Recreation

The Little Blue NRD operates and maintains seven Recreation Areas that are open to the public.  Each area has its own unique features and offer a wide variety of activities.

Recreation Areas

  Scroll through to see which one of our six recreation areas you’d like to make your next vacation destination!

Bruning Dam

near Bruning, Nebraska

Buckley Creek

near Reynolds, Nebraska

Crystal Lake

near Ayr, Nebraska

Liberty Cove

near Lawrence, Nebraska

Lone Star

near Ohiowa, Nebraska

Prairie Lake

near Hastings, Nebraska

Roseland Lake

near Juniata, Nebraska

If you are planning to visit a Little Blue NRD recreation area please take a moment to review our Park – Rules & Regulations and daily camping fees.

Curious what rules you need to follow during your stay at our recreation areas?  Please check out our Rules & Regulations Page!

Lone Star

Lone Star Recreation Area is located 4 miles east and 1/4 mile south of Ohiowa, NE and has 75 acres of surface water with 160 acres of land surrounding the structure. The lake is stocked with catfish, blue gill and large mouth bass.

Recreation

Twenty electrical ($20 per night fee effective May 1, 2021) RV Camper pads , two shelters, three restrooms, boat ramp, floating dock, fishing pier with handicapped accessibility, foot bridge, 11,700 feet of trails (1,300 feet concrete handicapped accessible trails and 2,300 feet of limestone chipped trails), water wells, camping, grills, picnicking, swimming beach, fishing, boats less than 5 mph, no hunting.

Winter Sports
Sledding, skating and fishing. Note: The Lone Star gates are open for the winter season this year.
Primary Benefits
Flood control, road and bridge protection, outdoor recreation, and fish and wildlife habitat.
Area Highlights
The community of Ohiowa provides gas and food.  To the north, Milligan, also provide gas and food.

Visit Lone Star

  • Located near Ohiowa, NE
  • 20 electrical camper pads
  • 2 shelters
  • 3 restrooms
  • boat ramp
  • floating dock
  • fishing pier
  • playground
Learn more about Lone Star’s rules and regulations.

Liberty Cove

This spring-fed lake is located 2 miles west, 2 miles south and 1/4 west of Lawrence, Nebraska. The water quality is considered excellent due to the many springs that feed this small lake. Stocked with bluegills, bass, catfish and northern pike; this lake is an angler’s dream.
Built in 1991, Liberty Cove Dam controls runoff from 2,247 acres of Webster County lands and provides flood protection primarily to county bridges downstream. The reservoir provides a 37 surface water acre lake and 558 acre feet of flood storage.
The cost of Liberty Cove creation totaled $301,538 with funds provided by the Natural Resources Commission, Nuckolls and Webster Counties and the Little Blue Natural Resource District.
Recreation

Eight RV camper pads with electrical hookups ($20 per night fee; effective May 1, 2021), two shelters, two restrooms, boat ramp, boat dock, fishing, swimming, beach, picnicking, grills, camping, playground, well water,  hiking trails, horse riding trail, arboretum, small game hunting, archery for deer and turkey and boats less than 5 mph.

Winter Sports: Sledding, ice skating, fishing and snowmobiling.

Primary Benefits
Flood control, road and bridge protection, outdoor recreation, and fish and wildlife habitat.
Area Highlights
The community of Lawrence provides gas, food, fishing equipment and swimming pool.

Visit Liberty Cove

  • located near Lawrence, NE
  • 8 electrial camper pads
  • 2 shelters
  • 2 restrooms
  • boat ramp
  • boat dock
  • playground
  • arboretum
Learn more about Liberty Cove’s rules and regulations.

Crystal Lake

Crystal Lake Recreation Area, located 2 miles north and 1/2 mile west of Ayr, NE, is a 33 acre park adjacent to the Little Blue River and features a five acre lake.

As of May 4, 2011 the area was transferred from the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission to the Village of Ayr. The Little Blue NRD is providing assistance to the Village in various management aspects. Contact (402) 463-8880 for any questions or information.

Primary Benefits
Flood control, road and bridge protection, outdoor recreation, and fish and wildlife habitat.
Area Highlights
The community of Lawrence provides gas, food, fishing equipment and swimming pool.

Visit Crystal Lake

  • 46 electrical campsites
  • 50 additional non-designated campsites
  • 2 shelters
  • 4 restrooms
  • playground
  • tennis court
Learn more about Crystal Lake’s rules and regulations.
Learn more about Crystal Lake’s campground fees.
View the map of Crystal Lake Below.

Buckley Creek

Buckley Creek, developed in 1977, is located 1 mile east and 1/2 mile north of Reynolds, NE and has 20 acres of surface water with 98 acres of land surrounding the structure.

The rustic area is an ideal spot for fishing, hiking and boating while providing a natural setting with a quiet atmosphere.

Recreation

Public nine hole sand green golf course, shelters, picnicking, hiking, fishing (no hunting), grills, public rural water, restrooms, 4 camper hookups ($15 per night fee; effective May 1, 2021), boating (motors less than 5HP) and a limited playground.

Winter Sports
Snowmobiling, fishing and ice skating.
Primary Benefits
Flood control, road and bridge protection, outdoor recreation and fish and wildlife habitat.
Area Highlights
The community of Reynolds offers gas and food.  Eleven miles east and north along Highway 8 is Fairbury with excellent shopping, medical care, golf course and other outdoor and indoor

Visit Buckley Creek

  • Located near Reynolds, NE
  • four electrical camper pads
  • shelters
  • restrooms
  • nine hole sand green golf course
  • limited playground
Learn more about Buckley Creek’s rules and regulations.

Prairie Lake

Prairie Lake Recreation Area, located 3 miles south and 1/4 mile east of Juniata, NE has 160 acres of public land which includes 36 acres of water and access for 29 additional water acres.

This rustic area provides excellent wildlife habitat and presents many natural grasses and wildflowers.

Recreation

20 RV camper pads with electrical hookups ($20 per night fee; effective April 1, 2022),  shelter, restroom, Archery range, fishing, horseback riding, grills, picnicking, well water and boats less than 5mph. (No boat launch)

Winter Sports
Snowmobiling, fishing and ice skating.
Primary Benefits
Flood control, groundwater recharge, fishing and wildlife habitat.
Area Highlights
The community of Juniata provides gas and food.  To the east on Highway 6, 5 1/2 miles is Hastings, providing an excellent choice of shopping, medical care, several golf courses and other outdoor and indoor entertainment.

Visit Prairie Lake

  • Located near Juniata, NE
  • 20 electrical camper pads
  • archery range
  • restrooms
  • Shelter
  • grills
Learn more about Prairie Lake’s rules and regulations.

Roseland Lake

Roseland Lake is located 4 1/2 miles west and 2 1/4 miles south of Juniata, NE in Adams County. It consists of 66 acres of surface water and 118 acres of land.

This lake offers a natural setting for fishing and nature hikes.

Recreation
Fishing, hiking, waterfowl and upland game hunting, trapping.
Winter Sports
Ice skating and ice fishing.
Primary Benefits
Provide flood control, fishing and wildlife habitat.
Area Highlights
The community of Juniata provides gas and food.  To the east on Highway 6 is Hastings, providing an excellent choice of shopping, medical care, several golf courses and other outdoor and indoor entertainment.

Visit Roseland Lake

  • Located near Juniata, NE
  • fishing
  • hiking
  • waterfowl hunting
  • upland game hunting
Learn more about Roseland Lake’s rules and regulations.

Bruning Dam

The Bruning Dam is located 2 miles east, 1 mile north and 3/4 mile east of Bruning, NE.   The dam consists of 250 acres of surface water and 123 acres of public land.

This dam is in a rustic area and an ideal spot for fishing, hiking and boating.

Recreation
Fishing, water fowl and upland game hunting, archery for deer and turkey, horseback riding, trapping, boating (motors less than 5 HP), picnicking, restroom and boat ramp.
Winter Sports
Skating and ice fishing. The area provides excellent hunting and wildlife habitat with its many tree and shrub plantings.
Primary Benefits
Provide flood control, groundwater recharge and recreation.
Area Highlights
The community of Bruning along Highway 81 offers gas, food and medical care.

Visit Bruning Dam

  • Located near Bruning, NE
  • restroom
  • fishing
  • trapping
  • boat ramp
  • water fowl hunting
  • upland game hunting
Learn more about Bruning Dam’s rules and regulations.
Other Recreation Areas located across the state of Nebraska are maintained by local NRD’s
 
For fish stocking information across Nebraska: http://www.ngpc.state.ne.us/fishing/guides/fishguide/FGfindstock.asp