Ponca is Nebraska’s river park, and it leans into it. The park sits on the bluffs above one of the last wild, unchannelized stretches of the Missouri River, with two boat ramps and three miles of river access for anglers and paddlers. The Three State Overlook lives up to its name — Nebraska, Iowa, and South Dakota in one view — and the Old Oak Trail passes a bur oak that was already old when the Pilgrims landed (it dates to 1644).
It’s also the most programmed park in the system: daily summer education programs, the Eric Wiebe Shooting Complex (archery to atlatl), a 9-hole golf course, an aquatic center, and the Missouri River Outdoor Expo, which lets thousands of visitors try kayaking, archery, and fishing free of charge.
The lodging is the fun part — the Green Cabins are built with straw bales, and the mini-lodges sleep groups. Book a year out for peak summer weekends; this park is deservedly popular.