ABOUT MERRITT RESERVOIR STATE RECREATION AREA, WEST BEED’S CAMPGROUND:
“Situated in a narrow, picturesque valley of the Snake River, Merritt Reservoir State Recreation Area (SRA) is 26 miles southwest of Valentine in Nebraska’s unique Sandhills. The reservoir covers 2,906 surface acres & has 44 miles of shoreline. It can store 74,486 acre-feet of water & irrigates approximately 34,539 acres of farmland. Built for irrigation by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, the dam was completed in May of 1964. The earth-structure dam stands 108 feet high with a crest length of 3,222 feet.” from Nebraska Game Parks 2019 brochure.
Within the SRA there are 9 campgrounds as follows:
Beed’s Landing – 10 electric and 10 no-hook-up campsites, all first-come, first-served.
Boardman Creek – 10 electric and 11 no-hook-up campsites, reservations accepted in season.
West Beed’s – 10 electric and 1 no-hook-up campsite, reservations accepted in season.
Cedar Bay – 38 electric and 8 no-hook-up campsites, some first-come, first served, and some reservations accepted in season.
Willow Cove – 21 electric and 12 no-hook-up campsites, all first-come, first-served.
Lone Tree – 4 no-hook-up campsites, all first-come, first-served.
Cottonwood – 13 no-hook-up campsites, all first-come, first-served.
Pines – 3 no-hook-up campsites, all first-come, first-served.
Snake River – 22 no-hook-up campsites, all first-come, first-served.
There is a dump station and potable water is available at the Main Area when you first enter the SRA at the north entrance. Most of the campgrounds have at least one boat launch. All campgrounds except Lone Tree and Pines have restrooms; showers are available at Cedar Bay and Willow Cove campgrounds. The cost for a campsite is $30 per night for electric sites and $15 per night for a no-hook-up site, PLUS a valid Nebraska park entry pass is required for all vehicles entering Merritt Reservoir SRA or any other Nebraska state park area. Permits run $12 per day or $61 annually. This is IN ADDITION to the $30 or $15 per night campground fee. Permits can be purchased at the Merritt Dam Trading Post which is located at the east end of the dam, or from Nebraska Game and Parks permitting offices, area concession or statewide permit vendors, or online at www.outdoornebraska.org.
We chose site T at West Beed’s Campground and loved it. It was a large, private campsite nestled between trees and bushes on a hill overlooking the Reservoir with a path to a sandy beach. It had electrical hook-ups. It was first-come, first-served so we just grabbed the campsite early since it was empty. For reservations, check-in time is 4 p.m. and check-out time is noon. The only town of any size was Valentine, about 30 minutes from the campground. East of Valentine was Fort Niobrara National Wildlife Refuge (bison) and southeast of the campground was Valentine National Wildlife Refuge (white pelicans).
Merritt Reservoir State Recreation Area, West Beed’s Campground: Merritt Reservoir State Recreation Area is located 26 miles southwest of Valentine, NE. Nebraska Highway 97 runs along the reservoir and West Beed’s Campground is one of 8 State Recreation Area campgrounds that line the reservoir. The Merritt Reservoir SRA offers reservations in season for half of the campsites up to one year in advance of arrival. The remaining campsites are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Check availability and make reservations online at www.outdoornebraska.org or contact the reservation call center at (402) 471-1414, Monday-Friday 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Central Time. Closed on holidays. Or for information about the Reservoir, contact (402) 376-3320 or e-mail ngpc.merritt@nebraska.gov.
- 2022 – 10/09-10/15