| description |
Nebraska's largest reservoir at 35,700 acres, Lake McConaughy now has a spectacular Visitor/Water Interpretive Center, 1/2 mile south of Kingsley Dam on Nebr. 62. The center houses park offices, aquariums and theater, with interactive displays that interpret the benefits of the Platte River and the High Plains Aquifer. Big Mac teams with Lake Ogallala, at 320 acres, to provide some of the finest water sports recreation anywhere in the state. Lake McConaughy SRA covers 5,492 land acres on 12 areas, while Lake Ogallala SRA adds another 339 land acres. Located 9 miles north of Ogallala, they offer excellent fishing, boating, camping and hunting. The area offers camping, several boat ramps, modern restrooms, coin-op showers, dump stations, camp pads with electricity, water, vault toilets, picnic tables, shelters, unsupervised swimming beach, fish cleaning stations and concessions with rental boats. Cedar Vue Campground features all-weather camping pads, a trailer dump station, shower-restroom building, sandy beach, low-water boat ramp, and blacktop roads. Cedar Vue is about 15 miles from the dam on Nebr. 92. Spring Park at public access road No. 9 offers some good camping. It's a small, quality aread with a mature stand of cottonwoods. Otter Creek is better known as fishermen's headquarters. It has primitive facilities, plenty of shade, and a protected bay for boat mooring near campsites. Martin Bay Campground is probably the most popular area at Lake McConaughy. Martin Bay appeals especially to anglers, pleasure boaters, water skiers, and sailing enthusiasts. Typical of Big Mac's north shore, the bay is ringed with clean, fine sand, making for a fine swimming beach. behind the ring of sand, clusters of trees offer welcome refuge from the hot summer sun and variety from the sand-water landscape. The area has a boat ramp that's usable during part of the low-water season. |
| drivingDirection |
Via: I-80 West Bound (i.e. from Lincoln) Head west and take exit 126 at Ogallala Via: I-76 East Bound (i.e. from Denver) Head east and take I-76 to the I-76/I-80 interchange wher I-76 turns into I-80 and follow I-80 18 miles east to exit 126 at Ogallala, THEN: go north through Ogallala (approx. 2 miles, following signs), and go east at the "Y" in the road, follow Hwy-61 east 8 miles to the Lake McConaughy Visitor Center (the road will curve to the north, but simply keep following it). Lake Ogallala, simply follow Hwy-61 north from the visitor center 3 miles north, at the north end of Kingsley Dam (the Dam on Lake McConaughy) take the first right turn and head east on the Co. Asphalt Road to Keystone, follow the road 1 mile east to Lake Ogallala. (Lake Ogallala is simply the catch basin below Lake McConaughy, so it is just below the dam to the east --- you can't miss it!) Special Note: Keep in mind, you are in western Nebraska, and if you get lost, just poke your head into any local business and they will almost always help a visitor that is mixed-up get back on the right track! |
| importantInformation |
Alcoholic beverages are prohibited. Fires must be contained in the fire rings in the modern campgrounds. Beach camping allows open pit fires, however, no fire may be left unattended and all fires must be extinguished and cleaned up prior to departure. Beach camping is pack in and pack out for garbage. No 3 or 4 wheelers allowed on beaches or the entire recreation area. Non Licensed motorized vehicles are not allowed in the recreation area. For beach campers, 4 wheel drive vehicles are recommended due to heavy sand. Only one camping unit is allowed per campsite in the modern camping areas. An extra tent may be used for dependant children only. Quiet hours are from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. Generators may not be operated during these hours. Campers staying over must re-register by 2 p.m. Check in time is 4 p.m. and check out time is 2 p.m. Campers must vacate their campsite no later than 2:00 p.m. on the date the camping reservation or registration expires. All persons entering the campground must be registered. When a reservation is made one year to the date in advance, the arrival date must remain the same within that reservation. No cancellation of that arrival date is allowed. A Nebraska State Park Permit is required to enter this park area. A Nebraska Licensed Vehicle Park Entry Permit is $30 for an Annual Permit, $15 for a Duplicate Annual Permit (used for that second vehicle in your family) or a Daily Permit which is $6 per day you are staying. A Non-Nebraska Licensed Vehicle Park Entry Permit is $45, $22.50 for a Duplicate Annual Permit or a Daily Permit which is $8 per day. You may purchase your Park Permit prior to your stay by shopping online at OutdoorNebraska.org. All vehicles entering a Nebraska Park Area are required to have a valid park entry permit. |