Located 14 miles west of downtown Lincoln, northeast and 3 miles north of
Pleasant Dale, NE. Take exit #388 from I-80.

Located 14 miles west of downtown Lincoln, northeast and 3 miles north of Pleasant Dale, NE. Take exit #388 from I-80.

The Historic Entrance to Mammoth Cave.

Squeezing through Fat Man's Misery on the Historic Tour.

Giants Coffin on the Historic route

The Rotunda on the Historic Tour route.

Tour group in the Rotunda.

Visitors must climb the 155 stair steps tower out of Mammoth Dome.

Mammoth Dome Stair Tower

Historic Signatures along the trail

Historic Entrance to Mammoth Cave, large cave opening with stairs leading in to the cave

Open back up into Great Relief Hall and see historic signatures on the ceiling

Open passageway with historic signature on the ceiling

The Rotunda, one of the largest rooms in the cave system

Large cave passageway with a tour group gathered around with a ranger

Wooden pipes, that were used in the early 1800s, can be seen along the trail

Historic wooden pipes used in the 1800s

Snake your way through a narrow passageway with low ceilings

Narrow passageway with Fat Man's Misery sign

See the Giants Coffin, a historic landmark in the cave

large rock in the middle of the cave passageway

To get back up the upper levels of the cave you must climb the 155-stair tower, approximately 5 stories

5 story stair tower in the middle of the passage way

Stay in open passageways for the first half of the Historic Tour

Tall cieling passageway with a concrete sidewalk in the middle

Walk over the Bottomless Pit, that ends 105 below your feet

Vertical shaft with a sign that reads Bottomless Pit

Descend down the Steps of Time, a steep and narrow staircase to access the lower levels of the cave

Steep concrete stairs leading to lower levels of the cave

Twin Lakes

Twin Lakes, NE is located north of Interstate 80 and about 1/2 mile northwest
of Pleasant Dale, Nebraska. Twin Lakes is a wildlife management area
consisting of 255 surface acres of lake and 1,270 acres of land. Only
primitive camping is allowed at the park, and boating is limited to non-
powered boats and conventional electric motors only.

Twin Lakes, NE is located north of Interstate 80 and about 1/2 mile northwest of Pleasant Dale, Nebraska.  Twin Lakes is a wildlife management area consisting of 255 surface acres of lake and 1,270 acres of land.  Only primitive camping is allowed at the park, and boating is limited to non-powered boats and conventional electric motors only.

Sun sets just above the horizon over water with the sun reflection across the water. A harbor of an island filled with boats in foreground.

Pawnee Lake, NE is a State Recreation Area located about 12 miles west of
downtown Lincoln, Nebraska and three miles northwest of Emerald, Nebraska just
off I-80 at Exit 388. This area features 207 primitive campsites - 68 with
electrical hookups. Recreation opportunities include fishing, swimming,
picnicking, and wildlife watching. Facilities at Pawnee include a marina,
gasoline station, and a convenience store. A State Park Permit is required for
entry.

Pawnee Lake, NE is a State Recreation Area located about 12 miles west of downtown Lincoln, Nebraska and three miles northwest of Emerald, Nebraska just off I-80 at Exit 388.  This area features 207 primitive campsites - 68 with electrical hookups.  Recreation opportunities include fishing, swimming, picnicking, and wildlife watching.  Facilities at Pawnee include a marina, gasoline station, and a convenience store. A State Park Permit is required for entry.

This recreation area is part of Pawnee Lake

This recreation area is part of <a href="http://www.recreation.gov/recreationalAreaDetails.do?contractCode=NRSO&recAreaId=302&agencyCode=130" rel="nofollow">Pawnee Lake</a>

Bird's eye view of the campground

Pawnee Dam-Site 14 Campground

Tall stone memorial light up against a dark night sky.

Pawnee Lake

Conestoga Lake, NE is a State Recreation Area located 3 miles south and 1/2
mile west of Emerald. The 230-acre lake provides plenty of opportunity for
boating and fishing. Facilities include primitive camping, two picnic areas, a
playground, a fish cleaning station, a boat ramp, a dump station, vault
toilets, and fire pits. A State Park Permit is required for entry.

Conestoga Lake, NE is a State Recreation Area located 3 miles south and 1/2 mile west of Emerald.  The 230-acre lake provides plenty of opportunity for boating and fishing.  Facilities include primitive camping, two picnic areas, a playground, a fish cleaning station, a boat ramp, a dump station, vault toilets, and fire pits.  A State Park Permit is required for entry.

Conestoga Lake

Yankee Hill, NE is a State Recreation Area located just 3.5 miles east of
Denton, NE, with a surface area of 208 acres and 5 miles of shoreline. Only
boats with electric motors are allowed on this lake. Facilities include
primitive camping, a dog training area and a boat ramp. A State Park Permit is
required for entry.

Yankee Hill, NE is a State Recreation Area located just 3.5 miles east of Denton, NE, with a surface area of 208 acres and 5 miles of shoreline. Only boats with electric motors are allowed on this lake.  Facilities include primitive camping, a dog training area and a boat ramp.  A State Park Permit is required for entry.

Yankee Hill Lake

Branched Oak, NE, a State Recreation Area located 4 miles west of Raymond, NE
on Oak Creek, boasts some of the finest camping facilities in the State Park
system. There are 268 campsites - 187 of which have electrical hook-ups.
Recreation opportunities include fishing, hiking, walking, picnicking, water-
skiing, and swimming. A State Park Permit is required for entry.

Branched Oak, NE, a State Recreation Area located 4 miles west of Raymond, NE on Oak Creek, boasts some of the finest camping facilities in the State Park system.  There are 268 campsites - 187 of which have electrical hook-ups.  Recreation opportunities include fishing, hiking, walking, picnicking, water-skiing, and swimming.  A State Park Permit is required for entry.

Branched Oak Lake

Bluestem Lake, NE is a State Recreation Area located just 2.5 miles west of
Sprague, Nebraska and about 20 miles southwest of Lincoln, Nebraska. Bluestem
Lake is 325 acres in size with 6 miles of shoreline. Bluestem provides
boating, picnicking, and primitive camping with over 200 campsites to choose
from. There is also a swim beach and playground. A State Park Permit is
required for entry.

Bluestem Lake, NE is a State Recreation Area located just 2.5 miles west of Sprague, Nebraska and about 20 miles southwest of Lincoln, Nebraska.  Bluestem Lake is 325 acres in size with 6 miles of shoreline.  Bluestem provides boating, picnicking, and primitive camping with over 200 campsites to choose from.  There is also a swim beach and playground.  A State Park Permit is required for entry.

Stone buildings and walls cluster near a stone alcove wall; trees line the lower and left edges of the picture.

Exploring Square Tower House with a ranger.

People stand in a circle near stone walls and buildings shaded by a stone alcove wall.

Visitors and ranger exiting Square Tower House.

People climbing ladder and stone steps along a steep cliff face.

In Square Tower House looking at the Crows Nest above.

Stone masonry room with original wood beams with other rooms enclosed in a rock niche above

Bluestem Lake

Holmes Lake, NE is a 112-acre lake located on Antelope Creek within the city
of Lincoln, NE. Recreational opportunities at Holmes include fishing, hiking,
biking, picnicking, and golfing. This park is managed by the City of Lincoln,
NE.

Holmes Lake, NE is a 112-acre lake located on Antelope Creek within the city of Lincoln, NE.  Recreational opportunities at Holmes include fishing, hiking, biking, picnicking, and golfing.  This park is managed by the City of Lincoln, NE.

Holmes Lake

Olive Creek, NE is a State Recreation Area located 1.5 miles east of Kramer,
NE. Draining 8.2 square miles on the south tributary of Olive Branch Creek,
this reservoir is 1.2 miles in length with 4 miles of shoreline. Onsite
facilities include two picnic areas and two primitive campgrounds (no pads).
Boating is allowed, but speed is limited to 5 mph. A State Park Permit is
required for entry.

Olive Creek, NE is a State Recreation Area located 1.5 miles east of Kramer, NE.   Draining 8.2 square miles on the south tributary of Olive Branch Creek, this reservoir is 1.2 miles in length with 4 miles of shoreline.  Onsite facilities include two picnic areas and two primitive campgrounds (no pads).  Boating is allowed, but speed is limited to 5 mph.  A State Park Permit is required for entry.

Visitors on a ranger-guided tour of Balcony House.

View of people exploring a cliff dwelling in cliff alcove

Balcony House with views of visitors climbing the ladder to enter in the background.

Ancient stone masonry buildings in cliff alcove with people climbing ladder in background

32-foot wooden ladder leaning on cliff wall.

18-inch (45cm) wide and 12-foot (3.7m) long exit tunnel used to exit Balcony House.

Twin Lakes

Directions

Reviews

Nearby Parks

Twin Lakes

Pawnee Lake

Conestoga Lake

Yankee Hill Lake

Branched Oak Lake

Bluestem Lake

Holmes Lake

Olive Creek Lake