Best Rural Activities

Cure for the summertime blues:  Harlan County Lake

Remember winter? It is, after all, right around the corner again.

If that by itself is not enough to enhance your appreciation for high summer on the Great Plains, a trip to Harlan County Lake should probably be on your immediate agenda. Whatever stirs your summertime soul, this area of south-central Nebraska likely offers it.

Imagine, just for starters, tubing down a cool river, holding tight to an even cooler drink or just trailing your hand in the passing water, gazing quiet and lazy at the cloudless blue sky above while the river gently turns your rubber version of an easy-chair. The Republican River below the Harlan County reservoir provides some of the best tubing available in the state during water releases from the dam, which have been common in the last couple of years. Conditions change rapidly, though, so contact the Corps of Engineers right before your trip to find out if water releases are taking place.

The Corps also offers free tours of the dam every Sunday of summer at 2:00 p.m., another "cool" and eye-opening option, this one also suitable for the slightly less adventurous.

There are nine established campgrounds around the lake, two swimming beaches at Cedar Point and Gremlin Cove, four boat docks currently in operation, and marinas at both Patterson Harbor and North Shore. Visitors enjoy sailing, water skiing, jet-skiing, and the Harlan Yacht club holds organized on-the-water events throughout the summer.

But the fishing...oh, the fishing. Harlan Lake is known by those who know as providing one of the most fantastic fishing experiences not only in Nebraska but around the Midwest. Harlan is famous for walleye but is also rich in wipers, large mouth bass, white bass, crappie, catfish, and Northern pike. Strike up a conversation about fishing at either marina or at any of the nearby lounges, bait shops, restaurants...or, well, practically anywhere...and you are likely to be treated to a few juicy local fishing tips and not just a few tales of heroic local fishing adventures.

Landlubbers need not be concerned that they might be left out of the fun at the lake, either. There are beautiful trails for walking, bike riding, and horseback riding, and a newly completed, professionally designed ATV trail winds through 470-acres of diverse landscape just southeast of the dam. Nicely maintained nine-hole golf courses are available, birdwatching continues to grow in popularity as a year-round activity at the lake and along the Republican River, and area towns are dotted with unique small retail businesses, antique stores, libraries and museums.

Lodging options in Harlan County range from primitive camping to beachy cabins to B&B's to traditional motels, and local town festivals are scheduled periodically throughout the summer, along with diverse special events ranging from annual off-road mud drags to occasional shows at the area's only live theatre. 

So really, there's no excuse for not having a little fun in the summertime, while you still can, now is there?

O.K., yes, it's hot. Maybe a little humid, too. That's why beach chairs don't come equipped with blankets, which we will all need to pull back out of the cedar chests soon enough as it is. Remember?

How to find fun at Harlan County Lake

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers at Harlan County Lake
70788 Corps Road A
Republican City
308-799-2105

Harlan Yacht Club: 
308-995-6609

Patterson Harbor Marina
South side of Harlan Lake
12121 Corps Road 3
Republican City
308-799-4600
www.pattersonharbor.com

North Shore Marina
North side of Harlan Lake
70738 Lake View
Republican City
308-799-2315
www.harlanlake.com

Alma Municipal Golf Course
Highway 183, Alma
www.almaisforyou.com
308-928-2341

Oxford Country Club
Country Club Drive, Oxford
www.oxfordnebraska.com
308-824-3643

Birdwatching: 
www.chickendancetrail.com

Harlan County Tourism
311 Main Street, Alma
800-762-5498

Cedar Run ATV Trail
"Call Before You Haul" hotline: 308-799-2105

Guide to country and small town events and entertainment

Fresh, funky, rugged and fun describe what we do for entertainment in Southwest and South Central Nebraska.  Whatever your interests – festivals, rodeos, car shows, marathons, fishing contests, bird watching, carnivals, county fairs, art galleries, theatre or music – you’ll find it happening here. Listed below are links to some of our favorite places to find fun things to do.

Auto racing in McCook.
www.mccookspeedway.com

Events in Alma and Harlan County Lake
www.almaisforyou.com/events.asp

Fishing by Kayakjak in Benkelman
www.kayakjak.com

Graham Gallery of Fine Art in Hastings
www.grahamgallery.com

Horse events and rodeo in McCook
www.kiplingerarena.com

Performing arts and art gallery in Red Cloud
www.willacather.org

Performing arts in Holdrege
www.thetassel.org

Performing arts, art gallery in Minden
www.mindenoperahouse.com

Tri-City Storm semi-pro ice hockey
www.pickmytickets.com

Visit Nebraska Wineries
www.vintagenebraska.org

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