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Bridgeport State Lakes

Lake McConaughy

Lake Minatare State Recreation Area

Oregon Trail Wagon Train

Riverside Zoo Ponds

Terry's Lake

Lake Minatare State Recreation Area

Lake Minatare State Recreation Area is one of the most popular and scenic recreation areas in Nebraska’s Panhandle.

Encompassing 2,973 acreas, including a 2,158 acre reservoir, Lake Minatare is 6 miles east and 8 miles north of Scottsbluff in the historic North Platte River Valley.

Boating, fishing, and camping facilities are offered.

Lake Minatare also features one of only seven inland lighthouses in the United States.

Constructed during the Depression Era, the lighthouse was built entirely of native stone.

The lighthouse stands 55 feet tall and was intended to serve as a combination shelter house and observation tower.

For more information, call (308) 783-2911 or visit the web site at:

http://www.ngpc.state.ne.us/parks/guides/parksearch/showpark.asp?Area_No=121

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Riverside Zoo Ponds

Riverside Zoo in Scottsbluff offers fishing, camping, picnic areas, and playgrounds in a natural setting.

For more information, call (308) 630-6236 or visit the web site at: www.riversidezoo.org.

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Terry's Lake

Terry’s Lake is located just south of the North Platte River, in Terrytown, Nebraska, which lies between the communities of Scottsbluff and Gering.

Fishing and a playground are available.

For more information, call (308) 632-7212.

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Oregon Trail Wagon Train

The Oregon Trail Wagon Train is located west of Bayard, near historic Chimney Rock, on Highway 92.

Canoe rentals, chuck wagon cook-outs, “Old West” tours, RV hookups, and one and four day wagon train vacations.

Reservations required.

For more information, call (308) 586-1850 or visit the web site at: www.oregontrailwagontrain.com.

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Bridgeport State Lakes

This 197 acre State Recreation Area is located adjacent to the city of Bridgeport and sits along the banks of the North Platte River near the historic Oregon Trail.

The lakes recreation area offers fishing, canoeing, boating, picnicking, camping and a wonderful chance to just sit back, relax and enjoy the beauty of this historic area - all within just a few minutes of full service amenities found in Bridgeport.

Local residents sometimes refer to this area as the "pits" because they are in actuality old gravel pits now filled with water.

Today the area is alive with a variety of wildlife including ducks, geese, several species of fish, crayfish, toads, rabbits, squirrels and more.

Bird watching and plant identification are favorite activities year around.

There are numerous primitive camping sites and limited restroom facilities in the park.

A fee/permit is required to enter the area and you should plan to arrive early on holiday weekends to ensure a space.

Daily and annual permits are for sale at Bateman's Trading Post in Bridgeport.

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Lake McConaughy

Lake McConaughy, located approximately 120 miles southeast of Scottsbluff, is the perfect place for windsurfing, boating, swimming, scuba diving, fishing, and a host of other outdoor water sports.

With 100 miles of Caribbeanlike white beaches, "Big Mac" as it is known to the locals, is 22 miles long and 4 miles wide. Nearly everything about Lake McConaughy is big!

Its 35,700 surface acres make it Nebraska's largest reservoir with over 100 miles of shore line.

The dam is among the largest of its type in the world, and the fish grow to trophy proportions, accounting for several state records.

Camping facilities are available.

For more information, call (308) 284-4066 or (800) 658-4390, or visit the web site at: http://www.lakemcconaughy.com/

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