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Exploring Indian Cave State Park With Kids

Not far from the Missouri border in southeastern Nebraska, about 10 miles from Brownville, is the Nebraska attraction, Indian Cave State Park. It’s known for great hiking trails, but also the activities that appeal to kids.

UPDATED: This post was first written in 2014 and updated in January 2023 with up-to-date park prices, hours and activities.

Looking for things to do at the Nebraska state park, Indian Cave State Park? Here are the great things to do there, especially with kids. #guide #Nebraska #statepark #familytravel

A little off the beaten path, this gorgeous park is located near the Missouri River and is known for its namesake, Indian Cave. For a detailed history, head to the Journal Star. If you’ve been to the Loess Hills in southwest Iowa, this park will have a familiar feel to it given that it is, in fact set in the Loess Hills (new fact for me, I didn’t think Nebraska could claim Loess Hills).

Indian Cave, one of the attractions of this Nebraska state park.
Indian Cave, one of the attractions of this Nebraska state park.

There are lots of campsites – and backcountry camping is allowed – so Mr. Wonderful and I decided we may just come back in the fall to camp here. With a park map in hand, that’s where we headed to first. Having only seen one picture of the park, I honestly expected the cave to be cavernous. Something we could walk in and explore. Maybe it’s the “Goonies” fan in me.

What we saw, then, was a disappointment.

Indian Cave State Park - The name sake of the park, Indian Cave, is not something people can enter. Here's the cave, which you can see from a wooden walkway.
Here’s the cave, which you can see from a wooden walkway.

The graffiti couldn’t be ignored. It covered the walls of this landmark. Plus, it turned out it’s a cave you can’t enter and it’s not that deep. Farley and I did attempt to find the prehistoric petroglyphs of animals on the wall amid the graffiti.

Looking for prehistoric cave drawings.
Looking for prehistoric cave drawings.

We both lost interest quickly and headed back to the car, where a sleeping Mooch and bored Mr. Wonderful waited. Onward into the park we drove.

We made a pitstop to play in an ancient park. The hypochondriac in me didn’t like the chipping paint and sharp metal edges on the playground equipment but the kids loved the place.

Playground at Indian Cave State Park in southeastern Nebraska
Can’t drive past a park without stopping to play, now can we?

The swings were a hit.

Our next stop was at the Living History cabins. The resident soap maker, blacksmith, candle maker and broom maker are there on Saturdays and Sundays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (from Memorial Day into October).

Being fans of living history experiences, finding these re-enactors was a nice surprise for our family.

The friendly soap maker, part of the living history experience at Indian Cave State Park.
The friendly candle maker.

We arrived near 4 p.m. and so did a quick run through the area.

The cabin was the most interesting to the children.

The living history cabins and display booths are open weekends during the summer.
The living history cabins and display booths are open weekends during the summer.

Our final stop was a scenic overlook. We watched five raptors soar in the wind.

The view of the river is quite nice.

A scenic lookout at Indian Cave State Park.
A scenic lookout at Indian Cave State Park.

It was peaceful, until Mooch broke out into “Let It Go” and Farley interrupted my brief history lesson by asking when the aliens came.

I think we were all ready to call it a day.

There is a lot more to explore in the park, so we’ll return someday soon.

More Indian Cave State Park Activities

Since our first visit was just one day, we did not get to enjoy all the activities the state park has to offer. We’ve returned another time (the fall at Indian Cave State Park is beautiful) and discovered a few more things! Here are a few of the fun things families can do at Indian Cave State Park:

– Horseback trail rides are available in season. Kids ages 6 and older can do the trail rides at Indian Cave State Park. Trail rides are $18 per rider.

– There is a restored schoolhouse and general store from the old river town of St. Deroin, where old-time crafts are demonstrated on weekends during the summer.

A family and their dog on a trail at Indian Cave State Park in the fall

– Indian Cave State Park holds Christmas in the July every year on the last Saturday of July. Meet Santa Claus, go on horse-drawn sleigh rides, listen to storytellers and watch a Christmas movie outdoors.

– Halloween is celebrated throughout October. Expect hayrack rides on certain dates, as well as a haunted forest called Haunted Hollow. After hearing the soapmaker describe it (The Headless Horseman makes an appearance with a chainsaw), I’d suggest only older kids go to it! The Haunted Hollow hayrack ride is $8 for adults and $6 for children.

– Each spring, the state park has the Outdoor Adventure. Held on the last Saturday in April, there are family activities, including a fun run, hayrack rides and cooking demonstrations.

– Primitive and RV camping is allowed at Indian Cave State Park. If you’re more of a cabin-type of a “camper” (like me), you’ll want to visit a different Nebraska State Park.

If you go

Indian Cave State Park

Where: 65296 720 Road, Shubert,  Neb.

Park admission: A valid Nebraska State Parks permit is required. It’s $30 annually (if you’re a resident), or you can pay $6 for a single day admission.

Website

Getting to Indian Cave State Park from Omaha

Here are the directions to get to Indian Cave State Park from Omaha: South on Highway 75, East on Highway 136 (9 miles), South on Highway 67 (9 miles), East on Highway 64E (5 miles).

Or you can take Interstate I-29 South, take Exit 110 to Brownville. Follow US-136 West (7 miles), South on NE-67 S (9 miles),  East on NE-64E (5 miles). Continue on NE-64F Recreation Road and you’ll get there.

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Jen

Wednesday 17th of June 2015

So glad I decided to check Pinterest and subsequently found your blog. We are a homeschooling family learning about caves and I was hoping Indian Cave State Park would be a great place to go for a day trip to explore caves. We were up at Wind Cave in South Dakota two years ago, but both my children are too young to remember it. Thanks for sharing that the cave is a bit of a disappointment. We will probably visit another t time as it does seem they have some fun, interesting things to do.

Kim

Wednesday 17th of June 2015

I'm glad you found it helpful! It's true, you won't be going inside a cave when you visit Indian Cave, but I suppose if you're studying pictographs, it'd be interesting. :) Incidentally, we're headed up to South Dakota this summer and Wind Cave is on our list to visit! Would you say the shortest tour there is OK for young kids?

mia

Monday 30th of March 2015

I was so excited at first when you said caves and a day trip. I grew up in the black hills where there is numerous walk through caves. I inagined a whole trip and day so i could show my kids what i grew up around before i read the article. Now kind of sad to see no real caves but still looks like a nice place.

Kim

Monday 30th of March 2015

I feel your pain. It's definitely not the walk-through cave I was hoping for, but at least we discovered some unexpected gems in the park.

Mindy

Friday 25th of July 2014

it's a bummer I was thinking of taking my kids there... it's so commercialized now... (no bordwalk before) we hiked up high and found a cave we could crawl in and crawl backwards out of plus when we went they had an Indian festival of sorts which I've heard they still do.

Kim

Saturday 26th of July 2014

I didn't know there were more caves to be found there. As far as commercialization, I didn't get that sense, but then again, it was all new to me. I have no idea how it once was.

Gretchen Garrison

Wednesday 23rd of July 2014

So very pretty! We have not been down there yet - we definitely need to make that happen! I really like your highlight section at the end - will definitely reference that before we head down there!

Kim

Wednesday 23rd of July 2014

I think we were lucky to have such an odd spring and early summer - it made for a really lush forest down there. We didn't even get to explore any of the trails, so we'll be back.

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