Open
Open year-round, first-come, first-served. No potable water available. Access roads are unpaved gravel and become difficult to drive when wet.
About
Located on the Oglala National Grassland in northwestern Nebraska, Toadstool Geologic Park Campground provides access to one of the most scientifically significant geological sites in the region. The landscape formed from volcanic ash and river deposits 24 to 38 million years ago, creating the narrow clay pedestals topped with sandstone slabs that give the park its name. Geologists consider this the type section for the White River Geologic Group, meaning all similar-aged deposits in North America are compared to this standard.
The campground offers 12 primitive sites, each equipped with a picnic table, fire ring, and upright grill. Two accessible vault toilets serve the area. There is no potable water, so campers must bring their own supply. The gravel access roads become very difficult when wet, so visiting during dry conditions is recommended.
Three hiking trails depart from the campground trailhead. A one-mile interpretive loop highlights the eroded formations and geology. The Bison Trail continues 3 miles to the Hudson-Meng Education and Research Center, which houses an important Bison antiquus bonebed. A 5-mile loop connects through the Great Plains Trail network. Near the campground, a sod house reconstructed by the Forest Service in 1984 offers insight into homesteader life on the grasslands.
Directions
From Hot Springs, SD: Take Highway 71 south 37 miles to Toadstool Road. Follow Toadstool Road 11.4 miles to FS Road 902, then continue 1.4 miles to the campground. From Crawford, NE: 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 the campground.
