Sightseeing
Quirky FunGolden Spike Tower
Under $25Ride the elevator up an eight-story tower to watch Union Pacific crews sort rail cars in Bailey Yard below.
Photo: Leaflet, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Cropped and resized.
Sport & OutdoorOutdoor AdventureFamily Favorite
Lake McConaughy
Visitor center, 1475 Hwy 61 N, south of Kingsley Dam · Ogallala, NE
Why you should go…
Lake McConaughy is Nebraska's largest reservoir, 22 miles long and up to 4 miles wide, with 76 miles of shoreline about nine miles north of Ogallala. People come to boat, fish, swim and camp in the state recreation area that surrounds it. Kingsley Dam, built between 1936 and 1941, stretches 3.1 miles across the east end. Start at the visitors and water interpretive center on a bluff just south of the dam, with exhibits on the Platte River and the High Plains Aquifer.
- #lake
- #boating
- #fishing
- #camping
- #state recreation area
Good to know
General sport & outdoor guidance
Habits that pay off across this whole category, not rules for this one venue. Always check the official site for the specifics.
Weather calls the shots
Check the forecast the morning of and keep an indoor backup in your pocket for the day it turns.
Shoes, water, sun cover
The three things that decide whether you last the whole outing or cut it short after an hour.
Parking and launches fill early
On a nice weekend, lots and trailheads are often full by mid-morning.
Daylight shrinks in shoulder season
Spring and fall visits need an earlier start than the same trip in July.
What's around here?
The closest stops to Lake McConaughy, ordered by straight-line distance.
