Ponca State Park

Waterfall at Ponca State Park

"_KEM6295" by Katie Morrow is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

Quick Facts

Location:

Lincoln, NE

MANAGED BY:

Nebraska Game & Parks Commission

Amenities

28 listed

Baby Changing Station, Boat Ramp, Captioned Media, Entrance Passes for Sale, First Aid Kit Available, Food/Drink - Snacks, Gifts/Souvenirs/Books, Grill, Historical/Interpretive Information/Exhibits, Hitching Post/Corral, Information, Information - Ranger/Staff Member Present, Information Kiosk/Bulletin Board, Parking - Auto, Parking - Boat Trailer, Picnic Shelter/Pavilion, Picnic Table, Playground, Restroom, Scenic View/Photo Spot, Sewage Dump Station - Boat/RV, Shelter/Cabin, Showers, Swimming Pool, Trailhead, Water - Drinking/Potable, Wheelchair Accessible, Wheelchairs Available

Lewis and Clark NHT Visitor Centers and Museums

This map shows a range of features associated with the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail, which commemorates the 1803-1806 Lewis and Clark Expedition. The trail spans a large portion of the North American continent, from the Ohio River in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to the mouth of the Columbia River in Oregon. The trail is comprised of the historic route of the Lewis and Clark Expedition, an auto tour route, high potential historic sites (shown in black), visitor centers (shown in orange), and pivotal places (shown in green). These features can be selected on the map to reveal additional information. Also shown is a base map displaying state boundaries, cities, rivers, and highways. The map conveys how a significant area of the North American continent was traversed by the Lewis and Clark Expedition and indicates the many places where visitors can learn about their journey and experience the landscape through which they traveled.

Located in northeastern Nebraska, Ponca State Park is one of Nebraska’s most visited state parks. It manages one of two unchannelized stretches of the Missouri National Recreation River. A popular destination for tourists and naturalists alike, the park boasts heavily forested hills, scenic vistas, wetlands, abundant wildlife, and a fascinating history.  

It was here along the banks of the Missouri River that Meriwether Lewis and William Clark traded with the local tribes, specifically the Ponca, to ensure their survival on the expedition westward in 1804. Years later, when the Ponca were forcibly removed from their land, Chief Standing Bear fought for all native peoples to be recognized under U.S. law as a “person,” appealing to the United States government for that right in 1879. 

Often known as the location “where people and nature meet,” the park offers a wide variety recreational opportunities. From birdwatching to archery to horseback riding, Ponca State Park has something for everyone. Children will particularly enjoy the swimming pool and playground, while adults might love a round of 9-hole golf on the Highland Oaks Public Golf Course. The park also offers many modern accommodations for outdoor enthusiasts, such as canoeing, kayaking, guided bird tours, and fishing.  

For more information, call [phone] or visit http://outdoornebraska.gov/ponca/.