Nebraska has endless adventures for everyone, ranging from the tame to the totally wild. There are some that really define our state, though – and we think everyone in Nebraska should take these adventures at least once. Here, in no particular order, are some of the great adventures we’ve featured here in previous months.
- Hike to a ghost town.
flickr/Dick Clark The ghost town of St. Deroin is within Indian Cave State Park in southeast Nebraska. You can hike through the park to get to this interesting part of Nebraska history. Read more about this unique town here.
- Go underground at Nebraska’s only mine.
TripAdvisor/pcdoctorjim Happy Jack Chalk Mine in Scotia is an unusual place to spend an afternoon. Visit to learn about the history of the mine and enjoy walking through the cool passageways on a hot day. Read more about the mine here.
- Sail through the air on a zip line.
Facebook/Camp Comeca and Retreat Center Nebraska doesn’t have many zip lines, but Camp Comeca near Cozad has one that you can use for group retreats or special events. It’s a heart-pounding adventure that you’ll never forget. Get the details here.
- Visit one of Nebraska’s most under-appreciated natural areas.
Visit Nebraska Crescent Lake National Wildlife Refuge sits at the western edge of the Sandhills near Oshkosh. It’s not nearly as well known as some of the other wildlife refuges, state parks, and state recreation areas in Nebraska, and that makes it all the more special. Read more about it here.
- Hike or bike the longest rails-to-trails conversion in the country.
flickr/Ken Ratcliff The Cowboy Trail, running between Chadron and Norfolk, spans an impressive 321 miles. It’s built on a former railroad line and wanders through some of the most scenic landscapes in Nebraska. Read more about this fantastic trail here.
- See the Nebraska National Forest from the state’s only fire lookout tower.
Crossroads of the Sandhills Climb the Scott Lookout Tower in the Bessey Ranger District for a one-of-a-kind view of the surrounding forest. It’s open Memorial Day to Labor Day, and you can call ahead to arrange for a tour. Find out more about this awesome experience here.
- Take a wildlife safari right here at home.
Facebook/Wildlife Safari Park The Lee G. Simmons Conservation Park and Wildlife Safari in Ashland lets you drive through beautiful scenery and even more beautiful wildlife. You can get out and take a little walk to see even more animals, including an awesome wolf exhibit. Read more about this unique park here.
- Take one of the most beautiful hikes in Nebraska.
flickr/USFWS Mountain-Prairie Fort Niobrara National Wildlife Refuge is made of unbridled natural beauty. Take a short hike here to see Fort Falls and other incredible scenery. Check out this lovely hike here.
- Take a scenic walk to Nebraska’s tallest waterfall.
flickr/Brett Whaley Not far outside of Valentine, Smith Falls State Park is home to Smith Falls, the tallest waterfall in the state. To get to the falls you’ll hike through a beautiful grassy field, across a historic bridge, and over a wooden boardwalk. When you get there, you’ll be awed by the sight of the falls. Read more about the experience here.
- Walk across the Missouri river to another state.
By Skinzfan23 (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0) or GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html)], via Wikimedia Commons The Bob Kerrey Pedestrian Bridge in Omaha meanders over the Missouri River, leading right to Iowa. It’s the longest pedestrian bridge connecting two states, and walking it is a very cool experience. Read about it here.
- Visit one of the most beautiful parks in the state.
TripAdvisor/Kathy M. Ponca State Park in northeastern Nebraska is well known for its exceptional scenery and human-made attractions. You can even stay there in cabins, lodges, or tents to extend your stay. Find out more here.
- Experience the sport of recreational tree climbing.
Camp Fontanelle It’s even cooler than it sounds. Using a rope system, you pull yourself up into the trees to get a unique perspective of Camp Fontanelle in eastern Nebraska. Read all about this unique attraction here.
- Stay in a cabin so secluded you have to hike to it.
Sheepwagon Hideouts When you rent one of these sheepwagons in western Nebraska, you’ll be at least a mile from your car. You have to carry in all of your supplies, and the result is a completely secluded, peaceful stay that you won’t find anywhere else. Read more about it here.
- Get tanked.
Nebraska Tourism Commission Climb into a livestock tank and float down one of Nebraska’s scenic rivers. It’s a unique experience that lets you relax and take in the scenery spending some time on the water. It’s kind of like tubing, but even more laid back. Read how and where to go tanking here.
- Visit another planet.
By Brian Kell (Bkell) (Own work) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons Toadstool Geologic Park in the panhandle has the most unique landscape in the state. Take a walk through the otherworldly rock formations for an experience you can’t have anywhere else in the state. Find out more (and see lots of pictures) here.
How many of these awesome experiences have you already had? What other adventures should every Nebraskan take before they die? Let us know in the comments.
flickr/Dick Clark
The ghost town of St. Deroin is within Indian Cave State Park in southeast Nebraska. You can hike through the park to get to this interesting part of Nebraska history. Read more about this unique town here.
TripAdvisor/pcdoctorjim
Happy Jack Chalk Mine in Scotia is an unusual place to spend an afternoon. Visit to learn about the history of the mine and enjoy walking through the cool passageways on a hot day. Read more about the mine here.
Facebook/Camp Comeca and Retreat Center
Nebraska doesn’t have many zip lines, but Camp Comeca near Cozad has one that you can use for group retreats or special events. It’s a heart-pounding adventure that you’ll never forget. Get the details here.
Visit Nebraska
Crescent Lake National Wildlife Refuge sits at the western edge of the Sandhills near Oshkosh. It’s not nearly as well known as some of the other wildlife refuges, state parks, and state recreation areas in Nebraska, and that makes it all the more special. Read more about it here.
flickr/Ken Ratcliff
The Cowboy Trail, running between Chadron and Norfolk, spans an impressive 321 miles. It’s built on a former railroad line and wanders through some of the most scenic landscapes in Nebraska. Read more about this fantastic trail here.
Crossroads of the Sandhills
Climb the Scott Lookout Tower in the Bessey Ranger District for a one-of-a-kind view of the surrounding forest. It’s open Memorial Day to Labor Day, and you can call ahead to arrange for a tour. Find out more about this awesome experience here.
Facebook/Wildlife Safari Park
The Lee G. Simmons Conservation Park and Wildlife Safari in Ashland lets you drive through beautiful scenery and even more beautiful wildlife. You can get out and take a little walk to see even more animals, including an awesome wolf exhibit. Read more about this unique park here.
flickr/USFWS Mountain-Prairie
Fort Niobrara National Wildlife Refuge is made of unbridled natural beauty. Take a short hike here to see Fort Falls and other incredible scenery. Check out this lovely hike here.
flickr/Brett Whaley
Not far outside of Valentine, Smith Falls State Park is home to Smith Falls, the tallest waterfall in the state. To get to the falls you’ll hike through a beautiful grassy field, across a historic bridge, and over a wooden boardwalk. When you get there, you’ll be awed by the sight of the falls. Read more about the experience here.
By Skinzfan23 (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0) or GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html)], via Wikimedia Commons
The Bob Kerrey Pedestrian Bridge in Omaha meanders over the Missouri River, leading right to Iowa. It’s the longest pedestrian bridge connecting two states, and walking it is a very cool experience. Read about it here.
TripAdvisor/Kathy M.
Ponca State Park in northeastern Nebraska is well known for its exceptional scenery and human-made attractions. You can even stay there in cabins, lodges, or tents to extend your stay. Find out more here.
Camp Fontanelle
It’s even cooler than it sounds. Using a rope system, you pull yourself up into the trees to get a unique perspective of Camp Fontanelle in eastern Nebraska. Read all about this unique attraction here.
Sheepwagon Hideouts
When you rent one of these sheepwagons in western Nebraska, you’ll be at least a mile from your car. You have to carry in all of your supplies, and the result is a completely secluded, peaceful stay that you won’t find anywhere else. Read more about it here.
Nebraska Tourism Commission
Climb into a livestock tank and float down one of Nebraska’s scenic rivers. It’s a unique experience that lets you relax and take in the scenery spending some time on the water. It’s kind of like tubing, but even more laid back. Read how and where to go tanking here.
By Brian Kell (Bkell) (Own work) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons
Toadstool Geologic Park in the panhandle has the most unique landscape in the state. Take a walk through the otherworldly rock formations for an experience you can’t have anywhere else in the state. Find out more (and see lots of pictures) here.
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