Boyer Chute National Wildlife Refuge was established to recover fish and
wildlife habitat in and along the Missouri River and to restore essential
wildlife habitat that became scarce after the river was "improved" for
navigation half a century ago.

Today, Boyer Chute National Wildlife Refuge provides an opportunity to
experience rare Missouri River floodplain habitats that have largely
disappeared from the landscape. These diverse prairies, floodplain forests,
wetlands, and riverine habitats provide for the needs of resident, migratory,
and endangered species. Wildlife-dependent recreation and education
opportunities are available to the surrounding communities including a major
metropolitan area.

Boyer Chute National Wildlife Refuge is managed together with DeSoto National
Wildlife Refuge, which is located just upriver. For questions regarding Boyer
Chute National Wildlife Refuge, contact the staff of DeSoto at 712-388-4800.

Boyer Chute National Wildlife Refuge was established to recover fish and wildlife habitat in and along the Missouri River and to restore essential wildlife habitat that became scarce after the river was "improved" for navigation half a century ago.Today, Boyer Chute National Wildlife Refuge provides an opportunity to experience rare Missouri River floodplain habitats that have largely disappeared from the landscape. These diverse prairies, floodplain forests, wetlands, and riverine habitats provide for the needs of resident, migratory, and endangered species. Wildlife-dependent recreation and education opportunities are available to the surrounding communities including a major metropolitan area.Boyer Chute National Wildlife Refuge is managed together with DeSoto National Wildlife Refuge, which is located just upriver. For questions regarding Boyer Chute National Wildlife Refuge, contact the staff of DeSoto at 712-388-4800.

Bird's eye view of the park

Boyer Chute National Wildlife Refuge

DeSoto National Wildlife Refuge was established in March of 1958 with the
approval of the Migratory Bird Conservation Commission with the dual intention
of providing for the needs of migratory birds and providing public recreation
to local communities. Today the physical footprint of the refuge spans 8,365
acres. DeSoto National Wildlife Refuge is located in the migratory bird
corridor of the Missouri River floodplain and provides essential habitat for
resident, migratory and endangered species. High quality floodplain forest,
grassland, wetland, sandbar and riverine habitats support diverse and
productive populations of migratory waterfowl, shorebirds and neotropical
birds, as well as rare, threatened and endangered species including the pallid
sturgeon, piping plover and least tern. The refuge is a destination for people
who want to explore the habitats and wildlife of this part of the Missouri
River and get a glimpse of what pre-settlement Iowa and Nebraska may have
looked like.

DeSoto National Wildlife Refuge is also home to a premier archeological
collection of almost 250,000 artifacts excavated from the buried wreck of the
Steamboat Bertrand. On April 1, 1865, the sternwheeler hit a submerged log, 30
miles north of Omaha, Nebraska. Bound for the newly discovered goldfields of
Montana from St. Louis, Missouri, the Bertrand sank into the depths of the
Missouri River; and after initial salvage efforts, her cargo was written off
as complete loss.

Using historical documents, modern treasurer hunters, Sam Corbino and Jesse
Pursell located the wreck on DeSoto National Wildlife Refuge in 1968. As the
boat was on federal property, the salvors agreed under the requirements of the
American Antiquities Preservation Act of 1906, to turn over all recovered
artifacts to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for permanent exhibition and
preservation in a public museum. By 1969, the vessel's cargo was completely
excavated from its thirty feet deep mud tomb. Unfortunately for the salvors,
the treasure they sought had eluded them. Insurance company divers had
apparently removed most of the mercury and other valuables soon after the ship
sank. However, what had been left was a diversity of tools, clothing and food
items. The Bertrand's cargo was remarkably well preserved and the collection
found in the DeSoto National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center is a unique time
capsule for researchers and visitors interested in America's 19th century
material culture.

DeSoto National Wildlife Refuge was established in March of 1958 with the approval of the Migratory Bird Conservation Commission with the dual intention of providing for the needs of migratory birds and providing public recreation to local communities. Today the physical footprint of the refuge spans 8,365 acres. DeSoto National Wildlife Refuge is located in the migratory bird corridor of the Missouri River floodplain and provides essential habitat for resident, migratory and endangered species. High quality floodplain forest, grassland, wetland, sandbar and riverine habitats support diverse and productive populations of migratory waterfowl, shorebirds and neotropical birds, as well as rare, threatened and endangered species including the pallid sturgeon, piping plover and least tern. The refuge is a destination for people who want to explore the habitats and wildlife of this part of the Missouri River and get a glimpse of what pre-settlement Iowa and Nebraska may have looked like.DeSoto National Wildlife Refuge is also home to a premier archeological collection of almost 250,000 artifacts excavated from the buried wreck of the Steamboat Bertrand. On April 1, 1865, the sternwheeler hit a submerged log, 30 miles north of Omaha, Nebraska. Bound for the newly discovered goldfields of Montana from St. Louis, Missouri, the Bertrand sank into the depths of the Missouri River; and after initial salvage efforts, her cargo was written off as complete loss. Using historical documents, modern treasurer hunters, Sam Corbino and Jesse Pursell located the wreck on DeSoto National Wildlife Refuge in 1968. As the boat was on federal property, the salvors agreed under the requirements of the American Antiquities Preservation Act of 1906, to turn over all recovered artifacts to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for permanent exhibition and preservation in a public museum. By 1969, the vessel's cargo was completely excavated from its thirty feet deep mud tomb. Unfortunately for the salvors, the treasure they sought had eluded them. Insurance company divers had apparently removed most of the mercury and other valuables soon after the ship sank. However, what had been left was a diversity of tools, clothing and food items. The Bertrand's cargo was remarkably well preserved and the collection found in the DeSoto National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center is a unique time capsule for researchers and visitors interested in America's 19th century material culture.

DeSoto National Wildlife Refuge

Visitors here enjoy picnicking, no-wake boating, hiking, biking, nature
trails, birding, disc golf, archery, and fishing. Horseback riding is also
permitted in designated areas. Kayaks and stand-up paddle boards are available
for rent through Neighborhood Offshore. Glamping tents are available for
overnight stays through Prairie Fireflies. Lake Cunningham is leased to the
City of Omaha and operated by the Lake Cunningham Development Trust. The
campground includes, 42 full hook-up sites, 40 electric hook-up sites
(50-amp), and 7 regular tent camping sites. Showers, flush restrooms, and a
snack bar are also available. Visit explorethec.com to make reservations for
camping. The lake has a surface area of 390 acres with a maximum depth of 23
feet. More than 1,050 acres of parkland surround the lake, including 450 acres
north of State Highway 36, designated as wildlife area.

Visitors here enjoy picnicking, no-wake boating, hiking, biking, nature trails, birding, disc golf, archery, and fishing. Horseback riding is also permitted in designated areas.  Kayaks and stand-up paddle boards are available for rent through Neighborhood Offshore.  Glamping tents are available for overnight stays through Prairie Fireflies.   Lake Cunningham is leased to the City of Omaha and operated by the Lake Cunningham Development Trust.   The campground includes, 42 full hook-up sites, 40 electric hook-up sites (50-amp), and 7 regular tent camping sites.  Showers, flush restrooms, and a snack bar are also available.  Visit explorethec.com to make reservations for camping. The lake has a surface area of 390 acres with a maximum depth of 23 feet.  More than 1,050 acres of parkland surround the lake, including 450 acres north of State Highway 36, designated as wildlife area.

Glenn Cunningham Lake

Standing Bear Lake, NE, located in northwest Omaha, is named for the Ponca
leader Chief Standing Bear, and is operated by the City of Omaha. The day use
only facility offers picnicking, no-wake boating, hiking and bicycling trails,
nature study opportunities and fishing. The lake has a surface area of 135
acres and is surrounded by 396 acres of parkland.

Standing Bear Lake, NE, located in northwest Omaha, is named for the Ponca leader Chief Standing Bear, and is operated by the City of Omaha.  The day use only facility offers picnicking, no-wake boating, hiking and bicycling trails, nature study opportunities and fishing.  The lake has a surface area of 135 acres and is surrounded by 396 acres of parkland.

Standing Bear Lake

The Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail winds nearly 4,900 miles through
the homelands of more than 60 Tribal nations. It follows the historic outbound
and inbound routes of the Lewis and Clark Expedition of 1803-1806 from
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to the Pacific Ocean. Follow the trail to find the
people, places, and stories that make up the complex legacy of the expedition.

The Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail winds nearly 4,900 miles through the homelands of more than 60 Tribal nations. It follows the historic outbound and inbound routes of the Lewis and Clark Expedition of 1803-1806 from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to the Pacific Ocean. Follow the trail to find the people, places, and stories that make up the complex legacy of the expedition.

Lewis & Clark National Historic Trail

Zorinsky Lake, NE, located in west Omaha, was named after the late U.S.
Senator Edward Zorinsky. The lake has a surface area of 255 acres and is a day
use only facility offering two modern playgrounds, baseball diamonds, soccer
fields, a football field, hiking and bicycling trails, and a universally
accessible fishing dock. This project has one of the few native tall grass
prairies remaining in eastern Nebraska - Bauermeister Prairie.

Zorinsky Lake, NE, located in west Omaha, was named after the late U.S. Senator Edward Zorinsky.  The lake has a surface area of 255 acres and is a day use only facility offering two modern playgrounds, baseball diamonds, soccer fields, a football field, hiking and bicycling trails, and a universally accessible fishing dock.  This project has one of the few native tall grass prairies remaining in eastern Nebraska - Bauermeister Prairie.

Boyer Chute National Wildlife Refuge

Directions

Reviews

Nearby Parks

DeSoto National Wildlife Refuge

Glenn Cunningham Lake

Standing Bear Lake

Lewis & Clark National Historic Trail

Zorinsky Lake