Merritt Reservoir State Recreation Area
- Status
- Open (per official listing)
- Entrance fee
- Not posted
- Day-use reservations
- None mentioned
- Dogs
- Not stated — check with park
- Camping
- Yes
- Official site
- outdoornebraska.gov(402) 376-3320
Official page last checked Oct 30, 2026. How we keep this current
Overview
In Cherry County, about 25 miles southwest of Valentine, Merritt Reservoir State Recreation Area covers about 823 acres.
Things to do include winter sports, canoeing and kayaking, hunting in season, boating, and fishing. Facilities for water recreation include a boat ramp. Camping is available: campsites, including tent sites and showers.
Camping
| Campground or site type | Sites | Hookups / features | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Camping Park-level flags from NGPC GIS; individual campgrounds and site counts not published in this source. | — | ElectricShowers | — |
Camping details from the park
Camping: Yes. Site types: pads with electric, non-pad sites without electric. Facilities in park: showers, dump station, drinking water, modern restrooms.
From the official park page, checked Oct 30, 2026. Site counts and prices can change; confirm when booking.
Things to do
CampingBoatingWinter sportsCanoeing and kayakingFishingPicnickingHuntingWildlife viewing and birding
Boating and paddling
Boating, Boat ramp, Boat dock, Canoeing/kayaking, Water skiing, Sailing
Fishing
Fishing, Bait, Fish cleaning station
A state fishing license is usually required.
Amenities
Facilities
- Restrooms
- Flush toilets
- Vault or pit toilets
- Showers
- Drinking water
- Picnic areas
- Picnic shelters
- Park or camp store
Water
- Boat ramp
- Marina or boat slips
- Fish cleaning station
Camping
- RV dump station
- Tent camping
✓ 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
- 88079 State Highway 97
Valentine, NE 69201-1904 - Nearest town
- Valentine — about 25 mi southwest (straight line)
- Coordinates
- 42.6082, -100.8779
- Phone
- (402) 376-3320
- Loren.Murray@nebraska.gov
Nearby state parks
Sources and freshness
- Nebraska State Parks — park page — last checked Oct 30, 2026; page says updated Sep 30, 2016
- NGPC ArcGIS feature service Parks_Locations (owner NGPC.GISAdmin) + TrailsNewmap layer 8
“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