Goat Island Recreation Island

Known as one of the few places that is simultaneously both in Nebraska and South Dakota, Goat Island (affectionately called Jake’s Island) offers a multitude of recreational activities. The possibilities for outdoor recreation enthusiasts include but are not limited to camping, hiking, biking, canoeing, kayaking, fishing, hunting, bird watching, and guided tours. Because of its unique terrain characteristics, Goat Island is a safe haven for providing important wildlife habitats.

Though the overall landscape has changed with time and while the area is not specifically cited in the Lewis and Clark journals, a geologic and riverine scientific study suggests a high probability the island existed during the passage of their expedition in 1803 and 1806. Today the 800-acre property supports a wide variety of wildlife on its sandbars and within its dense forested areas of cottonwood and Eastern red-cedar. Chutes paralleling the island, free-flowing water, vegetation, and sandbars not only provide important wildlife habitat but add to the aesthetic qualities of the Park’s 59-Mile District.