Ponca State Park

Ponca State Park
Nebraska State Park
Named for: the Ponca people

Country	United States
State	Nebraska
County	Dixon

Location	Ponca
- elevation	1,161 ft (354 m) ^[1]
- coordinates	42°36′18″N 96°43′12″W / 42.60500°N 96.72000°W / 42.60500; -96.72000Coordinates: 42°36′18″N 96°43′12″W / 42.60500°N 96.72000°W / 42.60500; -96.72000

Area	2,400 acres (971 ha)

Founded	1934 ^[2]
Management	Nebraska Game and Parks Commission

Location of Ponca State Park in Nebraska

Ponca State Park is a state park of Nebraska, USA, situated among the high bluffs and forested steep hills along the banks of the Missouri River. It is located 2 miles (3.2 km) north of Ponca in northeastern Nebraska. The park is adjacent to the Missouri National Recreational River. Originally created in 1934 from 200 acres (81 ha) of donated land, Ponca State Park and the town of Ponca itself are named after the Ponca tribe, who inhabited the area before European settlement, and whose chief, Standing Bear, won a celebrated court battle to have the Indian declared a "person" under U.S. law.^[3]

Natural history

The park is noted for its biodiversity. Eastern woodland flowers such as bloodroot, Canada Violet, phlox and sweet cicely can be found growing among prairie plants, including yucca, clover, and larkspur. The wild plum and gooseberry thickets were also noted by the Lewis and Clark Expedition, who passed these bluffs with their Corps of Discovery in the summer of 1804. Forested ravines and hillsides contain bur oak, basswood, elm, black walnut and hackberry. White-tailed deer and wild turkey are commonly seen. Coyotes, red and gray foxes, raccoons and bobcats might also be spotted. This area is also known for the concentrations of waterfowl that congregate during the spring and fall migrations. The barred owl is a vocal resident, and wintering bald eagles are often sighted. Many miles of trails wind through the deep ravines and over the windswept hilltop ridges of the park.^[3]

Features

Ponca State Park features the Three State Overlook, a scenic blufftop overlook from which guests may view the states of Nebraska, Iowa, and South Dakota. The park headquarters is a newer building containing a dining hall, gift shop, and interactive museum about Missouri River and its history. A fishing pond near park headquarters contains a variety of fish species. It has a newly built bridge along the south side and guests can fish from any side. The park contains the Oak Bluff and Turkey Ridge Campgrounds which are designated for recreational vehicles. There are also several refurbished cabins which campers may rent for a weekend. A swimming pool is available for both the campers and public north of the headquarters.

References

↑ "Ponca State Park". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey. 1979-03-09. Retrieved 2011-04-30.
↑ "Ponca State Park". Nebraska State Historical Society. 2004-06-04. Retrieved 2011-04-30.
1 2 "Ponca State Park". OutdoorPlaces.com. Retrieved 2011-04-30.

External links

Ponca State Park Nebraska Game and Parks Commission

Protected areas of Nebraska

Federal

National Monuments	Agate Fossil Beds Homestead Scotts Bluff

National Historic Trails	California Trail Lewis & Clark Trail Mormon Trail Oregon Trail Pony Express Trail

National Wildlife Refuges	Boyer Chute Crescent Lake DeSoto Fort Niobrara John and Louise Seier Karl E. Mundt North Platte Rainwater Basin Valentine

National Forests	Nebraska Samuel R. McKelvie

National Grasslands	Oglala

USFS National Recreation Areas	Pine Ridge

National Wilderness	Fort Niobrara Soldier Creek

Wild and Scenic Rivers	Missouri Niobrara

State

State Parks	Chadron Eugene T. Mahoney Fort Robinson Indian Cave Niobrara Platte River Ponca Smith Falls

State Historical Parks	Ashfall Fossil Beds Ash Hollow Arbor Lodge Bowring Ranch Buffalo Bill Ranch Fort Atkinson Fort Hartsuff Fort Kearny Rock Creek Station

State Recreation Areas	Alexandria Arnold Atkinson Lake Blue River Bluestem Bowman Lake Box Butte Reservoir Branched Oak Bridgeport Brownville Calamus Champion Lake Cheyenne Conestoga Cottonmill Crystal Lake Dead Timber DLD Enders Reservoir Fort Kearny Fremont Lakes Gallagher Canyon Johnson Lake Keller Park Lake Maloney Lake McConaughy Lake Minatare Lake Ogallala Lewis and Clark Long Lake Long Pine Louisville Medicine Creek Memphis Merritt Reservoir Mormon Island North Loup Olive Creek Oliver Reservoir Pawnee Lake Pelican Point Pibel Lake Pioneer Red Willow Reservoir Riverview Marina Rock Creek Lake Rock Creek Station Rockford Sandy Channel Schramm Park Sherman Reservoir Stagecoach Summit Lake Sutherland Reservoir Swanson Reservoir Two Rivers Union Pacific Verdon Victoria Springs Wagon Train Walgren Lake War Axe Wildcat Hills Willow Creek Windmill

State Recreation Trails	Cowboy Trail

Nebraska Game and Parks Commission (web)

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