Wildcat Hills State Recreation Area is 1,094 acres of wilderness that's different from any other scenery and wildlife you'd see in Nebraska. Situated high on a rocky escarpment in the Wildcat Hills, the park offers visitors a chance to explore rugged topography and evergreen-studded canyons.
The biggest draw of Wildcat Hills State Recreation Area is the 3.5 miles of trails. Hikers, bikers, and horseback riders can all take to these trails to discover some astounding views of North Platt River Valley, and maybe spot some unexpected animals and plants along the way, like the bighorn sheep who call this area home.
When asked what her favorite part of the trail is, Outdoor Education Specialist Amanda Filipi couldn't choose. There are just too many, and there's a path for everyone. Turkey Run is a popular trail that's a little over a mile. It takes visitors through canyons and valleys, with elevations up to 5,000 feet. And then, the Monument View Trail offers a beautiful view of the Scotts Bluff National Monument.
“Our park teaches people to slow down, take it all in. Being outdoors really helps create a sense of place,” said Filipi. “People might not know what's in their own backyard. Kids who come out on a field trip can name animals that live in the rainforest, but they don't know what's in their own state.”
Bighorn sheep graze the Wildcat Hills south of McGrew. [Photo/NEBRASKAland Magazine/Nebraska Game and Parks Commission]
Amongst all of the evergreens, grasses, and spring wildflowers, visitors could possibly spot a moose. The area is also the site of Nebraska's first documented northern saw-whet owl nest. Mule deer, white-tailed deer, wild turkey, bobcat, coyote, and prairie rattlesnakes also call Wildcat Hills their home. The abundance of wildlife also makes the park an excellent place to bird watch, especially thanks to their well-stocked feeders.
Filipi has been working at Wildcat Hills for nine years, leading groups through outdoor cooking tutorials and helping them spot bighorn sheep. Growing up in central Nebraska, the unique wildlife and topography have continued to astonish her. The area just looks unlike any other place in the state.
But one animal that has stood out to Filipi over the years are the honeybees. In the basement of the park's Nature Center is a live beehive. Observing the bee's activities and watching programs on the hive have helped Filipi learn a lot about how bees work and the hive's intricate and complex dynamic to the ecosystem.
The Nature Center serves as Wildcat Hills’ headquarters. Each year, thousands of children visit the center to participate in educational programs or self-guided tours of the various displays.
“These activities can give children a feel for what's out there. Animals can be very secretive. So this allows them to see the species up close at the Center,” explained Filipi. “Children can learn what role the animals play in our ecosystem.”
With touch tables and microscopes, the Nature Center is an immersive experience for children who want to feel closer to the nature around them. There are also some prehistoric animal displays as well, which show off the various species that once lived in the area, discovered along Highway 71.
The Wildcat Hills is a serene environment like no other. It's a chance to escape into a unique landscape that can't be found anywhere else. To become immersed in wildlife with no interruption. And to maybe spot a moose.
Wildcat Hills offers primitive camping sites along the interior trail roads.
Destinations, Fun, Nebraska, Outdoors, Parks & Recreation, Wildlife