Summary
One of the main reasons to visit the area is its beautiful scenery, which includes a 1,800-acre lake surrounded by rolling hills and grasslands. The lake is also home to a variety of fish species, including crappie, largemouth bass, and bluegill, making it a popular spot for anglers.
Visitors can also explore the surrounding area by hiking or biking on one of the many trails, or by taking a scenic drive through the countryside. The park also offers several picnic areas, playgrounds, and campsites for those who want to spend more time in the area.
Interesting facts about Atkinson Lake State Recreation Area include that it was created in the 1980s when a dam was built on the Elkhorn River to create the lake. The area is also home to a variety of wildlife, including deer, turkey, and waterfowl, making it a popular spot for hunters during the fall.
The best time of year to visit Atkinson Lake State Recreation Area depends on the activities you plan to do. Summer is the busiest season and offers warm weather for swimming, boating, and fishing. Spring and fall are popular for hiking and hunting, while winter offers opportunities for ice fishing and snowshoeing.
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Park & Land Designation Reference
Large protected natural areas managed by the federal government to preserve significant landscapes, ecosystems, and cultural resources; recreation is allowed but conservation is the priority.
State Park
Public natural or recreational areas managed by a state government, typically smaller than national parks and focused on regional natural features, recreation, and education.
Local Park
Community-level parks managed by cities or counties, emphasizing recreation, playgrounds, sports, and green space close to populated areas.
Wilderness Area
The highest level of land protection in the U.S.; designated areas where nature is left essentially untouched, with no roads, structures, or motorized access permitted.
National Recreation Area
Areas set aside primarily for outdoor recreation (boating, hiking, fishing), often around reservoirs, rivers, or scenic landscapes; may allow more development.
National Conservation Area (BLM)
BLM-managed areas with special ecological, cultural, or scientific value; more protection than typical BLM land but less strict than Wilderness Areas.
State Forest
State-managed forests focused on habitat, watershed, recreation, and sustainable timber harvest.
National Forest
Federally managed lands focused on multiple use—recreation, wildlife habitat, watershed protection, and resource extraction (like timber)—unlike the stricter protections of national parks.
Wilderness
A protected area set aside to conserve specific resources—such as wildlife, habitats, or scientific features—with regulations varying widely depending on the managing agency and purpose.
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Land
Vast federal lands managed for mixed use—recreation, grazing, mining, conservation—with fewer restrictions than national parks or forests.
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