The name Dead Timber is very apt for this park, but not in a bad way…read more It's just very bygone feeling, like it's been the spot of many historic movements in nature. There are rickety bridges that are long closed down, and uprooted trees that are still standing and growing, against all odds. Aside from the cool old style feel of Dead Timber, there are actually some fun things you can do here too, like camping, trail hiking, and fishing. It's about an hour outside of Omaha, so it's an easy little day trip or activity with the family or by yourself (as it's very isolated feeling too so it would be cool to be by yourself out there!) I'd say this isn't the top of any of the Nebraska parks/recreation areas, in terms of maintenance or things to do, but it does have its own little charm.

I was looking for a new place to take some pictures. This was a pretty park - due to the time of…read moreyear, is was very quite. Quite a bit of places to walk around the lake - I was surprised to see very few animals.

This park holds a ton of memories for me. My family would venture here often when I was a child. I…read moreremember having larger family gatherings here from time to time. It's very well maintained and has a few 'indoor' restroom options. There's a very long main loop around the lake that is about 3mi and VERY hilly. I know there's hiking path and such as well. A few small paths exist. It's a lot of fun on bikes and quite kid friendly. Two large playground areas and a couple fishing docks. Also plenty of parking. The dog park is newer and very nice. Can be very busy, tho. It's so clean. I'm proud of SIoux City and surrounding citizens for keeping this place so nice. Totally free; no entrance fee. Can kayak on the lake, but it's too small for boats. Maybe a paddle boat. I'm sure the shelters can be reserved but I don't have information on that. A couple water fountains are available. Don't forget sun screen!!

This nearly 3 mile walk around the lake is really beautiful. Moderate hills and dog friendly with…read moreadjacent dog park. Highly recommended.

First hike of the season turned into an amazing adventure! First, you will get lost unless you type…read morea physical address you find from their website. Don't type Loess Hills State Forest in your maps. You will find an "Hills Have Eyes" or "Wrong Turn" type of atmosphere. This is after you drive by the tarp covered shed with a spray painted sign stating, "Enter Here!!!" Ohhhhhhh snap!! The State Forest is comprised of 4 sections so do some research prior to going! We found an awesome trail (close to the overlook area) which runs by two ponds and was a total of 1.8 miles. Had some steep inclines and some open fields, it worked decent for 7kids who enjoyed the adventure. The overlook observatory area has its own trails and has great views extending miles out! Hint: take a picture of the map sign- it's easy to navigate! Bathrooms were accommodated at the trailhead!

Beautiful rolling hills and nature. A great place to take a walk while enjoying nature.read more

On my cross-country drive, this was a good area to stop in and I stumbled across Stone State Park…read moreand its adorable camping cabins. The cabins have to be booked for 2 nights so I had to book it the day-of. I barely made it in time to check in but I did - many thanks to the ranger for being patient! I recommend bringing cash if you try to same-day stay. The place was really adorable and cozy! There's an AC unit, a dehumidifier, a microwave, and a decent sized minifridge, along with a small table, bunk beds, and a futon. I was happy to be on a bed and just used my sleeping bag for sheets. As for the park, it has beautiful hills and sweeping views. I didn't take a longer hike but would absolutely not hesitate to stop by, for camping or hiking.

Beautiful state park. Lots of places to hike but also a lovely drive. Great views where you can see…read moreNebraska and South Dakota. There's a beautiful old building you can rent for events. Plenty of picnic tables for a day visit. There are campsites in the park too. Its a gem in northwest Iowa.

Great for walking and site seeing. Off trails to walk also. Nice for doggies. Resting places along…read morepath.

Blair is lucky to have such a beautiful park. Not only is the Black Elk monument awe-inspiring, the…read moresurrounding park that overlooks the Missouri River Valley is a wonderful place to spend a few hours unplugging from the rest of the world. I came on a warm October afternoon to check out the nine-hole disc golf course. My first impression was a good one. This course is well maintained: manicured fairways, clean baskets and concrete tee pads. While none of the holes were much more than 300 feet from tee to pin, there were plenty of trees and shrubs to add a bit of challenge to your throws. The first four holes are just north of the parking lot as your drive in. The back five are tucked behind the monument, and offer a more secluded environment, complete with sweeping valley views in between some seriously tough shots -- especially hole seven, a real beast of a hole. As is the case with a lot of local courses, I spent much of my first round attempting to find the tee pads, a few of which aren't marked properly. This is easily fixed, however, so hopefully the local disc golf club has something in the works.

A really nice park in Blair. Playground, adult swings, plenty of picnic tables, grills, covered…read morepavilions great place to walk, lots of greenery, swimming pool, half-pipes for skating, nice quiet residential area. We come up here from Omaha, and it's a wonderful evening vacation.

The new maintenance guy is trying hard to bring this place back from the brink of being a complete…read moredump, but he's got a long road ahead of him. The Iowa DNR has caused/allowed Blue Lake to drop 8' - leaving it impossible to boat in the lake. And they spent YEARS literally neglecting this park. They just don't care - and it shows. What once was a beautiful and heavily used park has become a ghost town - and for good reason. Years ago it was a really nice park. Now it's not - and this is completely on the Iowa DNR.

This is a wonderful RV and tent campground. The restrooms have free showers and are clean. There…read moreis lots of exploring areas and and amazing playground for the kids. The on-site personal are friendly and helpful. Watch out for ticks in the higher grasses and bushes on the natural trails. Fishing is excellent. Pull thru sites and back ins available with full hook ups

I love this park! Tons of land and lots of things to do, for families and kids. My daughter and I…read morecome here often to use the lake and/or playground and we always have a fun time. This is one of the only parks in Omaha that considered shade when planning their play areas and benches, which I appreciate! Also a great spot for Geocaching :)

Great park for kids of a wide range of ages. Bucket swings and one small slide. Lots of climbing…read more Nice teeter totter that works for toddlers and older kids. Overall really great park with a lot of options (especially for younger kids). All of the equipment is on sand, so make sure you plan accordingly for footwear. Most kids had shoes off when we were there, but the sand would be hot in the afternoon as there isn't a ton of shade.

I was so happy to be able to attend the Christmas Midwest fest! I was so happy to see all of the…read morevendors, ice sculptures, music, and carolers. It was such a joy to be able to feel the Christmas spirit in this space. I love the skating ribbon too! There is so much to see and do in this park. I like coming here in the warmer months too just to sit and read a few pages of a book in the summer sun. I appreciate how clean this space is! It makes me want to come back again and again! I highly recommend you take a visit!

This area has been redone so wonderfully and is so fun to have outings at!…read more I don't know how to skate, personally, but it is always fun to watch others at the skate ribbon. They always have fun music playing and it looks like a lot of fun. One of our favorite family activities is to go down to the small slides and they go down to the water. The swings are also a great addition! It is a great area to leisurely walk or bring pets as walking companions.

All things are edible if you have the hunger. NAMED After the beautiful noises made by the birds…read morewho frequent this patch of vegetation. Swansong is a place to park, this the second half of the name which is named after the parking lot. So this location is half Park half Swansang. And that's how it came to be known. And it still is to this day.