Open
— Open year-round, first-come, first-served. Day use fee charged May through mid-November. Access road is unpaved gravel; use caution in muddy conditions.
About
Located in the remote northwestern corner of Nebraska, Toadstool Geologic Park Campground offers a unique camping experience within an otherworldly badlands landscape. The campground's name derives from the narrow clay pedestals topped with sandstone slabs that resemble mushrooms, scattered throughout the surrounding terrain. Geologists consider this site the type section for the White River Geologic Group, meaning all similar-aged deposits in North America are compared to the geological standard here.
The campground features 12 developed sites with picnic tables, fire rings, and upright grills. A reconstructed sod house built in 1984 near the original 1929 homestead site provides historical context for early prairie settlers who used the only abundant building material available. Three hiking trails of varying difficulty leave from the trailhead: a one-mile interpretive loop showcasing eroded formations, the Bison Trail extending 3 miles to Hudson-Meng Education and Research Center, and a five-mile loop incorporating the Great Plains Trail network that spans from Guadalupe National Park to the Canadian border.
The landscape preserves scientifically valuable fossil deposits from 38 to 24 million years ago, formed by volcanic ash and alluvial river deposits. Access requires navigating unpaved gravel roads that can become challenging in muddy conditions. The remote location offers minimal shade, no cell service, and views stretching to the Pine Ridge and South Dakota's Black Hills.
Directions
From Hot Springs, SD: Take Highway 71 south 37 miles to Toadstool Road intersection. Follow Toadstool Road 11.4 miles to FS Road 902, then continue 1.4 miles to campground. From Crawford, NE: From Highway 20 and Highway 2 intersection, take Highway 2 north 4.2 miles to Toadstool Road. Follow Toadstool Road 11.4 miles to FS Road 902, then continue 1.4 miles to campground.
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