At 2,158 acres, Lake Minatare State Recreation Area is the Panhandle’s largest body of water, attracting thousands of anglers, campers, water skiers and swimmers each year. Lake Minatare boasts excellent outdoor recreation opportunities, while irrigating thousands of acres in the North Platte Valley. It’s surrounded by notable historic and recreational sites such as North Platte National Wildlife Refuge, Chimney Rock National Historic Site, Scotts Bluff National Monument and Wildcat Hills State Recreation Area.
Source: ne_state_parks · last verified 2026-05-19