/ OUTDOORS / 1 5 OUTDOOR WONDERLANDS Toadstool Geologic Park Harrison This park is prime for hiking, yet it’s a terrain you’ve likely never encountered: Hikers describe it using words like “surreal” and “moonscape.” You’ll see what they’re getting at when you follow trails past large rocks supported only by thin columns of dirt, round stones sanded smooth by time and canyons pitted in strange patterns by the forces of nature. In the evening and early morning, the sun bathes the cream-colored rocks in a peachy-pink glow. Hikers share the trails with geologists, who study Toadstool’s bands of sediment for clues about earth’s history, and paleontologists, who study fossils of long-gone tortoises and mammals. Pitch a tent, bring your camper or visit for the day. Toadstool is open year ’round and worth a visit—the landscape says it all. TOADSTOOL GEOLOGIC PARK, NORTHWESTERN NEBRASKA “ I AM SO IMPRESSED WITH NEBRASKA’S STATE PARKS. THEY SEEM TO PUT ON A BEAUTIFUL SHOW EVERY NIGHT. WE [HAVE] STAYED IN SIX SO FAR AND THEY’VE ALL BEEN CLEAN AND BEAUTIFUL. —@LMoralesPhoto, via Twitter 3 dreamy bed. A stone firepit completes the rustic charm. Pro tip: Roll the bed out onto your private deck to sleep beneath the starry, moonlit sky. Ogallala With nearly 35,000 acres of water and 100 miles of shoreline, Nebraska’s largest reservoir always saves a place for you. The waters are cool, clear and deep—ideal for summertime swimming. No trip to Lake McConaughy is complete without fishing. Local game fish species include walleye, channel catfish, Northern pike, wiper and white bass. Bring your own boat or rent one for the day. If the fish aren’t biting, catch some sun on the white-sand beach. Want to make a weekend (or even a week) of it? Reserve a primitive or modern campsite in one of 12 designated areas, many of which line the lake’s sandy shore. Don’t worry if you forget some essentials—onsite concessions offer dining options, snacks, bait and more, making this a getaway almost too good to leave. Lake McConaughy State Recreation Area 2 Louisville By day, chase woodland trails where gentle streams cascade over rock pathways. Climb two observation towers for Instagram-worthy views of the tree canopy and the wide, blue Platte River basin. This landscape is so magical, in fact, you may not want to leave at the end of the day. Lucky for you, Platte River State Park offers glamping cabins with all the amenities of home, so book one to extend your stay. You may be surprised, and certainly a little spoiled, checking in: Surrounded by the seclusion of the forest, the cabins are brand-new with modern design, and feature a spacious bathroom, kitchenette and Platte River State Park THE FALLS AT STONE CREEK AT PLATTE RIVER STATE PARK, LOUISVILLE PLATTE RIVER STATE PARK, LOUISVILLE CREDITS: NEBRASKALAND MAGAZINE/NEBRASKA GAME AND PARKS COMMISSION VisitNebraska.com 31
Nebraska Official State Travel Guide The Official 2019 Not-At-All What You Thought State Travel Guide: Page 35
