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Lake McConaughy SRA, NE

Status: Open year round.   Season Dates
Max reservation window: Sat May 24 2014   Later Dates
60 site(s) found
ALL (60)

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.

Services & Amenities:

Within Facility
  • Bird Watching
  • Boating
  • Boating, Power
  • Cabins by Concessionaires
  • Campground Host
  • Camping, Equestrian
  • Camping, Equestrian Group
  • Camping, Improved Site
  • Camping, Primitive
  • Comfort Station
  • Dock, Boat
  • Dump Station, Campers
  • Fire Rings
  • First Aid Supplies
  • Fish Cleaning Station
  • Fishing
  • Fishing, PARK LAKE
  • Grills
  • Hiking
  • Hiking Trail
  • Hunting
  • Information Center
  • Jet Skiing
  • MEETING SPACE
  • Office/Ranger Station
  • PARK LAKE
  • Parking
  • Pay Telephone
  • Photography
  • Picnic Area
  • Picnic Tables
  • Picnicing
  • Playground
  • Restrooms
  • Retail, Store/Gift Shop
  • Sail Boarding
  • Sail Boating
  • Scenic Driving Routes
  • Scuba Diving
  • Showers
  • Skiing - Water
  • Stargazing
  • Sunbathing
  • Swimming - Park Lake
  • Walking
  • Water Access, Park Lake
  • Water Drinking
  • Water Skiing
  • Wildflower Viewing
  • Wildlife Viewing
  • Windsurfing/Sailboarding
Less Than 1 Mile
  • Fuel, Boats
  • Fuel, Vehicles
  • Retail, Drinks/Ice/Snack
  • Retail, Seasonal Concessions
  • Retail,Supplies
Greater Than 1 Mile
  • Dining
  • Restaurant
Greater Than 10 Miles
  • ATM/CASH MACHINE
  • Art & Museum
  • Boat Ramp
  • Church
  • Emergency Services
  • Grocery Store
  • Historical Areas/Struct.
  • Hospital
  • Laundry
  • Lodging, cabins (Concessionaire)
  • Maintenance,Vehicle
  • Medical Clinic
  • Motel
  • Museum
  • Propane
  • Rentals, Boat, Motorized
  • Retail , Bait & Tackle
  • Seasonal Festivals
  • Shopping
  • Town
Alerts and Important Information

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.

Getting There:

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!


Contact Information:

Mailing Address:

Lake McConaughy SRA
1475 Highway 61 North
Ogallala NE 69153-5930

Phone Number:

Project Office:(308)284-8800

Special Events:

    The events listed here are not intended to be an all inclusive list. Please contact the park for further details.

  • 3-D Archery Shoot at Burma Road on Apr 15 2012
  • Catfish Classic: Darrell Morrow 308-778-5879 on May 05 2012
  • 3-D Archery Shoot at Burma Road on May 20 2012
  • Go Fish Kids Clinic and Water Expo: Scott Eveland 308-289-0017 on Jun 02 2012
  • Shut Up & Fish Walley eTournament: Darrell Morrow 308-778-5879 from Jun 16 2012 to Jun 17 2012
  • Sand Volley Ball Tournament: Lance Jackson 719-275-4444. Cedar Vue from Jun 23 2012 to Jun 24 2012
  • Walleye Tournament: Troy Bosard 308-249-6685. Cedar Vue Boat Ramp on Jul 03 2012
  • Ogallala West Toucan Open: Karen Marriott 303-423-0654 Windsurfing Event from Jul 07 2012 to Jul 09 2012
  • Hobie Tropical Dreams Regatta: Contact Person: Bill McBride 308-284-2400 from Jul 14 2012 to Jul 15 2012
  • The Dam Run: Kendra Caskey 308-284-4354. 5K and 1 mile walk and run on Jul 28 2012
  • Kites & Castles: Kris Burke 308-726-2626. Sand castle and kite flying contest on Jul 28 2012
  • Hobie Mac Attack Regatta: Bill McBride 308-284-2400 from Sep 01 2012 to Sep 02 2012
  • 3-D Archery Shoot at Burma Road on Sep 09 2012
  • Big Mac Fall Classic Walleye Tournament: JC Cedarview 308-355-2793 from Sep 15 2012 to Sep 16 2012