Nebraska National Forest

The Nebraska National Forests and Grasslands are located in central and western Nebraska and central and western South Dakota. This area is made up of 2 national forests, 3 national grasslands, a tree nursery, and is host to a Job Corps facility. There is an unusual combination of the native ponderosa pine forest of the Nebraska and Samuel R. McKelvie National Forests and mixed grass prairies on the Buffalo Gap, Fort Pierre, and Oglala National Grasslands. Hand-planted forests (Bessey Ranger District and Samuel R. McKelvie National Forest) within the Nebraska Sandhills with their combined grassland and forest are unique to the National Forest System. And finally, Charles E. Bessey Nursery, the nation's oldest federal tree nursery, rounds out this interesting and challenging combination known as the Nebraska National Forests and Grasslands. A variety of recreation and natural resources makes this a perfect place to explore and enjoy your National Forests! Directions: From Dunning, NE, take State Rt. 2 west 10 miles to Halsey, NE. Continue west on Rt. 2 for 1.1 miles to Nebraska Recreation Area sign (State Spur 86B). Turn left onto State Spur 86B and go 0.2 miles to campground entrance.