Towering 800 feet above the North Platte River, Scotts Bluff has served as a
landmark for peoples from Native Americans to emigrants on the Oregon,
California and Mormon Trails to modern travelers. Rich with geological and
paleontological history as well as human history, there is much to discover
while exploring the 3,000 acres of Scotts Bluff National Monument.

Towering 800 feet above the North Platte River, Scotts Bluff has served as a landmark for peoples from Native Americans to emigrants on the Oregon, California and Mormon Trails to modern travelers. Rich with geological and paleontological history as well as human history, there is much to discover while exploring the 3,000 acres of Scotts Bluff National Monument.

Bird's eye view of the park

Scotts Bluff National Monument

Winters Creek Lake is a feature of the North Platte Project. Most of the lake
lies within the North Platte National Wildlife Refuge. The Northeast side
features an undisturbed bird sanctuary. The lake has a surface area of 379
acres and approximately 4 miles of shoreline. Available species include
bluegill, channel catfish, largemouth bass, walleye (15 inch minimum), and
yellow perch. Walleye are stocked in the reservoir annually. Channel catfish
stocked when available. Non-powered boats only. Open to the public from Jan.
15 to Sept. 30, during daylight hours.

Winters Creek Lake is a feature of the <a href="http://www.usbr.gov/dataweb/html/northplatte.html" rel="nofollow">North Platte Project</a>. Most of the lake lies within the North Platte National Wildlife Refuge. The Northeast side features an undisturbed bird sanctuary. The lake has a surface area of 379 acres and approximately 4 miles of shoreline. Available species include bluegill, channel catfish, largemouth bass, walleye (15 inch minimum), and yellow perch. Walleye are stocked in the reservoir annually. Channel catfish stocked when available. Non-powered boats only. Open to the public from Jan. 15 to Sept. 30, during daylight hours.

Winters Creek Lake

The North Platte Project extends 111 miles along the river valley from
Guernsey, Wyoming to below Bridgeport, Nebraska. The city of Scottsbluff is
near the center of the development. Lake Alice reservoir is formed by two Lake
Alice Dams; the upper dam Lake Alice #1 at the west end of Lake Alice and the
lower dam Lake Alice #2 at the east end.Lake Alice, with a surface area of 752
acres and nearly 6 miles of shoreline, lies almost entirely within the North
Platte National Wildlife Refuge. The west side of the reservoir features an
undisturbed bird sanctuary. As the reservoir is nearly drained during the non-
irrigation season, there is no viable sport fishery in the lake. The east side
is open to the public during daylight hours from May 16 to Sept 30. No
improvements, services, or facilities.

The <a href="http://www.usbr.gov/dataweb/html/northplatte.html" rel="nofollow">North Platte Project</a> extends 111 miles along the river valley from Guernsey, Wyoming to below Bridgeport, Nebraska. The city of Scottsbluff is near the center of the development. Lake Alice reservoir is formed by two Lake Alice Dams; the upper dam <a href="http://www.usbr.gov/dataweb/dams/ne01071.htm" rel="nofollow">Lake Alice #1</a> at the west end of Lake Alice and the lower dam <a href="http://www.usbr.gov/dataweb/dams/ne82903.htm" rel="nofollow">Lake Alice #2</a> at the east end.Lake Alice, with a surface area of 752 acres and nearly 6 miles of shoreline, lies almost entirely within the North Platte National Wildlife Refuge. The west side of the reservoir features an undisturbed bird sanctuary. As the reservoir is nearly drained during the non-irrigation season, there is no viable sport fishery in the lake. The east side is open to the public during daylight hours from May 16 to Sept 30. No improvements, services, or facilities.

Lake Alice

Lake Winters Creek is one of the four Inland Lakes in Nebraska. It is located
immediately northwest of Lake Minatare. It has surface area of 379 acres and
approximately 4 miles of shoreline. It is located almost entirely within the
North Platte Wildlife Refuge, and the northeast side of the lake features an
undisturbed bird sanctuary. Like Lake Alice and Lake Minatare, recreation at
the lake is managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Nebraska
Game and Parks Commission.

Lake Winters Creek is one of the four Inland Lakes in Nebraska.  It is located immediately northwest of Lake Minatare.  It has surface area of 379 acres and approximately 4 miles of shoreline.  It is located almost entirely within the North Platte Wildlife Refuge, and the northeast side of the lake features an undisturbed bird sanctuary.  Like Lake Alice and Lake Minatare, recreation at the lake is managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission.

Lake Winters Creek

Lake Minatare is a feature of the North Platte Project. Managed as a State
recreation area by the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission. Lake Minatare, with
a surface area of 2,158 acres and about 12 miles of shoreline is a part of the
North Platte National Wildlife Refuge. Available species include channel
catfish, crappie, small mouth bass, white bass, walleye (15 inch minimum),
wipers, and yellow perch. Walleye, channel catfish, and gizzard shad are
stocked in the reservoir annually. Motorized boats are permitted. The area is
open to the public from Jan. 15 to Sept. 30. A number of Civilian Conservation
Corps structures dating to the 1930's exist at Lake Minatare. Included among
them is a stone picnic shelter designed to look like a lighthouse. Minatare
Dam, constructed between 1912-1915, is a historic structure determined
eligible for the National Register of Historic Places.

Lake Minatare is a feature of the 
<a href="https://www.usbr.gov/projects/index.php?id=363" rel="nofollow">North Platte Project</a>. Managed as a State recreation area by the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission. Lake Minatare, with a surface area of 2,158 acres and about 12 miles of shoreline is a part of the North Platte National Wildlife Refuge. Available species include channel catfish, crappie, small mouth bass, white bass, walleye (15 inch minimum), wipers, and yellow perch. Walleye, channel catfish, and gizzard shad are stocked in the reservoir annually. Motorized boats are permitted. The area is open to the public from Jan. 15 to Sept. 30.

A number of Civilian Conservation Corps structures dating to the 1930's exist at Lake Minatare. Included among them is a stone picnic shelter designed to look like a lighthouse. Minatare Dam, constructed between 1912-1915, is a historic structure determined eligible for the National Register of Historic Places.

Lake Minatare State Recreation Area

North Platte National Wildlife Refuge lies in the Panhandle of Western
Nebraska. Established in 1916, the Refuge is superimposed over four Bureau of
Reclamation irrigation projects: Lake Minatare, Winters Creek Lake, Lake
Alice, and Stateline Island.

Boasting abundant wildlife, the North Platte NWR units contain a mixture of
native prairie and woodland habitat. Whether the Refuge unit is surrounded by
water (Stateline Island) or bordering a reservoir (Lake Alice, Lake Minatare,
and Winters Creek), riparian habitat is a key feature of this Refuge.

The water bodies attract an abundance of waterfowl and shorebirds, and the
riparian edges support songbirds, raptors, and a variety of other birds.
Additionally, 21 mammals including both mule and white-tailed deer, may be
seen throughout the year. During the warmer months, 17 species of reptiles and
amphibians may also be observed.

North Platte National Wildlife Refuge lies in the Panhandle of Western Nebraska. Established in 1916, the Refuge is superimposed over four Bureau of Reclamation irrigation projects: Lake Minatare, Winters Creek Lake, Lake Alice, and Stateline Island.Boasting abundant wildlife, the North Platte NWR units contain a mixture of native prairie and woodland habitat. Whether the Refuge unit is surrounded by water (Stateline Island) or bordering a reservoir (Lake Alice, Lake Minatare, and Winters Creek), riparian habitat is a key feature of this Refuge.The water bodies attract an abundance of waterfowl and shorebirds, and the riparian edges support songbirds, raptors, and a variety of other birds. Additionally, 21 mammals including both mule and white-tailed deer, may be seen throughout the year. During the warmer months, 17 species of reptiles and amphibians may also be observed.

Scotts Bluff National Monument

Directions

Reviews

Nearby Parks

Winters Creek Lake

Lake Alice

Lake Winters Creek

Lake Minatare State Recreation Area

North Platte National Wildlife Refuge