State parks filling up fast for weekend
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By ALGIS J. LAUKAITIS / Lincoln Journal Star
With gas shooting past the $4 mark, many Nebraskans likely will drive to nearby state parks and recreation areas to celebrate the three-day Fourth of July weekend.
“We’ve already got big numbers,” the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission’s Jim Fuller said Thursday.
Choice campsites with electrical hookups for RVs will be hard to find this weekend.
Visiting a state park or recreation area this holiday weekend? Here are some things to keep in mind and a few tips to make your stay more enjoyable:
- Fireworks: Shooting fireworks is banned, except at the following locations: Branched Oak Lake, Pawnee Lake, Fort Kearny State Recreation Area, Fremont State Lakes, Two Rivers State Recreation, and Wagon Train Lake. Note: Some parks such as Branched Oak have designated areas for shooting fireworks.
- Alcohol: Prohibited. Violators can be cited.
- Fees: Daily park permit, $4; annual, $20.
- Fishing: 16 and older must have a license.
- Mosquitoes: Bring plenty of repellent.
- Firewood: Most of it will be gone by Friday or will be slightly damp due to recent rains, so bring your own for campfires.
- Other: Be patient and take your time getting to your favorite area. Also watch out for children in campgrounds.
“They’ve been filled up for quite awhile,” Fuller said.
Primitive camping areas were still available Thursday, but Fuller said many will be gone by Friday.
Indian Cave State Park, a 3,000-acre park tucked in the southeast corner of the state along the Missouri River, still had some electrical hook-ups available on Thursday — and plenty of tent sites.
“We have quite a few spots left,” said Superintendent Kevin Holliday, who estimated the park was about half full.
Flood waters have subsided and all park roads are open, including those to the cave, he said. Visitors can also hike on trails, ride horses and learn about the park’s history.
It’s a different story at Branched Oak Lake, 15 miles northwest of Lincoln. All 298 electrical hook-up sites were taken by Wednesday, said Superintendent Tom Morrison.
But don’t fret, there’s still room. Branched Oak has 550 camp sites.
“We have tent sites, lots of tent sites,” said Morrison, adding that some of them are large enough for an RV.
A big draw across the state will be the abundant water.
After seven years of drought, Branched Oak Lake and other reservoirs and ponds in eastern Nebraska are full of water.
“Our lake level is way up,” said Morrison of the 1,780-acre lake.
That’s a big plus for boaters. And in the long-term, the brush and small trees that grew up along the shore during the dry years will improve fish reproduction.
There’s a slight chance for more rain during the weekend. National Weather Service forecasters call for a chance for thundershowers Friday afternoon and Saturday night.
Most of the weekend should be sunny and warm with highs in the 80s and 90s.
Reach Algis J. Laukaitis at 402-473-7243 or alaukaitis@journalstar.com.
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lil dog wrote on July 4, 2008 9:32 am: