Recently my son and I returned to one of our favorite places to hike in Nebraska. Indian Cave State Park is tucked away in the southeast corner of Nebraska along the Missouri River. This underappreciated park features 22 miles of the best trails Nebraska has to offer. Very few locations in Nebraska offer trails with such pronounced elevation changes. For those looking to get a good workout there are plenty of steep inclines to climb. One of the hikes that I found rather challenging but with rewarding views is from trailhead 11 to trailhead 10. This 3.7 mile up and back route has very steep slopes at both ends. This is a dirt trail with deep ruts in areas that one should consider not attempting if the trail is muddy.
Many of the trails are interconnected with several trailheads and route options. For example one could start at trailhead 11 and do a loop back to trailhead 11 for a total of about 6-12 miles depending on which route you plan with an elevation gain of 1,115 feet (according to alltrails.com). One could string together several more trails for a much longer hike by expanding the above loop to include an adjacent set of trails across the road for a hike that could be around 12-20+ miles in length depending on what combinations of trails you make part of your plan. The trails have primitive campsites including adirondack shelters nestled into the woods and along the river for those looking for a secluded camping experience. One could with good planning have a several day backpacking experience camping at a different campsite each night.
The park has densely forested hills, bluffs and valleys to hike up and down. There are gorgeous views overlooking the river, adjacent hillsides and valleys. Even without hiking there is great scenery to enjoy as well as cultural and historic attractions to appreciate. The park might be overlooked by many people due to there not being a lake. There is however access to the river for fishing and a boat ramp.
In addition to the trailside campsites there are drive up tent campsites dispersed around the park. Campsites with full hookups are available and can be reserved through reserveamerica.com. Flush toilets and showers are a bonus.
Know before you go that this is a State Park and your vehicle will need a Nebraska park permit. Do also expect that some of the trails may not be well manicured pathways. Some areas are more wild than many state parks and you will see warning signs that you are in rattlesnake habitat. Don’t forget to check yourself for ticks after your hike and make sure you have adequate fluids with you for your planned activity.
A map of the trails can be downloaded online and may be available at the entry gatehouse to the park.
Have fun!
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