rom one hour before sunset to 10 a.m., when the lake is open to boat fishing.

Fish species available in the various lakes include: Catfish, northern pike, bluegill, largemouth bass, crappie, rock bass, red-ear sunfish and green sunfish. Lake No. 5 is a put-and-take carp lake and has a limit of 10 carp. Periodically, fish populations may be controlled by removing undesirable species to maintain a proper balance. Because of the number of lakes available, Fremont lends itself to such a management program. While some lakes are being renovated and later restocked, others can provide fishing sport. Renovated lakes are posted as such.

With its large beach, Lake No. 9 is primarily a swimming area. However, anglers occasionally take catches of crappie and other species there. Fishermen can also find bass, crappie, bluegill and other species in the power-boating lakes, Nos. 10, 1S, 16 and 20.

Fires are permitted only in the facilities provided, and removing, defacing or damaging property is prohibited. Flowers, trees, shrubs and other plants may not be cut, picked or carried away. Dogs must be kept on a leash at all times, and other household pets must be kept under physical restraint. Consumption of alcoholic beverages is prohibited on state property. Hunting is prohibited.

Fort Atkinson State Historical Park

The Yellowstone Expedition established Fort Atkinson as the first U.S. military post west of the Missouri River in 1819, but its story actually begins 15 years earlier with the Lewis and Clark Expedition. The explorers first set up camp in the area on July 30, 1804, and held council with the Oto and Missouri Indians on August 3, 1804. That powwow gave the locale its name of "Council Bluff," and Clark later recommended the site for the location of a fort. There, Fort Atkinson was built on the bluffs overlooking the Missouri. It replaced Cantonment Missouri, a temporary outpost set up the year before on the banks of the river about 1 1/2 miles north.

The Yellowstone party spent the winter of 1819-20 at the cantonment, and sickness and bitter cold claimed the lives of over 160 members of the expedition. A disastrous spring flood prompted the move from the bottom lands to the present site on the valley terrace above the flood plain. Although initial plans called for a string of posts across the plains, this was destined to be the only one built by the Yellowstone Expedition. Congress, in an economy move, abandoned the idea of a chain of forts. Consequently, the goals of the expedition were altered drastically . . . to the building of a single permanent fort on the Missouri River. With the site selected, it was called Camp Council Bluff while the fort was under construction, because of its close proximity to Lewis and Clark's council site. However, upon completion the Secretary of War instructed that it be named Fort Atkinson after Col. Henry Atkinson, commander of the Yellowstone Expedition.

Large Garrison

Over 1,000 men were garrisoned at the post. Active from 1820 to 1827, the fort protected the burgeoning western fur trade and controlled access to the Upper Missouri Country and the Platte Valley overland route. As the only government authority in the vast territory west of the Missouri, the garrison at Fort Atkinson assumed the often impossible task of regulating the fur trade and enforcing peaceful relations between traders and the Indian tribes of the region.

During its brief existence, Fort Atkinson played host to momentous events in America's westering experience It was the scene of several "firsts," including the first school and library in what later became Nebraska. The soldiers demonstrated that agriculture could flourish in the so-called "Great American Desert." Though isolated, the garrison came to enjoy many of the amenities characteristic of life in settled communities elsewhere. The story of Fort Atkinson adds much to the social history of the West.

Gateway For Fur Trade

These achievements may have diverted attention from the fort's significant contribution to the development of the western fur trade. From 1820-27, Fort Atkinson was the gateway to the fur regions of the Upper Missouri and the Rocky Mountains These were pivotal years which saw the fur trade become the dominant force for American expansion. By the 1840s, fur traders and mountain men had explored the West, opened the Mexican territories of the Southwest, and shown the way for emigrants to Oregon and California.

In 1822, a party of fur traders led by General William H. Ashley and Major Andrew Henry ascended the Missouri in keelboats, seeking to tap the fur riches of the Yellowstone Country. This group included Jedediah Smith, David E. Jackson, Jim Bridger and Mike Fink.

The years 1823-24 were to be momentous ones as Fort Atkinson played out its role as sentinel at the fur trade gateway. The second Ashley expedition passed the fort in the spring of 1823. This group included others whose names would loom large on the roll of noted mountain men Thomas Fitzpatrick, William Sublette, James Clyman, Hiram Scott and the legendary Huge Glass. On June 2, 1823, the Ashley party was attacked at the Arikara villages and forced to retreat after suffering a number of killed and wounded. That attack led to a retaliatory expedition led by Col. Henry Leavenworth. After an arduous trek upriver, a combined force of soldiers and fur traders fought an indecisive skirmish with the Arikara.

The joust with the Arikara and a series of events which followed in the summer and fall of 1824 prompted William H. Ashley to take steps which would revolutionize the operation of the western fur trade. After two costly failures to gain a foothold in the Upper Missouri, Ashley sent Jedediah Smith and a party of trappers to explore the Crow Country and the region along the Continental Divide. Almost a year passed before several of Smith's party, led by Thomas Fitzpatrick, stumbled into Fort Atkinson after an exhausting journey through South Pass and down the Platte. They brought word that the mountains were rich with beaver. Responding post haste, Ashley outfitted a company of trappers. In November 1824 they struck out from Fort Atkinson via the Platte Valley for the Rocky Mountains.

While Ashley and his men prowled the remote regions of the Rockies other traders operated in Fort Atkinson's backyard. Manuel Lisa had established a post in the vicinity before Fort Atkinson appeared on the scene. With Lisa's death in 1820, his Missouri Fur Company was reorganized with Joshua Pilcher as field commander, operating from the Council Bluff. John P. Cabanne was a frequent visitor to Fort Atkinson as proprietor of the Berthold, Chouteau and Pratte Co. post, 6 miles below the fort.

Southwest Expeditions

The fort was also the jumping-off point for several early expeditions to the Mexican settlements of Taos and Santa Fe. As early as 1820, David Meriweather set out to find a wagon route to Sante Fe. In the summer and fall of 1824, separate parties led by members of the Robidoux family left the Council Bluff bound for New Mexico. A large trading expedition outfitted by Berthold, Pratte and Co. at their post near Fort Atkinson embarked in July 1825, under the command of Sylvestre Pratte. Yet another Robidoux trading party started for the Southwest in September 1825.

The Council Bluff was also the site of the Upper Missouri Indian Agency, with headquarters at Fort Atkinson. The agency was managed by Benjamin O'Fallon and sub-agent John Dougherty. It was O'Fallon who arranged for a delegation of Mexicans to visit the Council Bluff in September 1824 to conclude a peace treaty with the Pawnee. It was also O'Fallon who visited the tribes along the Missouri and Platte with General Henry Atkinson in 1825 to negotiate a pact not to bother Americans traveling to Santa Fe.

From 1820-27, Fort Atkinson witnessed the opening of the West. Few of the fort's inhabitants could have had the vision to recognize the significance of the events played out within the shadow of its bastions. From the perspective of more than a century and a half, however, Fort Atkinson's importance to western history can hardly be overestimated.

Abandonment and Restoration

The fort was abandoned in 1827, when the Army realigned its forces to better protect the growing overland traffic that was following more southerly routes west. Gradually, all physical evidence of the fort disappeared, and the area converted to farmland. Thus it existed until 1961, when local concern for preservation of the site prompted organization of a drive to purchase and restore the area. The Game and Parks Commission agreed to purchase the land, if half the cost would be paid by local interests. The Fort Atkinson Foundation, the Greater Omaha Historical Society and the Washington County Historical Society in cooperation with the Omaha World-Herald spearheaded a successful fund raising drive. The Commission took title to the land two years later.

Development and restoration of the site proceeded over the next 20-plus years, but personnel were hamstrung by budget constraints, a situation that also plagued the original fort. A secondary reason given for its abandonment was the refusal by Congress to appropriate the $3,000 needed for repairs. Restoration work, however, did go on, including archeological surveys, site development, land shaping, some interpretive work, a temporary visitor center and reconstruction of the entire west barracks wall. The pace picked up when the Game and Parks Foundation lent financial and other support to the project. Donations made through the Foundation total close to $1 million, with over half a million coming in the form of dimensional lumber and logs for reconstruction, contributed by the Plum Creek Timber Company and hauled to the site by Plum Creek's parent corporation, the Burlington Northern Railroad. In addition, the Burlington Northern Foundation donated $150,000, an amount matched by the Peter Kiewit Foundation, for the construction of the visitor/interpretive center at the park. At the same time, hundreds of hours of volunteer labor have gone into rebuilding the Armorer's Shop.

Game and Parks Commission crews have progressed with construction on the Council House, the south barracks wall, the north barracks wall, the east barracks wall and the powder magazine. The Commission is now well into its 10-year restoration schedule.

Built on a Grand Scale

Fort Atkinson was a large outpost for its day. Not only was it garrisoned by 1,000 men, it was built on a grand scale. The exterior wall dimensions were 455 feet by 468 feet, with bastions at the northwest and southeast corners, wagon-width gates in the south, west and north walls, an underground passage under the east wall, two narrow exits (sally ports), and a powder magazine in the center of the parade ground. Along the walls were barrack rooms, about 20 feet wide, with plank floors and ceilings, shingled roofs, lime-pointed walls and brick chimneys and fireplaces. Brick was made locally, and the vast supply of logs for both construction and heating came primarily from bottomland timber around the fort.

This was an important site in the journey of Lewis and Clark, in dealings with the Indians, in the expansion of the fur trade, and in the early river traffic on the mighty Missouri. Telling that story through reconstruction and interpretation is an awesome task . . . one the Game and Parks Commission has undertaken with vigor and dedication.

About your Visit

Visitors are welcome to see what has already been accomplished, tour the interpretive center, and watch the progress of the restoration. Living history demonstrations are staged periodically at the fort . . . the blacksmith and gunsmith set up at the Armorer's Shop, while volunteers interpret rifle regiment activities in various rooms along the west barracks wall. The carpenter and cooper also have workshops there, and at times, the Indian Agent can be found in his quarters at the Council House. General information and interpretive schedules are available at the visitor center.

The grounds are open year-round, and the visitor center is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. during the summer. There is a small picnic area near the fortification parking area. While no food or lodging is available at the park, camping, restaurants and overnight accommodations are available nearby. Tour groups should contact the superintendent's office in advance to make special arrangements.

Please do not smoke on the trail or in the buildings. Grassland fires are especially dangerous and spread rapidly. Do not disturb the archaeological remains or take historic objects. Pets are permitted on the grounds but must be kept on a leash.

Stay clear of the posted construction areas. Please use caution along the trail, since very steep drop-offs are common. Poison ivy and ticks can be abundant during certain seasons, so take care and watch your children. If an accident should happen, please report it to the staff at the visitor center.

Lewis and Clark State Recreation Area

Nebraska's second largest lake, Lewis & Clark straddles the northeast border with South Dakota, about 7 miles north of Crofton on NE Hwy 121. The lake stretches for some 35 miles at maximum pool, with 90 miles of shoreline. Maximum depth is 45 feet. It draws its name from the Lewis & Clark Expedition, which camped nearby on their epic journey to explore the Louisiana Purchase.

This Nebraska Game and Parks Commission state recreation area includes five areas on the south side of the lake - Weigand-Burbach, Miller Creek, Bloomfield, South Shore and Deep Water. Niobrara State Park is located upstream near the confluence of the Missouri and Niobrara rivers. Bazile Creek Wildlife Management Area is near the river about midway between the upper lake and Niobrara park.

Development on the recreation area began in 1957, not long after the dam was closed. Most recent developments, completed in 1997, involved a complete overhaul of the Weigand-Burbach area at a cost of some $3 million.

Weigand-Burbach Area

Exceptional facilities are available at the two major areas on the Nebraska side of the lake. Once separate areas, the two are now connected. The area headquarters is here. Facilities include:

• Full-service marina with seasonal dock rentals, as well as short-term (15-30 minutes) courtesy docks / water cycles available for rent
• 24-hour gas service dock (VISA or MasterCard)
• Convenience store with supplies, groceries, bait, tackle, permits and snacks
• Boat ramp and boat pump-out station
• Modern camping - 149 paved pads with 30/50 amp electrical hookups, pull-through sites, dump station; reservations taken on request by contacting the area office (12 sites available)
• Tent camping
• Swimming beach
• Picnic shelter (may be reserved for a fee)
• Modern restrooms and showers
• Fish cleaning station
• Pay telephone

Bloomfield

This area offers 36 camping pads with 30 amp electrical hookups and group camping. There are both modern and primitive restroom facilities. A boat ramp offers lake access.

Miller Creek & South Shore

Both areas have boat ramps, primitive camping, and primitive restroom facilities.

Deep Water

This area is basically an access point with only a parking area. It is not the place to be in rainy weather, since the road is extremely steep and virtually impassable.

Fishing & Hunting

There is some fine fishing available at Lewis and Clark for a variety of species - walleye, sauger, largemouth and smallmouth bass, bluegill, crappie, and catfish.

Look for all these species around the jetties at the Weigand-Burbach area. A number of these jetties were installed to improve habitat and well as fishing opportunities.

In February-March, there can be some good sport on largemouth and smallmouth bass at the upper end of the lake. At the same time, the chutes and backwaters around Niobrara produce good fishing for walleye, sauger, northern pike and smallmouth bass.

There is good walleye fishing in May and June off the flats at Weigand Creek and for channel catfish along the bluff shoreline along the old river channel casting and trolling crank bait.

Later in summer action increases for catfish, sauger and walleye at the west end, where the river runs into the lake. In late summer, anglers can look for schools of shad to lead them to some good white bass fishing.

Hunting, in season, is allowed on the rec area, beginning the Tuesday after Labor Day, except that the Weigand-Burbach area is closed to all hunting. There is some good sport for white-tailed deer, mourning dove, waterfowl and wild turkey. Of course, the lake offers good opportunity for waterfowl hunting. Action can be good on cottontail and squirrels.

Camping & Boating

Camping facilities are excellent at Lewis & Clark SRA, and this has been an extremely popular area with campers and boaters for a long time. RVers will find some choice new facilities, complete with 30/50 amp electrical hookups. Camping fees are charged at all areas, ranging from minimum costs for the primitive areas to full fees for the modern campgrounds. Showers are located at the Weigand-Burbach area.

Boating on the lake covers the gamut from pontoons to high-powered speedboats to personal watercraft (PFC). In that portion of the spillway and tailrace of Gavins Point designated as the Tailwaters Area, speed in excess of 5 mph is prohibited and speed of all vessels must be reduced so the wash and wake will cause no discomfort, hazard, injury or damage to persons, vessels or property. The following areas are closed to all boating: (1) that part of the tailrace at the powerhouse from the draft tube deck downstream to the barrier cable (320 feet), (2) that part of the spillway discharge channel downstream for 450 feet while buoyed off, and (3) those areas upstream and downstream from the powerhouse draft tube in- takes and outlets marked by buoys, signs or both.

Visitors can rent a water cycle at the Weigand Marina. These pedal-powered craft can reach speeds of 10-15 mph, depending on the stamina of the pedal-pusher. The marina offers full amenities for boaters, including a pump-out station and 24-hour gasoline, using a VISA or MasterCard. Boat slips are available for seasonal rental.

Wildlife

Lewis & Clark is a prime area for bird watchers, especially for eagles. For birders in the area, a checklist of birds is available. Although prepared for Niobrara State Park, the same species could potentially be sighted around the lake. Alert visitors can also spot wild turkeys, deer, coyotes, and a variety of other small mammals.

Reminders

A valid Nebraska State Entry Permit is required on all state park areas, including all areas at Lewis & Clark Lake SRA.

Alcoholic beverages are not permitted on the recreation area. Fires are limited to the facilities provided, except that portable grills are permitted. Always remember to use care with fire.

Dogs must be on a leash at all times, and other household pets must be restrained.

Be safe not sorry - wear your life jacket when- ever you are on the water.

Winter Activities

Winter can be a fun time at Lewis & Clark. When the ice is sufficient, the lake is open to ice-fishing, skating, and snowmobiling. Snowmobilers can also use area roads but must stay out of other areas. Cross-country skiing is becoming increasingly popular with park visitors.

Points of Interest

Nearby Niobrara State Park offers cabins, camping, horseback trail rides, river raft trips, hiking and more.

The Corps of Engineers operates Gavins Point Dam, the power generation plant, and Lewis & Clark Visitor Center.

The National Fish Hatchery on the north side of the dam offers a close-up look at a variety of species and how they are raised.

Crofton has an intriguing historic hotel and restaurant, Lakeview Golf Course, as well as an array of services including gas, groceries, and bait.

Lewis & Clark State Recreation Area
RR1 Box 308
Crofton, NE 68730-0308
Phone: 402-388-4169
Email: lcsra@ngpsun.ngpc.state.ne.us

Niobrara State Park

Situated at the confluence of the Niobrara and Missouri rivers on Nebraska's northeastern border, Niobrara State Park offers visitors an opportunity to sample a wide range of outdoor experiences. Cabins, camping from RVs to tents, picnicking, swimming, boat ramps, horseback trail rides, paddleboats, hiking, fishing, history or communing with Mother Nature . . . it all awaits at this exceptional state park.

Modern facilities, including cabins, are open from mid-April through mid-November, while activities like the swimming pool and trail rides operate from Memorial weekend through Labor Day. Park grounds are open year-round for picnicking, hiking, sightseeing, and primitive camping.

Visitors are urged to practice safety at all times. Parts of the park are situated on high bluffs that can be hazardous for the unwary and the careless.

Niobrara State Park's 15 modern, housekeeping cabins sit high on the bluffs, offering a commanding view of the breathtaking expanse of bluffs, cliffs and river. There are 12 two-bedroom units, and three have three bedrooms. Each is equipped with a double bed with two sets of bunk beds in the other bedrooms. Bedding, towels, cooking utensils, and tableware are provided. Cabins have kitchenettes, complete with a small stove and refrigerator, a screened back porch, and a patio with picnic table and grill.

A group lodge is available for conferences, retreats, family reunions and the like. Situated on a ridge overlooking the Missouri River, it, too, offers a spectacular view of the vicinity. The lodge has a well-equipped kitchen and restrooms and accommodates up to 110 people.

Reservations for all lodging may be made up to a year in advance. For reservations and costs, check the Reservation and Fee Information pamphlet for Nebraska's state park areas.

CAMPING and PICNICKING

The modern RV campground has 69 pads, all with 30 amp electrical hookups. Other facilities include drinking water, modern restrooms, showers, dump station, picnic tables and grills. A floating, pontoon bridge gives access to a channel of the Niobrara River (the Mormon Canal), and there is excellent cat fishing on this stream in May and June. Playground equipment for the youngsters is also available in the campground.

The tent camping area extends along three miles of extremely hilly, winding, one-way road. Grills and ground-level fire rings are provided for renters. Many ites are situated on elevated hills adjacent to the Niobrara River. Cedar trees abound in the tent camping area, interspersed with groups of elm, hackberry and ash. Backpackers will also find Adirondack shelters here.

Grills and picnic sites are located at various points along the one-way loop. One picnic shelter situated on the highest hill in the park, gives a spectacular view of the surrounding countryside.

A large population of white-tailed deer calls the park home, and wild turkeys roam freely through the cabin and tent camping areas. Beaver, muskrat and mink prowl the riverbanks, and the varied bird life ranges from the majestic eagle to the tiny chickadee. The song of the whippoorwill blends with the call of the coyote in a nighttime serenade.

For the wildlife enthusiast, Niobrara offers ample photo opportunities or just the chance to observe the many species native to the area. Nature's bounty is readily visible during a drive along the park's seven miles of roads or a stroll along the ten miles of hiking trails.

Niobrara State Park offers a modern swimming pool; horseback trail rides, led by expert wranglers; paddleboat rentals; boating on the Missouri; fishing in the old park lagoon and in nearby rivers; hiking the 10 miles of trail; bird watching and other nature study, or just a chance to loll in the shade away from the hectic pace of day-today living.

The park also rents 10-person rafts for floating on the Missouri River. If you are interested in this activity contact the NSP office for further information.

Hours at the pool are 1-5 p.m. and 6-8 p.m. daily. A lifeguard is always on duty. Swimmers who sign in at the pool in the afternoon may return in the evening for a swim at no added charge. Season pool passes are also available.

The park maintains three boat access areas to the Missouri River at the old Niobrara town site, the Verdel site, 8 miles upstream (toilets available), and Ferry Landing, 4 miles downstream across from the village of Running Water S.D. The old town site also has a fish cleaning station and latrine available.

The J. Alan Cramer Interpretive Center offers not only an exceptional view of the park, but it also highlights people and places that played key roles in the history of the area, including the story of the Ponca Indians.

Adjacent to the park is Bazile Creek Wildlife Management Area, which provides additional opportunity of wildlife viewing, fishing, boating and hunting in season.

Visitors may want to check out the site of the mosasaurus paleontological find, an important one, since it was the first complete fossil of its kind found in Nebraska. Other areas of interest are the Ponca Cemetery, Mormon Monument, and the Ponca Agency and Standing Bear monument, as well as other local historical attractions. Ask for directions at the Park Office.

Private parties also offer canoe rentals and guided fishing outings on the unchannelized portion of the Missouri. The City of Niobrara offers a modern 9-hole, grass-greens golf course.

GENERAL INFORMATION & PERMITS

Stop by, write or call the park office for more information on Niobrara or other Nebraska state park areas; to buy a park entry, fishing or hunting permit, or for information on local services, attractions and activities.

OFFICE HOURS

Memorial weekend-Labor Day

8 a.m.-8 p.m. daily

Mid-November to mid-April

8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday

Rest of Year

8 a.m.-5 p.m. daily

Ponca State Park

Introduction

Situated astride the picturesque Missouri River bluffs in northeast Nebraska, Ponca State Park overlooks the only unchannelized section of the river bordering the state, giving visitors a glimpse of how the untamed river looked before modern man changed it forever.

The park is located two miles from the town of Ponca, just off of NE 12 on S-26E. Both are named for the proud Indian tribe that once inhabited the area. It was the famed Ponca Chief Standing Bear who fought and won the court battle to have the Indian declared a "person" under American law. His achievement won him a place not only in history but also the Nebraska Hall of Fame. Here, too, Lewis and Clark with their band of explorers camped during their epic journey up the Missouri to explore the Louisiana Purchase. The National Park Service has been designated Ponca State Park as part of the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail.

Developed and operated by the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, Ponca encompasses 892 acres of heavily forested rolling hills. This superbly scenic area offers park-goers all the amenities of an up-to-date state park. The park was established in 1934; local citizens, sponsored by the Ponca American Legion post, donated the first 200 acres.

LODGING

The park has 14 modern, two-bedroom, air-conditioned, housekeeping cabins. Each has two double beds, bedding, towels for four, bathroom with shower, kitchenette and large screened porch. Kitchenettes are furnished with a range, refrigerator, cooking utensils, dinette, dishes and tableware for six.

Rollaway beds and cribs are available for an additional charge, but no more than eight persons and two extra beds are allowed per cabin. No camping is permitted in the cabin area.

Lodging is normally available from late May to October, but dates are subject to change. Reservations are accepted up to one year in advance for two or more nights and will be confirmed with a deposit for two nights lodging. Deposits cannot be refunded under any circumstances. Anyone checking out after only one night will forfeit the second night's deposit.

All reservations are on a first-come, first-served basis. Check-in time is 4 p.m., and checkout time is 11 a.m., unless other arrangements are made in advance with the park superintendent. Whereas no advance reservations are accepted for one night's lodging, cabins may be available on a first-come, first-served basis for overnight stays. To make reservations or to obtain additional information, write to Ponca State Park.

CAMPING

Ponca has an excellent camping, with 91 paved pads, complete with 15 amp and some 20 amp electrical hookups. Other facilities include showers, restrooms, dump station, picnic tables, fire grates, firewood, drinking water, and playground.

Fees are charged for all camping, with an additional fee for electricity. All camping is first-come, first-served, and stays are limited to 14 consecutive days. Weather permitting, modern facilities are open from mid-April to mid-November. Primitive camping is available year-round.

Whereas there is no separate area for group camping for organizations or family get-togethers, they can be accommodated in the undeveloped camp area, where there are no electrical hookups.

ACTIVITIES

Organized park activities operate from Memorial weekend through Labor Day. Hiking trails, primitive camping, and day-use facilities are open year-round.

Well-developed picnic grounds offer day visitors a chance to stretch and enjoy a few hours in the outdoors. There's plenty of shade, a well as shelter houses, fire grates, firewood, tables, playground equipment, drinking water and restrooms.

During the summer season, swimmers can cool off at the modern pool, where a lifeguard is on duty. Fees are charged for adults and for children age 7-16. Youngsters 6 years old and under are admitted free when accompanied by a paid adult.

Swimming is not allowed in the river, so please do not attempt it. Currents are swift, and it is extremely dangerous.

A boat ramp is located just north of the park headquarters for access to the Missouri for boaters and anglers. Fishermen will find good action on catfish and other river species.

Experienced wranglers guide organized horseback rides over a three-mile trail that meanders through the scenic wooded bluffs to the Three-State Overlook and some of the most picturesque parts of the park. Additional information, schedules and tickets are available at the Park Office.

More and more cross-country skiers are discovering the wintertime fun to be found at Ponca. This scenic area takes on a special excitement in the snow, and a number of good trails are available for this popular cold-weather sport. Primitive camping is also available for those who want to test themselves against nature during the winter. Hikers and backpackers, too, enjoy the brisk walks offered by Ponca's trails.

FAUNA AND FLORA

Over 17 miles of walking trails lace the park, providing ample opportunities to explore and view close-up the diverse fauna and flora here. White-tailed deer roam the area, and the woods are home to numerous small mammals from raccoons to fox squirrels. In spring, the woodlands come alive with the sounds of the songbirds that live and nest in the area. The call of the whippoorwills echoes across the bluffs during late spring and early summer evenings. Turkey vultures can be seen soaring overhead during warm summer days. In fall, the skies are filled with migrating ducks, geese and other birds. Come winter, the park is home to bald eagles and some hardy songbirds. Bur oaks are the predominant tree species at the park, but they are liberally interspersed with walnut, elm, basswood, ash and hackberry. Almost in the heart of the park is the "Old Oak Tree." In 1964, this ancient specimen was officially aged at 320 years old. It was a sapling about the time Oliver Cromwell and his Roundheads defeated Charles I and his Cavaliers at Marston Moor in 1644. The Mayflower landed at Plymouth Rock just 24 years earlier. Nearby is another rare site, where the second longest single suspended pipeline crosses the Missouri River.

Ponca bursts into bloom from late April to early June, when colorful woodland wildflowers blossom. Among the most common are water leaf, blue phlox, bloodroot, columbine, Canada violet, shell-leaf penstemon, sweet cicely, western wild rose, Solomon's seal and yucca. Typical shrubs include gooseberry, wild plum, sumac, chokecherry and snowberry.

MISCELLANEOUS

A current Nebraska park entry permit is required for all vehicles entering the park. Fees are $14 for an annual or $2.50 for a daily. They are available at the Park Office, as are fishing and hunting permits.

While there is no concession on the park proper, pop machines and a public telephone are located near the Office. Ice, groceries, gas, outdoor gear and supplies are readily available at Ponca. A doctor and dentist are also located there.

Contact Information:
Ponca State Park
PO Box 688
Ponca, NE 68770-0688
Phone: 402-755-2284

Willow Creek State Recreation Area

Located 1 1/2 miles southwest of Pierce, scenic Willow Creek State Recreation Area draws its name from the meandering stream that feeds the Elkhorn River in northeast Nebraska. It covers some 1,600 acres, including a 700-acres flood-control reservoir. The area is particularly popular with campers, anglers, picnickers and hunters.

Begun in 1982, the $5.2 million reservoir project was built by the Lower Elkhorn Natural Resources District with cost-sharing by the Nebraska Natural Resources Commission.

The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission manages recreation. The recreation area opened in August 1984 and offers camping, fishing, boating and swimming. Picnickers will find shelters along with an ample supply of tables and fire grates. A 3-mile hiking and horseback trail winds through the area. Horseback riders may also use Park roads. Come winter, roads and the lake surface (ice permitting) are open to snowmobilers.

There is a designated swimming beach, but swimming is unsupervised. Because there are no lifeguards, swimmers should use care and swim with a companion.

All camping is first-come, first-served, and stays are limited to 14 days. There are 100 pads in the campground, 64 with electrical hookups. The modem shower house has laundry facilities, and there is a dump station. Fees are charged for camping, with an additional cost for electricity. Campers are asked to self-register on arrival and deposit the appropriate fee in the drop box. Drinking water and vault toilets are available at the campground, as well as other sites around the lake.

The reservoir accommodates both anglers and boaters well. The main body of the lake is open to all boating and to water skiing, while the wooded west end (about half the lake surface) is restricted to 5 mph, wakeless boating.

Anglers will find action on crappie, bluegill, bass, catfish, walleye, northern pike, tiger musky and bullheads. This is a fairly shallow lake, and the deepest point measures only about 35 feet in depth.

Parts of the recreation area are open to hunting, in season, beginning the first Tuesday after Labor Day. Species available include: Pheasant, quail, mourning dove, rabbit, squirrel and a variety of waterfowl. Deer hunting is allowed, but it is restricted to archery, muzzleloader or shotgun slug only. Rifles and handguns may not be used on the area.

Bird watchers will find an intriguing array of bird life to capture their fancy. There are numerous species, some rare, to entice sharp-eyed viewers.

A current Nebraska Park Entry Permit is required for all vehicles at Willow Creek. Permits and other goods and services are available in nearby Pierce or from any Nebraska hunting/fishing permit dealer.

Pets are permitted, but they must be kept on a leash Alcoholic beverages are prohibited. Vehicles must remain on roadways.

Several other Nebraska park areas lie within a short driving distance of Willow Creek. To the north and east are Niobrara, Ponca State Park and Lewis and Clark Lake SRA. These areas all have modern campgrounds, picnicking and other facilities. Cabin lodging is available at Niobrara and Ponca. Both parks have swimming pools.

About a half-hour to the northwest are Grove Lake State Wildlife Area and Trout Rearing Station. Visitors can even feed the fish in the rearing ponds. One of the few trout streams in northeast Nebraska crosses the area, and visitors may have the opportunity to view a variety of wildlife.

A few miles north and west of Grove Lake is Ashfall Fossil Beds State Historical Park, a fascinating area. Here visitors can watch ongoing excavations of prehistoric animals preserved under layers of volcanic ash deposited eons ago.