Nebraskaland

52 Nebraskaland • June 2021 estled in the canyons of southwestern Nebraska lies Red Willow State Recreation Area. The focal point of the area is the 1,628-acre Hugh Butler Lake, named for the U.S. Senator from Cambridge, and its 35 miles of shoreline and picturesque water, sand and cliffs. Add in 4,320 acres of public land surrounding the reservoir, and whether you're looking to camp, hike, boat, bike, swim, kayak or hunt, it's hard to get bored at Red Willow. Red Willow SRA is a hotspot of outdoor activity during the summer, but to enjoy all of it, camping is your best bet. Spend time at one of Red Willow's 48 electrical pad sites, equipped with 30- and 50-amp electrical hookups, or "rough it" at one of 24 basic campsites scattered throughout the park. Modern conveniences at Willow View campground includes a dump station, drinking water, restrooms and showers. If you love archery, bring your gear; a 20-target archery range is located near Willow View. Family Fun Nights keep visitors returning to Red Willow. These free events are offered during the summer months, and they usually consist of hands-on instruction on kayaking, fishing and archery. Attendees socialize with other families around an open fire while enjoying a hotdog cookout and s'mores. New to Red Willow are more than 6 miles of hike and bike trails that wind through the area. In partnership with local organizations, the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission is working to expand the hike and bike trails to give visitors access to more scenic areas of the park and provide a more challenging ride. Thanks to donations from McCook Youth Change Reaction, a youth-led community group, 12 bikes are available for public use through a loaner program. Fishing, boating and water sports are mainstay activities at Red Willow. Boaters have three ramps from which to launch, and there's plenty of room for everyone when it comes to kayaking, canoeing or waterskiing. Families who prefer to stay closer to shore will find plenty of sun and sand on the beach in the Spring Creek Area. There they can swim, build a sand castle or have a shore lunch. The beach is getting a facelift with the addition of 130 tons of sand and will be ready to use when temperatures start to soar. Fed by Red Willow and Spring creeks, Hugh Butler Lake is one of four Southwest Reservoirs built by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation in the 1950s and 1960s for flood control and irrigation. In recent years, its fishery has undergone several changes to make Red Willow a great fishing destination, and anglers will be in for a Volunteers are working along with the parks staff to create a public hike and bike trail at the reservoir. N Red Willow State Recreation Area Red Willow SRA is located about 11 miles north of McCook. With 4,320 acres of land surrounding a 1,628-acre lake, it off ers some of the best fi shing and hunting in the state. Red Willow State Recreation Area A hotspot for outdoor activities Story and photos by Julie Geiser

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