Hands down, our river access parks on the Elkhorn and Platte rivers are some of the most popular recreation spots in eastern Nebraska, especially for float trip fanatics and campers.Â
Tens of thousands come each season to tube, kayak, or canoe their way down the rivers, unwind with RV and tent camping, or enjoy the many other outdoor activities and amenities the parks offer.
No park entry fee or vehicle sticker is required.
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Our three Elkhorn River Access Parks make getting on the river for fun in the sun fast and easy. The parks are open to the public and are premiere locations for tubers, kayakers, and canoeists to conveniently start and end their float trips.
Prefer fun on shore? With prime spots to camp, fish, and picnic with the family, we’ve got you covered.
Elkhorn Crossing is located in Douglas County at the intersection of 252nd and Bennington Road. The public access park is the perfect place for river float trip enthusiasts, campers, and families wanting to enjoy outdoor activities on or off the water.
The park features a boat ramp, campground, RV sites with electrical service and water hookups, playground, picnic areas, and restrooms. For safety and environmental reasons, the park is glass-free.
The boat ramp at Elkhorn Crossing is a popular location for tubers, kayakers, and canoers to start float trips down the Elkhorn River. Many float downstream from one access park to another…or even all three. With convenient launch and landing areas at each site, you can float for a few hours or make it a full-day excursion.
Elkhorn Crossing is one of the Omaha area’s top riverfront RV and tent campsites.
The park has 10 RV sites with 30- and 50-amp electrical outlets and water hookups, and a large area for tent or group camping.
The West Maple Road Site is located near Waterloo on West Maple Road. Â
Many like to kick off their float trips from Elkhorn Crossing to the West Maple Road Access Park.
Tubing the nine river miles can take approximately 4-6 hours. Depending on how fast you paddle, canoe or kayak trips will be faster journeys.
Float times vary depending on several factors, such as your ride of choice, river flow, number of pit stops, and weather conditions. Â
The park also offers family-friendly activities such as picnicking and fishing.
Graske Crossing is located on the southeast corner of West Dodge Road and the Elkhorn River.Â
It’s common for floaters to extend their adventure, drifting further downstream from the West Maple Road Access Park to Graske Crossing.
Several factors impact float times for the 2.5 river mile journey, such as watercraft choice, river flow, number of stops, and weather conditions.
Tubing the river can take approximately 1-2 hours. Your paddling skills while canoeing or kayaking will get you down the river faster.
Families can also enjoy the river-side scenery while fishing and picnicking.
Looking for some fun on the Platte River? Platte River Landing, a 10-acre public access park, is located on the southeast or downstream corner of the Highway 64 bridge.
The park offers all the features and amenities for a relaxing family day outdoors such as a boat ramp, fishing, picnic tables, grills, playground, sand volleyball court, and restrooms.
It’s also a popular site for paddling trips to Two Rivers, Schramm Park, and Louisville state recreation areas.
High river flows occasionally force the Papio NRD to temporarily close the parks for safety purposes.
Park closures for Elkhorn River Access Parks are called for when the Elkhorn River gage at Waterloo reads a stage of four feet or greater.
Platte River Landing will close when the gage at Leshara reads seven feet or above.
River access ramps may need to be cleaned of silt, debris, and inspected for safety before reopening.
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