Toadstool (Ne) Nebraska Nf

Star4.58
399 reviews
Toadstool (Ne) Nebraska Nf

Quick Facts

Price

Varies

Booking

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Sites

12 campsites

Season

Year-round

Cell

Unknown

Pets

Not Allowed

Opens Oglala National Grassland (Forest Service) site

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Toadstool (Ne) Nebraska Nf
No fees available
Campsite Fees
Standard Site Fee$0.00
Hookup Site Fee$0.00
Premium Site Fee$0.00
Hike and Bike Site Fee$0.00
Group Site Fee$0.00
Food Storage Locker Fee$0.00
Total Campsite Fees$0.00

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What Campers Say

4.58

Top-Rated

Based on 399 reviews

400 Google reviews

Most mentioned

peacefulshadefriendlysites

"Reviewers overwhelmingly love Toadstool, consistently giving it 5/5 stars and describing it as beautiful, unique, and worth going out of the way to visit. They highlight striking rock formations, fossils, and scenic hiking trails that work well for families, couples, and casual hikers. A few practical cautions appear, mainly about mud and slippery conditions when wet and its remote, off-the-beaten-path location."

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About Toadstool (Ne) Nebraska Nf

Step into an ancient world at Toadstool Geologic Park Campground, where otherworldly badlands rise from the Oglala National Grassland in fantastical clay pedestals crowned with sandstone caps. This intimate 12-site campground offers picnic tables, fire rings, and upright grills among scientifically treasured fossil beds, with vault toilets available but no water on site—so come prepared for a true backcountry experience.
Historical SignificanceYou're camping on hallowed scientific ground here: Toadstool serves as the type section for the entire White River Geologic Group, making it a reference point for geologists worldwide studying this era of Earth's history. The fossil deposits scattered across these badlands have helped scientists piece together millions of years of ancient life. Just a short walk from your campsite, a reconstructed sod house tells a more recent human story. Built by the Forest Service in 1984 to replicate a 1929 homesteader's dwelling, this sturdy structure demonstrates how hardy pioneers carved out lives on these unforgiving grasslands, using the very earth beneath their feet to build shelter against the elements.
Natural Features and SceneryThe landscape here looks like it belongs on another planet. Delicate clay pedestals rise from the eroded earth, each balanced improbably beneath a protective sandstone "mushroom cap" that gives the park its whimsical name. These toadstool formations are nature's sculptures, carved over millennia by wind and water working through layered sedimentary deposits. Interpretive trails wind through this geological wonderland, where 38 to 24 million years of Earth's history lie exposed in bands of color and texture. Every eroded ridge and fossil-rich outcrop tells a story of ancient volcanic eruptions, meandering rivers, and long-vanished creatures. The badlands terrain creates an ever-changing gallery of natural art, with new formations emerging as old ones slowly dissolve back into the prairie.
Geological RegionThis badlands terrain marks the type section for the White River Geologic Group—a designation that makes Toadstool the standard by which geologists measure and understand similar formations across the continent. The dramatic landscape was born from layers of volcanic ash and alluvial river deposits that settled here tens of millions of years ago, then spent eons eroding into the haunting formations you see today on the Oglala National Grassland.
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Campsite details

AccessibilityTwo accessible vault toilets.
Sites SizeCampsites with picnic tables, fire rings, upright grills; no water
Total Campsites12 campsites
Recommended CampsitesThere is no water available at the campground. The campground trailhead provides access to multiple hiking trails including a one-mile interpretive loop, the Bison Trail (3 miles to Hudson-Meng one way), and a five-mile loop.

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Reserving a campsite

Tents
Tents are not allowed
RV vehicles
RV vehicles are not allowed
Primitive
Primitive are not allowed
Reservable
Reservations are not allowed

Site layoutTwelve campsites equipped with picnic tables, fire rings, and upright grills; two accessible vault toilets are provided. There is no potable water on site.

Amenities available

Fire rings
Picnic tables
Flush toilets
Vault toilets

Activities you can enjoy

Primary recreation is hiking on several trails beginning at the campground, including an interpretive loop, the Bison Trail to the Hudson-Meng Education and Research Center, and a 5-mile loop that uses sections of the Great Plains Trail. Educational/interpretive resources are available via a brochure and nearby Hudson-Meng tours.
Hiking
Trailhead at the campground provides access to three hiking trails: a one-mile interpretive loop, the Bison Trail (Toadstool to Hudson-Meng is 3 miles one way), and a five-mile loop that uses the interpretive trail and the Great Plains Trail/918 Road.
Cultural and Educational Programs
An interpretive one-mile loop with a brochure provides geological education; nearby Hudson-Meng Education and Research Center offers Bison Bonebed tours and further educational opportunities.
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Campground rules

  • Pets are not allowed
  • Campsites include fire rings and upright grills. Specific fire restrictions or rules are not provided in the source material.

Hazards

General hazardsNo potable water is available at the campground. Trails traverse eroded badlands and vary in difficulty; visitors should be prepared for uneven terrain and follow trail guidance and interpretive materials.

Weather at Toadstool (Ne) Nebraska Nf

41
°F
Dec 11
Thursday
Overcast
Precipitation: 0%
Humidity: 65%
Wind: 4.7 mph
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Good to know

Proximity to water featuresNo water available at the campground.

Campground Map

Toadstool (Ne) Nebraska Nf
Driving directionsFrom Hot Springs, SD: take Highway 71 south 37 miles to the intersection of Toadstool Road. Follow Toadstool Road for 11.4 miles to FS Road #902 and continue on Road #902 for 1.4 miles to Toadstool Campground. From Crawford, NE: proceed to intersection of Highway 20 and Highway 2. Take Highway 2 north for 4.2 miles to Toadstool Road. Follow Toadstool Road for 11.4 miles to FS Road 902 and continue on Road 902 for 1.4 miles to Toadstool Campground.
Accessible via Highway 71 (from Hot Springs, SD) and Highway 2 (from Crawford, NE), then Toadstool Road and Forest Service Road #902.
Nearby places
Hot Springs, SD — 37 miles (to intersection with Toadstool Road)
Crawford, NE — directions provided via Highway 2 (4.2 miles to Toadstool Road) then 11.4 miles on Toadstool Road and 1.4 miles on FS Road 902 to the campground.

Reviews from booking and map sources

4.6
399 reviews
Top-Rated
Top-Rated
Toadstool (Ne) Nebraska Nf is top-rated, placing it in the top 15% of campgrounds based on reviews
Reviewers overwhelmingly love Toadstool, consistently giving it 5/5 stars and describing it as beautiful, unique, and worth going out of the way to visit. They highlight striking rock formations, fossils, and scenic hiking trails that work well for families, couples, and casual hikers. A few practical cautions appear, mainly about mud and slippery conditions when wet and its remote, off-the-beaten-path location.
Review Summaries
Based on 399 reviews

What Campers Love

Visitors rave about the dramatic geologic features, unusual rock formations, fossils, and agates, calling the park "absolutely breathtaking" and "super cool." The trails are seen as fairly easy and...
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Based on 399 reviews

Common Concerns

The main concern is trail and road conditions when wet: one reviewer said heavy rain made the trail and road extremely slick and even dangerous, and another mentioned muddy sections on the trail. A...
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Based on 399 reviews

Pro Tips & Recommendations

Campers suggest bringing plenty of water and snacks, especially if it’s hot or you have young children, and taking time to stop for photos along the trails. Multiple reviewers emphasize avoiding the...
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Based on 399 reviews

Camper Quotes

"WOW I still can’t believe this is in Nebraska! This park is all natural and so beautiful to hike or just look at." "Awesome geologic features…fantastic one mile walk. Unfortunately it started...
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Based on 399 reviews

Site-Specific Reviews

One reviewer notes there are only six campsites, each with a shade cover, and that the campground had just a few other campers, contributing to a quiet stay. Another mentions simply that the...
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Based on 399 reviews

Pet-Friendly Features

One reviewer specifically mentions it is a "great place to walk with dogs," indicating that dogs are allowed on the trails and that the setting works well for dog walking. No additional details are...
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Based on 399 reviews

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Last updated December 10, 2025
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