State Historical Park

Ashfall Fossil Beds State Historical Park

Antelope County, NebraskaAbout 360 acresEstablished 1987
Status
Open (per official listing)
Entrance fee
Not posted
Day-use reservations
None mentioned
Dogs
Not stated — check with park
Camping
None listed
Official site
outdoornebraska.gov(402) 893-2000

Official page last checked Oct 29, 2026. How we keep this current

Overview

In Antelope County, about 13 miles west of Creighton, Ashfall Fossil Beds State Historical Park covers about 360 acres.

The park supports historic sites, wildlife watching, ranger programs, picnicking, and hiking.

Things to do

PicnickingHikingWildlife viewing and birdingHistoric sites and toursRanger and interpretive programs

Trails

TrailLengthDifficultyNotes
Verdigree Creek Valley Overview Trail0.26 mi—Status: Open Restricted (lengths summed from GIS segments)HikeMountain BikeDog SledSnowshoeCross Country SkiImported Material, Native Material surface
Rhino Barn Trail0.29 miEasyStatus: Open Restricted (lengths summed from GIS segments)HikeMountain BikeDog SledSnowshoeCross Country SkiDecking, Hard Surface surface
Fossil Hut Trail0.02 miEasyStatus: Open Restricted (lengths summed from GIS segments)HikeMountain BikeDog SledSnowshoeCross Country SkiHard Surface surface
Nature Trail0.82 miEasyStatus: Open Restricted (lengths summed from GIS segments)HikeMountain BikeDog SledSnowshoeCross Country SkiNative Material surface
Activity Trail0.05 miEasyStatus: Open Restricted (lengths summed from GIS segments)HikeMountain BikeDog SledSnowshoeCross Country SkiHard Surface surface
South View Trail0.08 miEasyStatus: Open Restricted (lengths summed from GIS segments)HikeMountain BikeDog SledSnowshoeCross Country SkiImported Material surface
Trail descriptions from the park

Verdigree Creek Valley Overview Trail (0.26 mi)

Rhino Barn Trail (0.29 mi)

Fossil Hut Trail (0.02 mi)

Nature Trail (0.82 mi)

Activity Trail (0.05 mi)

South View Trail (0.08 mi)

Amenities

Facilities

  • Restrooms
  • Flush toilets
  • Vault or pit toilets
  • Drinking water
  • Picnic areas
  • Picnic shelters
  • Visitor center
  • Nature center or museum
  • Park or camp store

✓ listed by the park · ✕ the park says it is not available. Anything not shown here isn’t mentioned by the official source — that means unknown, not unavailable.

Getting there

Address
86930 517th Ave.
Royal, NE 68773
Nearest town
Creighton — about 13 mi west (straight line)
Coordinates
42.4216, -98.1582
Phone
(402) 893-2000
Email
ashfall2@unl.edu

Google Maps directionsApple Maps

Nearby state parks

Niobrara State Park
24 mi north (straight line)
Springfield Recreation Area
33.1 mi northeast (straight line) · South Dakota
Willow Creek State Recreation Area
34.4 mi southeast (straight line)
Lewis and Clark Lake State Recreation Area
41.4 mi northeast (straight line)
Cowboy Trail
44.6 mi southeast (straight line)
Lewis and Clark Recreation Area
44.7 mi northeast (straight line) · South Dakota
Chief White Crane Recreation Area
46.3 mi northeast (straight line) · South Dakota
Pierson Ranch Recreation Area
46.4 mi northeast (straight line) · South Dakota

Sources and freshness

“Last checked” is when our system last read the official source. No change has been detected since this page was first published. Hours, fees and rules can change without notice — confirm with the park before you go. Methodology

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