Area One Campground

Nice campground that has nice grass they keep mowed, paved roads and RV pads. Reservable and first come sites.

We love camping on the south shore. Can kayak right by your campsite. Lots of room between sites to play catch or yard games.

Branched Oak is not the luxury park that Mahoney is but it is one of the premiere campgrounds at Branched Oak which is one of the premiere parks of Nebraska.

This Camp Area actually is two camping areas (east and west)  the West is high on a hill overlooking the water and has a shower/toilet within the camping area.  The East overlooks the play area and has a vault toilet.  There is a central shower/Toilet structure but it is a little jaunt from even the closest RV spot in either area.  As always they assume that the tent campers don't use toilets and don't need showers so they put those areas as far from the facilities as possible.

There is a beach, a play area, a dump station, and a nice trail going off the east tent camping area.

Branched Oak-Area One Campground is 2 1/2 miles north of Malcom Nebraska. There are many different areas offering over 330 pads and tons of primitive camping. In Area One we had full hook ups and a level site. There were picnic tables, and fire rings at each site. The shower house/restrooms were clean. There is a swim beach, playground, and fishing in this area. We were here during the week so it wasn't to busy. We were told the weekends could get rowdy. We enjoyed a beautiful night with a campfire and coyotes howling.

Campground Review

This campground isn't too far from I-80 and was a great spot to stop during a hot summer day during a road trip. While Nebraska can't do much about the 90+ temps, they sure do make their campgrounds fun to be around when there's water involved.

This place is located on Branched Oak Lake, which has some beachfront. The lake is plenty big for any boat, and what people like to do is reserve spots by the water, drive around to a nearby boat loading area, then drive their boat back to the campsite and anchor it just off shore.

There were a lot of people swimming, paddle boarding, and lazying in the water. There are picnic and day use areas. This place was also ADA friendly, equipped with coin operated showers (has change machines for $1 and $5 bills). There were hike in camp spots, electrical sites, RV sites, and LOTS of them. No matter the type of site you had, you were packed close together.

Product Review

As a Ranger for The Dyrt, I get product to test from time to time, and over the last few weeks I have been testing out the Body Glove 3T Hero Water Shoe and PFD.

• You can watch a video review below

These water shoes have been an excellent addition to my water activities. I have been paddle boarding with them, canoeing, wading in branchy, heavy sand waters while I do work on a dock, and hiking on forest paths during portages. No matter the conditions, my feet are wet but comfortable, and feeling secure both with the fit and it’s grippy bottom. It has a comfortable inner material, vents on the side of the shoe to let loads of water out and keep your feet breathing, and a slip-in fit with some elastic.

The name 3T designates the shoe has a 3-Toe system. This does take some getting used to, and can take a little longer to get into them over a typical slip in shoe. It took me about three times wearing them to feel more used to the fit and comfort.

The grip on the bottom is great. Very durable and has a lot of flexion. This makes this shoe more like a well designed water sneaker. So, leave the other pair of shoes for the terrain between the car and the water at home! I have been treading over gravel, concrete, forest, and rocky hillsides and I don’t see much treadwear.

The PFD is hard to say much about other than it works as designed. I got the M-L and it was a little snug for me, so I would order a size up from that if you’re over 170 lbs. It is very easy to get in and out of with the easy latch buckles and the thick, well stitched zipper. I have a maniac of a step dad when he pilots the motorboat when we go tubing, so it’s only a matter of time before we are thrown off. This kept me alive during the 25mph launch off the wake into the deep.