Northeast Nebraska
Visiting the Elkhorn River
What to know, what to do, and where to stay nearby.
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The Elkhorn is a 290-mile prairie river that starts in the eastern Sandhills and winds southeast all the way to the Platte. By the time it reaches Neligh it is shallow and easygoing, with a peaceful flow, soft sandbars and big cottonwoods leaning over the banks. Ferncrest Elkhorn River sits right alongside it, with private guest access and riverfront seating on the eastern edge of the property, so the river is a quick walk from your campsite.
What to Do
Everything the Elkhorn River has to offer
Start right at home. Walk down from your dome to the property's riverfront seating with a coffee in hand and see what the morning brings. White-tailed deer come down to the bank, beavers work the shallows, and wood ducks and indigo buntings move through the cottonwoods. Bald eagles patrol this stretch of the valley, so keep an eye on the sky.
The fishing here is relaxed and rewarding. Channel catfish are abundant in the river's natural stretches, with largemouth and smallmouth bass holding along the banks and structure, and bluegill and green sunfish in the slower water. Northern pike, black crappie, flathead catfish and freshwater drum turn up in the wider Elkhorn too. All you need is a Nebraska fishing license, and a one-day license covers a weekend.
The river takes its time here, which makes it a lovely place to paddle and explore. Ferncrest keeps four kayaks and a double tube float on hand for guests, offered on a free will donation for a six hour window. Just ask at the camp store. It is gentle Class I water with small riffles and an easy current, and as summer goes on the sandbars start to appear, each one a perfect place to pull up, stretch out and stay a while.
The Cowboy Trail follows the river through Neligh, and it is a nine minute walk or a three minute bike ride from the domes, over the bridge on Airport Road. There is no sidewalk out there, but traffic is light, so just keep an eye out. Add a stop at Neligh Mill, the 1873 flour mill built on the Elkhorn's power, and you have a full day that never strays far from the river.
Why It's Worth the Trip
More than a pin on the map.
The best thing about the Elkhorn is how close it is. You can fish it before breakfast, paddle it after lunch and watch the light go gold on the cottonwoods before dinner, all without getting in the car. This stretch sits upstream of Nebraska's busier canoe trail, so it stays unhurried, with plenty of room to spread out and a good chance of a sandbar all to yourself on a July afternoon. For Ferncrest guests, it is nature made comfortable in its simplest form: the river at the edge of camp and a real bed a few steps back.
Seasonal Guide
Best time to visit the Elkhorn River
Spring
Snowmelt and spring rain fill the river to its fullest, and the cottonwoods leaf out along the banks. The current runs stronger and the water is cold, so spring is a beautiful season for riverside walks and watching for migrating waterbirds in the valley.
Summer
The Elkhorn's friendliest season: warm, slow and shallow. Sandbars appear as the weeks go on, and they are made for kids, camp chairs and a cooler. Take a kayak out in the morning, fish in the evening, and cool off in between.
Fall
Crisp air, fewer bugs and golden cottonwoods reflected in the water. One of the best seasons to paddle or fish. Pheasant and quail move through the grasslands, and if you are exploring public land in November, a little blaze orange is a good idea during firearm deer season, November 14 to 22.
Winter
The river slows and ice forms along its edges, making it a season for bundled-up walks and frosty views from the riverfront seating. Stroll across Neligh's swinging bridge in town, then head back to camp for the sauna and a warm fire.
Frequently asked questions
Where to Stay
Stay at Ferncrest Elkhorn River
Along the property
Some places you visit. This one you wake up next to. The Elkhorn runs along the eastern edge of Ferncrest, with private access and riverfront seating for wading, fishing and paddling, and the Cowboy Trail is a nine minute walk away. Spend the day by the water, come back for the barrel sauna and cold plunge, and end the night at your own fire pit under the cottonwoods.
