Merritt Reservoir

Situated in a narrow, picturesque valley of the Snake River, Merritt Reservoir is 26 miles southwest of Valentine in Nebraska's unique Sandhills.

Fishing & Boating

Merritt offers some of Nebraska's premier fishing. It is a deep lake with excellent inflow from the Snake River and Boardman Creek. Consequently, the reservoir is well insulated against excessive drawdown during the irrigation season.

Walleye, crappie and white bass have long been the favorites with anglers here, although lunker catfish have recently been discovered in the Snake River arm. Fishermen also like the addition of modern fish cleaning stations at Merritt.

Ready access to the lake is available at five public boat ramps at the Powder Horn, Fisherman’s Boat Ramp, Cedar Bay, Beed's Landing and Snake River areas. Motorboat travel through the island channel in the Powder Horn Arm is one-way from north to south. In the Boardman Creek, Powder Horn Arm and Snake Arm areas, no one may operate or manipulate water skis, surfboards, or similar devices and the speed of all vessels must be reduced.

Camping and Picnicking

For campers, primitive and/or modern overnight facilities are available at all areas on this scenic reservoir. A dump station is located across from the Fisherman’s Boat Ramp area, southeast of the dam.

There are 161 total campsites at Merritt that span over 8 separate campgrounds, including:

• 105 ELECTRIC-PLUS sites: 50/30/20 AMP hookup, fire pit, picnic table (no water or sewer)
• 56 BASIC sites: Fire pit and picnic table (no electricity)

68 ELECTRIC-PLUS and 6 BASIC sites are available by reservation in the Cedar Bay, Beed’s Landing, Boardman Creek, and Willow Cove Campgrounds.

Other amenities include over 150 picnic tables, 9 picnic shelters, drinking water, fir

Camping, fishing, boating, skiing, picnicking and hunting to name a few activities one can enjoy at Merritt Reservoir. Merritt lies in the heart of Nebraska's unique Sandhills. Smith Falls State Park, the site of the state's tallest waterfall and the Scenic Niobrara River trail providing excellent canoeing, kayaking and tubing. McKelvie National Forest lies immediately to north, with its thousands of acres of grassy Sandhills and grouse hunting. Other sites include nearby Valentine National Migratory Bird Refuge, Fort Niobrara National Wildlife and Valentine State Fish Hatchery. The drive along U.S. 20 across northern Nebraska is one of the most scenic in the region.

Merritt Reservoir has a shower building in the Cedar Bay Campground Area, modern camping with electrical campsites, a trailer dump station, boat access, and fish cleaning stations. Day-use facilities also include picnic tables and grills.

Concession Services

Merritt Trading Post is the lake's concession. It provides camp necessities, hunting and fishing licenses, park entry permits, boat rentals, and fuel.