Nebraska National Forest, Bessey Ranger District — Attraction in Broken Bow

Amazing place! There are "normal" camping spots here. The ones you find at any of the Nebraska lakes. But that is not what this place is all about. "Dispersed Camping" is what they call it when you go out into the wilderness and find your own spot. That is the best way to enjoy the Bessey Area of the Nebraska National Forest @ Halsey/Thedford. For the maximum experience, be sure to have a 4x4 because 70% of the park is only accessible by 4x4 trails! Driving around this place was so much fun. Sandy trails provide a fun obstacle and take you to amazing views, working windmills and hidden camp spots. There are a few restrooms but no showers. We got our water from windmills and boiled it. There is a fishing pond near the entrance to the park. I caught a tiger rainbow trout there - a first for me. There were turkeys all over the place and you could hear them most of the day. Call ahead and ask about fire restrictions! Going camping but not being able to have a campfire outside of a metal fire ring would not be fun! Be sure and get map at the ranger station because you can get very lost without one. Check out the firetower for some cool views. I really like this place and plan on coming...

The campground is nice with most of the areas being well shaded. Some camp spots are near the river as well. Although water isn't available at every site, there are water fill stations available. Many spots are 30 and 50 amp sites, but a few do not have electrical hook ups. Overall, it's a nice place to visit with a picnic area, volleyball net and access to the river. There is a hiking trail from the Rangers Station to Scott Tower which is 3 miles long (6 miles out and back). Much of the area through which the trail traverses was burned in 2022. Nonetheless, it is a reasonably well...

Good camping and facilities, areas for horseback riding and ATVs.

Busy campgrounds and roads around the main camp site and whitetail that as they are on either end of the atv trail system and are mixed vehicle use.

Only a single hiking trail from the main camp area up to the fire watch tower.

Several of the roads are marked as 4wd required.

Some light "jeeping"/offroad trails, nothing crazy just soft sandy areas.

Excellent idea to get a trail map and keep track of your location as many of the trails only are marked with road numbers on...