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

View Listing

The Carson House

The Carson House

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

Museums and Interpretive Centers

View Listing

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

View Listing

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

View Listing

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

View Listing

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

View Listing

Honeybees in the Heartland

Honeybees in the Heartland

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

Galleries and Venues

View Listing

Steamboat Trace

Steamboat Trace

Steamboat Trace Trail, Nebraska City, NE 68410, USA
Distance: 17.55 Away

Outdoor Experiences Fun and Sports Walks and Hikes

View Listing

Ioway Bee Farm

Ioway Bee Farm

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

View Listing

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

View Listing

Four State Lookout

Four State Lookout

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

View Listing

Lewis and Clark Interpretive Pavilion

Lewis and Clark Interpretive Pavilion

White Cloud, KS, USA
Distance: 24.91 Away

Tribal Experiences LC Features Museums and Interpretive Centers

View Listing

Sign Up for the Lewis & Clark Trail Experience Newsletter

Our bi-weekly newsletter provides news, history, and information for those interested in traveling along along the Lewis & Clark Trail.

By submitting this form, you are consenting to receive the Lewis and Clark Travel Experience newsletter provided by the Lewis & Clark Trail Alliance. You can revoke your consent at any time by using the SafeUnsubscribe® link, found at the bottom of every email. Emails are serviced by Constant Contact.

Instagram Feed

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

-----
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)

Site of the Week: Knife River Indian Villages Nati

Site of the Week: Knife River Indian Villages National Historic Site

The Knife River area, according to archaeological studies, has been inhabited by people for over 11,000 years. For hundreds of years it was a significant place of trade for the local tribes, a characteristic that would eventually be used to the advantage of fur traders starting in 1750. It remained a place of trade and mixing cultures until a smallpox epidemic decimated the population in 1837. Following this, the local Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arikara moved north and established another village.

During the time of the Lewis and Clark Expedition, the Knife River villages were flourishing, providing a booming trading economy in what is modern-day North Dakota. It was from one of these villages that a young woman by the name of Sacagawea would emerge and take her place in the history of the expedition. She was Shoshone and had been taken captive by the Hidatsa during a raid against her tribe before she was won or otherwise purchased by French Canadian fur trader Toussaint Charbonneau.

Today, Knife River Indian Villages National Historic Park has a visitors center as well as a rebuilt earthlodge which holds replica artifacts in the summer months. Knowledgeable park rangers are available for tours, and there are multiple trails of varying lengths that are available to hike. There are birding checklists available in the visitors center, so make sure to pick one up so you can keep an eye out for the various bird varieties that are present at the site.

https://www.nps.gov/knri/index.htm

Photos credited to Cait Clark

#lewisandclark #history #adventure #travel #kniferiver #kniferiverindianvillagesnationhistoricsite #nationalparkservice #northdakota