Iron Horse Trail Lake

Recreation Tabs

General Info.

Size

360 acres (lake: 85 acres)

Location

1/2 mile north, 2 miles west of DuBois, Nebraska, in Pawnee County

Located ½ mile north and 2 miles west of DuBois, Nebraska, in Pawnee County, this was the first public recreation area opened by the NRD in 1985. It’s dam was built as a flood control structure in the South Fork Watershed. The lake and park facilities were renovated and completed in 2011.

Things You Should Know

NNRD vehicle permit required
May-September, NRD staff test water at the beach and boat dock for presence of toxic algae; test results are available on the Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality’s website; tests above 8 ppm require a health alert in effect until the water tests below this limit (notice is available by recorded message 24/7 at 402-335-3325, on our Facebook page, or on this website)
Hunting by shotgun or bow only from October 1 - March 1 in designated area below the dam (hunters must park in designated lot near the dam; firearms are not allowed within any other areas of the park); no waterfowl hunting or rifles allowed
No live baitfish allowed.
Fireworks are not allowed.

NRD Park Permit Required

Purchase Park Permit

Facilities

80-acre stocked lake (Nebraska Game & Parks Fish Stocking Reports)
Fishing access (fishing jetties; handicapped accessible pier)
No-wake boating
- Boat ramp and dock
- Boat mooring island
Camping (no reservations-all first come, first served)
- Tent camping (no fee)
- RV camping
- 11 pads w/electrical hookups @ $16/night, cash or check only (first-come, first-served)
- 9 pads w/o hookups (no fee)
- "Reserving" campsites is prohibited (see rules for more information)
- Only RVs/campers allowed on campsites; must be attended
- No dump station or water hookups