Indian Cave State Park - Lewis and Clark Trail Experience

Information

Open 24 hours a day

402-883-2575

Residents $30 for an annual permit, duplicate annual permits are available for $15 and daily permits for $6. For vehicles not registered and licensed in Nebraska $45 for an annual permit, duplicate annuals permits are available for $22.50 and daily permits for $8.

lat: 40.2647961 long: -95.5798101

On the banks of the Missouri River, this 3,052 acre park provides 22 miles of hiking trails, a living history village, numerous camping locations, as well as the sandstone cave the park is named for. This large park offers visitors a great opportunity to enjoy the beautiful views of the Missouri River and explore some of the history of the area.

The park is named for and features prehistoric Native American petroglyphs of unknown date and origin. This cave can be viewed from a boardwalk along the length of the cave. In addition to the cave, the park also features demonstrations of various crafts in the former town of St. Deroin that was part of the former Nemaha half-breed reservation. Weekends in the summer and fall see demonstrations of crafts like blacksmithing, candle-making, broom-making, etc.

The park also hosts several seasonal events. Outdoor Adventure is on the last Saturday in April that features a 5K run, family activities, hayrack rides, and a dutch oven cooking demonstration. In July, they celebrate Christmas in July with visits with Santa, horse-drawn sleigh rides, pioneer Christmas stories, and a Christmas movie under the stars. For three weekends in October, the park has Haunted Hollow which offers haunted hayrack rides, spooky campground decorating competitions, as well as pumpkin carving.

Indian Caves State Park is a great place for families visiting Nebraska to experience the great outdoors.

Nearby Attractions

Distance Unit:

Captain Meriwether Lewis Dredge

Captain Meriwether Lewis Dredge

1 E Water St, Brownville, NE 68321, USA
Distance: 9.75 Away

General History

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The Carson House

The Carson House

300 Main St, Brownville, NE 68321, USA
Distance: 10.05 Away

Museums and Interpretive Centers

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Schoolhouse Art Gallery & Nature Center

Schoolhouse Art Gallery & Nature Center

412 Main St, Brownville, NE 68321, USA
Distance: 10.13 Away

Galleries and Venues Festivals and Events Museums and Interpretive Centers

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Governor Furnas Arboretum and Whiskey Run Creek Nature Center

Governor Furnas Arboretum and Whiskey Run Creek Nature Center

Main St & 5th St, Brownville, NE 68321, USA
Distance: 10.13 Away

Galleries and Venues Outdoor Experiences Walks and Hikes

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Flatwater Folk Art Museum

Flatwater Folk Art Museum

609 Main St, Brownville, NE 68321, USA
Distance: 10.19 Away

Galleries and Venues Museums and Interpretive Centers

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Whiskey Run Creek Winery and Distillery

Whiskey Run Creek Winery and Distillery

702 Main St, Brownville, NE 68321, USA
Distance: 10.25 Away

Food and Drinks Wineries Breweries and Distilleries

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Honeybees in the Heartland

Honeybees in the Heartland

1000 J St, Auburn, NE 68305, USA
Distance: 16.35 Away

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Steamboat Trace

Steamboat Trace

Steamboat Trace Trail, Nebraska City, NE 68410, USA
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Outdoor Experiences Fun and Sports Walks and Hikes

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Ioway Bee Farm

Ioway Bee Farm

Ioway Bee Farm, Thrasher Road, White Cloud, KS, USA
Distance: 21.72 Away

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Loess Hills National Scenic Byway

Loess Hills National Scenic Byway

3210 US-275, Hamburg, IA 51640, USA
Distance: 22.33 Away

Outdoor Experiences Walks and Hikes

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Four State Lookout

Four State Lookout

Four State Lookout, 3rd Street, White Cloud, KS, USA
Distance: 24.64 Away

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Lewis and Clark Interpretive Pavilion

Lewis and Clark Interpretive Pavilion

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Distance: 24.91 Away

Tribal Experiences LC Features Museums and Interpretive Centers

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Site of the Week: Falls of the Ohio State Park St

Site of the Week: Falls of the Ohio State Park

St. Louis is often recognized as the starting place of the Lewis and Clark Expedition. However, others would argue that the Expedition began further east where Lewis and Clark met to begin traveling together. Today, this site is the Falls of the Ohio State Park.

In 1803, Meriwether Lewis brought the keelboat down the Ohio River to meet Clark in Louisville. While Lewis had been overseeing the building of said keelboat, Clarj had been busily recruiting local men by way of a strict interview process. Once Lewis arrived with his two men and joined them with Clark’s seven men in Louisville, these first men of the Expedition became known as “the Nine Young Men from Kentucky.” These were William Bratton, John Colter, Joseph and Reuben Field, George Shannon, John Shields, Nathaniel Pryor, George Gibson, and Charles Floyd.

While the Falls of the Ohio are no longer visible, the fossil beds are still very prominent. These Devonian fossil beds are famously recognized as being one of the largest exposed fossil beds in the world. There is a museum on site which tells the history of these fossils, as well as the evolution of the area’s wildlife. The museum also provides information about Lewis and Clark’s time at the Falls and the complicated relationships between the incoming settlers and the local native tribes. The museum was recently renovated and has significantly expanded its exhibits.

Photos credited to Mitchell Pence and the Department of Natural Resources

#lewisandclark #history #adventure #travel #fallsoftheohiostatepark #ohioriver

Check out our YouTube Channel! We have some great

Check out our YouTube Channel!

We have some great content being posted there every Saturday - you’ll see videos related to personal stories and adventures on the trail, special reports on various trail locations, and much more!

Be sure to subscribe and share with friends as well!

https://www.youtube.com/@lewisandclarktrailalliance

Our new APP is now available! Check it out if you

Our new APP is now available! Check it out if you haven’t yet to bring the adventure and magic of the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail on your mobile device. Scan the QR code here or find it on your app store.

Site of the Week: Pompey’s Pillar National Monum

Site of the Week: Pompey’s Pillar National Monument

William Clark christened the rock formation “Pompey’s Tower” on July 25, 1806, as he and his party descended the Yellowstone River. Clark gave the huge monolith the nickname that he himself had fondly bestowed upon Sacagawea’s young son, Jean Baptiste Charbonneau. Nicholas Biddle, as he edited the journals upon Lewis and Clark’s return, changed the name to “Pompey’s Pillar.”

Pompey’s Pillar is known for being the only site with visible physical evidence of Lewis and Clark’s journey: Clark carved his name and the date onto the rock’s face. Now covered by a clear panel, the signature is protected from the elements while still being visible to visitors willing to climb up the steps to see it. Visitors can continue up the steps to the top of the rock where they can enjoy a 360-degree view of the landscape surrounding the site. There is also a highly informative and very well-designed visitor’s center at the base of Pompey’s Pillar, along with several outdoor educational structures and hiking trails.

Photos credited to Cait Clark.

#lewisandclark #history #adventure #travel #pompeyspillar #Montana #pompeyspillarnationalmonument

Check out our YouTube Channel! We have some great

Check out our YouTube Channel!

We have some great content being posted there every Saturday - you’ll see videos related to personal stories and adventures on the trail, special reports on various trail locations, and much more!

Be sure to subscribe and share with friends as well!

https://www.youtube.com/@lewisandclarktrailalliance

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Here’s a summary of a recent video you can find there:

“The phrase "Point of Departure" originates from Captain Meriwether Lewis himself. On May 14, 1804, he wrote in his journal: "The mouth of the River Dubois is to be considered as the point of departure." That spring day, as the Lewis and Clark Expedition set out from what is now Wood River Creek, they embarked on a journey that would reshape the future of the United States.

After more than a year of preparation, the Expedition launched from Camp River Dubois on May 14, 1804. The crew included Captain William Clark, Clark’s enslaved servant York, interpreter George Drouillard, Seaman the dog, 34 enlisted men, and several French engagés—all traveling in a barge and two large pirogues. Their destination: uncharted territory up the Missouri River, starting with a stop in St. Charles where Captain Meriwether Lewis joined them after traveling overland.

Preparation began in December 1803, with winter quarters built at Camp River Dubois, across from the Missouri River’s mouth. Lewis gathered intelligence from St. Louis traders and secured supplies and gifts for diplomacy with Native nations. Meanwhile, the soldiers trained under strict military discipline, preparing for the immense challenges ahead.

A pivotal moment came in March 1804, when Lewis and Clark witnessed the transfer of Upper Louisiana from Spain to France—and then, just one day later, to the United States. This marked the dawn of a new American frontier, and the Expedition was ready to set forth into the unknown.”

(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yvhg1Gs3cvs)