Indian Cave State Park - Falls City, Nebraska - State Park

Indian Cave State Park is located 10 miles south of the junction of U.S Highway 136 and Nebraska Highway 67 west of Brownville, then five miles east on Nebraska Spur 64E. The park is also situated on the banks of the Missouri River with hardwood forest and hills overlooking this wide and winding river. The kiosk entrance booth is open 8am to 9pm Sunday to Thursday and 8am to 10pm Friday and Saturday.

Indian Cave State Park covers an area of 3,052 acres and is a popular site for camping, hiking and backpacking, nature and wilderness activities as well as housing 312 picnic tables. There are approximately 22 miles of hiking and mountain bike trails at the park, where visitors can see a variety of hardwood trees, shrubs and other flora. Many believe the fall season provides the most spectacular views for visitors with the beautiful colors of the trees.

The trail system consists of 11 numbered tracks forming a series of loops in mainly moderate to difficult terrain. The trails traverse the oak hardwood forest with steep ravines cutting into the bluffs along the Missouri River, providing glimpses of the surrounding ridges and the wide Missouri River floodplain to the east. There are some challenging steep climbs and descents, occasional obstacles, wet areas and erosion making the trails quite difficult for hikers and mountain bikers.

There is also approximately 16 miles of horse trails with an established horse camp for private horses, although owners are advised to bring their own drinking water for themselves and the horses. Boaters also have access to the river with a ramp provided for the vessels, whilst there is also the option of putting in at nearby Brownville SRA. Fishing on the river bank is also a popular pastime with various fish types such as catfish, bass, bullheads, carp and occasionally sturgeon found here.

The park has something for people interested in history as well, as it is believed that Indian Cave has existed for several thousand years. It is a natural formation with ancient Indian pictures carved into the walls but little is known about its cultural origin and history. Visitors can also see the reconstructed mid-19th Century river settlement known as St. Deroin, which was the first town site in Nemaha County and contains a restored schoolhouse and general store, where historic crafts are demonstrated on weekends during the summer.

Campers are welcome at the park with some camp sites available on a first come, first served basis with stays limited to 14 days, whilst there are some sites that can be reserved up to one year in advance. The RV campground can handle 134 units with 30-amp electrical hookups, although 22 of these also have 50-amp and is open May to October or longer depending on the weather conditions. Tent camping is permitted all year round with the camping area spilling over into the scenic hills, and there are showers, a water hydrant, electrical hookups, grills and ground-level fire rings available too.