There’s A Little Slice Of Paradise Hiding Right Here In Nebraska… And You’ll Want To Visit
There are tons of little hidden treasures all around Nebraska – you know, those places you go on weekend family getaways that stay in your mind forever. Today, Johnson Lake State Recreation Area near Lexington has our attention. It’s easily accessible from communities in the area of Cozad, Elwood, Gothenburg, Holdrege, and Kearney. This relatively small recreation area packs a huge wallop when it comes to things to keep you and your family happily occupied. And the icing on the cake is that it also happens to be one of the loveliest places in the state.
We’re aware that these uncertain times are limiting many aspects of life as we all practice social and physical distancing. While we’re continuing to feature destinations that make our state wonderful, we don’t expect or encourage you to go check them out immediately. We believe that supporting local attractions is important now more than ever and we hope our articles inspire your future adventures! And on that note, please nominate your favorite local business that could use some love right now: https://www.onlyinyourstate.com/nominate/
There are just 68 acres of land in this recreation area, but the lake spans an impressive 2,068 acres.
While swimming and fishing are wildly popular, all types of boats are permitted on the lake as well. If you're a wildlife lover, you'll be thrilled to know that bald eagles are a very common sight at Johnson Lake.
Johnson Lake is nice and centrally located, and it's definitely worth the trek if you don't live nearby. It's one of those little hidden pieces of paradise that the guide books don't really tell you about.
Three other state recreation areas – Gallagher Canyon, Elwood Reservoir, and Plum Creek Canyon – are nearby, and the four lakes together add up to an impressive 4,000 acres of water. In the local area you can find antique shops, an 18-hole golf course, museums, restaurants, and lodging – everything you need to make a whole family vacation of visiting the area.
As a lifelong Nebraskan, Delana loves discovering the many hidden treasures of her state. She has worked as a writer and editor since 2007. Delana's work has been featured on more than a dozen websites and in Nebraska Life Magazine.
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