Summary
The area is known for its beautiful scenery and offers visitors a wide range of activities, including camping, fishing, boating, hiking, and hunting. The area is home to a wide variety of wildlife, such as deer, elk, and turkey.
One of the main attractions at Merritt Reservoir is the reservoir itself, which spans over 3,000 acres and offers excellent fishing opportunities. The reservoir is home to a variety of fish, including bass, crappie, and walleye. Visitors can also rent boats and kayaks to explore the reservoir.
Another popular attraction in the area is the Snake River Falls, which is located a few miles from the reservoir. The falls are a scenic spot and offer great opportunities for hiking and photography.
Interesting facts about Merritt Reservoir State Recreation Area include that it was created in the 1960s by damming the Snake River and that it was named after former Nebraska Governor Frank B. Merritt.
The best time of year to visit Merritt Reservoir State Recreation Area is during the summer months when the weather is warm and the water is perfect for swimming and boating. However, the area can also be visited during the fall and winter months for hunting and ice fishing.
Weather Forecast
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.
Related References