- Hiking
- Historical exhibits
- Hunting
- Picnicking
State Historical Park
4265 Highway 26 | Lewellen, NE 69147-0070
Sweet spring water made Ash Hollow State Historical Park near Lewellen a major stopover on the Oregon and California trails and prompted prehistoric indigenous peoples to use it, too. Ruts etched by west-bound wagons are still visible on the bluffs. Today, the area’s beauty and sweeping vistas continue to make this area a popular destination for vacationers and travelers. The history, archaeology and paleontology of the area are interpreted at the visitor center, Ash Hollow Cave, exhibits and structures. Park grounds are open 8 a.m. to sunset year-round.
Local residents place worn out cowboy boots on fence posts along Highway 26 at Ash Hollow State Historical Park in Garden County. Eric Fowler, Nebraskaland Magazine/Nebraska Game and Parks Commission.
Grasses and a juniper sapling grow from the rocks protruding from the juniper-covered bluff overlooking the North Platte River at Ash Hollow State Historical Park. The rocks were formed by sediments carried east from the Rocky Mountains before the Ice Age and were dubbed the Ash Hollow Formation by a geologist in 1850s. High flows in the river were causing lowland flooding. Eric Fowler, Nebraskaland Magazine/Nebraska Game and Parks Commission.
The annual Ash Hollow Pageant at Ash Hollow State Historical Park, first held in 1967 in conjunction with the Nebraska Centennial each year since 1993. The pageant is a whimsical and serious look at life on the trail with skits, songs and readings from pioneer diaries. Eric Fowler, Nebraska Game and Parks Commission
The spring fed stream flowing through Ash Hollow State Historical Park is what drew pioneers to stop in the area while traveling the Oregon Trail. Eric Fowler, Nebraskaland Magazine/Nebraska Game and Parks Commission
A family visits the Oregon Trail historic marker on Windlass Hill at Ash Hollow State Historical Park in Garden County. Eric Fowler, Nebraskaland Magazine/Nebraska Game and Parks Commission.
For several thousand years, early peoples camped near Ash Hollow Cave. One of the latest groups identified was the Dismal River People, ancestors of the Plains Apache. Less than 100 years after the Dismal River People left the area, white settlers began to explore the area. Archaeologists have studied the cave and identified several groups of people who used the cave over thousands of years. An interpretive center has been built over the entrance of Ash Hollow Cave to protect it while allowing visitors to experience its unique features.
Other attractions at Ash Hollow include a rock schoolhouse, the Ash Hollow Cemetery and Windlass Hill, where swales or depression from wagons traveling on the Oregon-California Trail are still visible. The area also offers birdwatching and wildlife viewing opportunities.
Ash Hollow State Historical Park offers nine miles of hiking on four different trails. Among the most popular trails is the path that leads visitors to the crest of Windlass Hill, where the deep ruts carved by thousands of covered wagons are still visible.
Ash Hollow got its reputation as an oasis stopover for pioneers on their journey west. Still true today, Ash Hollow is an ideal spot for a picnic with friends and family. The park grounds have 28 picnic tables available, along with five grills.
Ash Hollow State Historical Park offers several special events each year. Signature events include a Kids’ Fishing Day and Ash Hollow Bioblitz in the spring, along with Ash Hollow Rendezvous and Halloween in the Hollow during the fall.
The Visitor Center is situated on a bluff overlooking the hollow and the Overland Trail. The center houses a display of pioneer history, American Indian history, as well as geologic and paleontologic history. The cave and schoolhouse also are open for tours during the same hours as the visitor center.
A park entry permit is required and may be purchased at the park, statewide Game and Parks offices and permit vendors or in advance of your arrival online at GoOutdoorsNE.com.
Boating, fishing and camping are available at Lake McConaughy and Lake Ogallala state recreation areas. Crescent Lake National Wildlife Refuge and Clear Creek Wildlife Management Area offer top-notch hunting. Chimney Rock National Historic Site interprets the history of one of the most famous landmarks on the Oregon, California and Mormon Trails.
Ash Hollow State Historical Park may rented for your wedding or other event.
Park Pricing
A park entry permit is required to visit state parks and may be purchased at the park, statewide Game and Parks offices and permit vendors, or in advance of your arrival online. View those fees, as well as attraction and amenity pricing.
Park Events
Our 76 gorgeous state park and recreations areas host a plethora of events throughout the year. From bird hikes to kayak races, Living History events to family outdoor days, our parks host something fun for every outdoor enthusiast.