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Northwest Nebraska is known for its outdoor recreation opportunities. Sports Afield magazine recently named Chadron as one of its 50 best outdoor sports towns for two years in a row focusing on mountain biking and recreation trails.

Other recreation opportunities include Chadron State Park, Fort Robinson State Park, Nebraska National Forest, and Nebraska National Grasslands.

Chadron itself manages 5 municipal parks within the city limits and has one of the highest ratios of parkland per capita in the state. Facilities include outdoor cooking grills, picnic tables, playground equipment, horseshoe pits, and rest rooms. Baseball, softball and soccer fields cover an additional 30 acres.

Crawford has two parks with picnic tables, playground equipment, horseshoe pits, sand volleyball, tennis courts and a basketball court. Other Crawford recreational opportunities include rodeo grounds, a rifle range, a historical museum, antique and specialty shops, and innumerous trails. There is also fishing at Carter P. Johnson Lake, Grable and Ice Ponds as well as Whitney Lake. Hunting includes deer, antelope, pheasant, turkey, bighorn sheep, and elk.

Recreational Opportunities

Boating Whitney Lake, Box Butte Reservoir, and Angostura Lake
Bowling Two bowling alleys, one in Crawford and one in Chadron
Fishing Excellent fishing for trout, perch, bass, walleye, and catfish in nearby streams, lakes, and rivers
Golf Two public 9-hole grass greens courses with clubhouses
Hunting Pheasant, turkey, deer, antelope, and small game
Skating Indoor roller skating rink
Swimming Outdoor pools in Chadron, Crawford, and Chadron State Park, an indoor heated pool at Ft. Robinson State Park, and an indoor pool at Chadron State College
Tennis Three lighted courts in Chadron, and one court at Chadron State Park
Theaters Four-screen theater complex seating 370

Annual Events

January
-- Agricultural Appreciation Banquet
February
 
March
-- KCSR Spring Preview (Trade Show)
April
-- Chadron State College Rodeo
-- Chadron Festival of Quilts
-- Earth Day/Sweep Chadron Clean
June
-- June Days at Fort Robinson
-- Intertribal Gathering at Fort Robinson
-- High School Rodeo in Crawford
-- City-Wide Yard Sale at Crawford
July
-- 4th of July Celebration in Crawford
-- Peabody Hale Fiddle Contest in Crawford
-- Fur Trade Days (2nd weekend in July) Quasquicentennial in 2010
August
-- Senior Pro Rodeo at Crawford
-- Dawes County Fair
September
-- Custom Car Cruiser’s Car Show
-- Rock Swap at Crawford
October
-- Miss Chadron/Miss Northwest Pageant
-- Feast of the Hunter’s Moon
-- Toy Run at Crawford
-- Pine Ridge Wild Turkey Hunt
November
-- Pine Bough Bazaar
-- Fireman’s Ball at Crawford
December
-- Fort Robinson State Park Historical Christmas Dinner
-- Parade of Lights
-- Boxing Day at Agate Fossil Beds National Monument
Non-Specific Month
-- Easter Egg Hunt (both Chadron & Crawford)
-- Hunting Seasons

Recreation programs include Little League baseball and softball, men’s and women’s softball, T-ball, and soccer.

Chadron and Crawford are unique in Nebraska for their close proximity to nearly 175,000 acres of public lands consisting of national forest, national grassland, and state wildlife management areas. These lands are open for everyone to use and enjoy. The US Forest Service maintains nearly a hundred miles of trails on the Nebraska National Forest that are used by hikers, horseback riders, and mountain bikers. The Forest Service also administers two popular attractions on the Oglala National Grassland--Toadstool Geologic Park and Hudson-Meng Bison Kill Site and Visitor Center.

Chadron State Park and Fort Robinson State Park are Nebraska’s oldest and largest state parks, respectively. Soldier Creek Wilderness, Nebraska’s only congressionally designated wilderness, is adjacent to Fort Robinson State Park.
Last Updated ( Wednesday, 03 March 2010 )
 
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