State Recreation Area

Pawnee Lake State Recreation Area

Lancaster County, NebraskaAbout 1,070 acres
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) 796-2362

Official page last checked Oct 30, 2026. How we keep this current

Overview

In Lancaster County, about 11 miles west of Lincoln, Pawnee Lake State Recreation Area covers about 1,070 acres.

Visitors come for horseback riding, winter sports, canoeing and kayaking, hunting in season, and boating. Water access includes a swimming beach and a boat ramp. Camping is available: campsites, including tent sites and showers.

Camping

Campground or site typeSitesHookups / featuresPrice
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, pads without 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 kayakingFishingPicnickingSwimmingHikingHorseback ridingBikingHuntingWildlife viewing and birding

Trails

TrailLengthDifficultyNotes
Pawnee 50.67 mi—Status: Open Restricted (lengths summed from GIS segments)HikeMountain BikeEquestrianDog SledSnowshoeCross Country SkiNative Material surface
Pawnee 23.66 mi—Status: Open Restricted (lengths summed from GIS segments)HikeMountain BikeEquestrianDog SledSnowshoeCross Country SkiNative Material surface
Pawnee 13.96 mi—Status: Open Restricted (lengths summed from GIS segments)HikeMountain BikeEquestrianDog SledSnowshoeCross Country SkiNative Material surface
Trail descriptions from the park

Pawnee 5 (0.67 mi)

Pawnee 2 (3.66 mi)

Pawnee 1 (3.96 mi)

Boating and paddling

Boating, Boat ramp, Boat dock, Canoeing/kayaking, Water skiing, Sailing

Fishing

Fishing, 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
  • Playground
  • Park or camp store
  • Restaurant or food service
  • Parking

Water

  • Swimming beach
  • Boat ramp
  • Marina or boat slips
  • Fish cleaning station

Camping

  • RV dump station
  • Tent camping

Recreation

  • Horse trails

✓ 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
3800 NW 105th St
Lincoln, NE 68524
Nearest town
Lincoln — about 11 mi west (straight line)
Coordinates
40.8520, -96.8769
Phone
(402) 796-2362
Email
ngpc.Pawnee@nebraska.gov

Google Maps directionsApple Maps

Nearby state parks

Conestoga Lake State Recreation Area
6.2 mi south (straight line)
Branched Oak State Recreation Area
8.4 mi north (straight line)
Bluestem State Recreation Area
15.5 mi south (straight line)
Blue River State Recreation Area
16.2 mi southwest (straight line)
Olive Creek State Recreation Area
19.1 mi south (straight line)
Stagecoach Lake State Recreation Area
21.4 mi southeast (straight line)
Wagon Train State Recreation Area
21.5 mi southeast (straight line)
Memphis Lake State Recreation Area
28.5 mi northeast (straight line)

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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