Calamus Reservoir offers horse camping opportunities for equestrians visiting Ericson, Nebraska. Located in the rolling Sandhills region, this area sits at approximately 2,100 feet elevation with annual precipitation averaging 23 inches. Summer temperatures typically range from 65°F to 85°F, creating favorable conditions for outdoor recreation with horses from late spring through early fall.
What to do
Fishing access points: Calamus Reservoir features multiple shore fishing locations with sandy terrain suitable for families. "A lot of campsite. Can rent boats and jet skies... Nice swimming and fishing spots. Love going there," notes Kathryn H. about Calamus Reservoir.
Walking trails: Carney Park connects to walking paths around a small pond and between sports facilities. "Nice place for an evening or morning walk to stretch legs around rodeo arena, between baseball fields and then around and small pond," shares lee's freelance M. about Carney Park.
Water recreation: The reservoir provides swimming areas with clean water conditions and a natural sand base. "This lake is amazing — clean and with a sand base," reports D Marie S. about the water quality at Calamus Reservoir.
What campers like
Convenient facilities: The camping areas provide basic amenities including showers and restrooms. "Being new not much for trees. It was nice to have clean showers close to the camp site," mentions Chris C. regarding Calamus Reservoir.
Level camping pads: Sites at Carney Park feature concrete pads with hookups, making setup straightforward. "City Park. Very clean and sites are level. Clean showers and restroom," observes Chris C. about the camping conditions.
Affordable pricing: The self-service payment system at Carney Park offers reasonable rates for travelers. "Water and electric with pad and picnic tables and trees for $20! Also some tent sites," reports lee's freelance M., highlighting the value for equestrian camping near Ericson, Nebraska.
What you should know
Limited privacy: Campsite spacing at Calamus provides minimal separation between neighboring campers. "Camping isn't great, as it's limited and close to others. If you're looking for remote spots, this is not the place," cautions D Marie S. about Carney Park.
Train noise: Railroad proximity at Carney Park creates periodic noise that may disturb sleep or affect horses sensitive to sounds. "Train is close and goes by often," notes Chris C.
Bathroom maintenance varies: Facility cleanliness can fluctuate throughout the season. "Bathrooms needed cleaning," reports Glenda, while another Carney Park visitor notes "ok bath house" in their review.
Seasonal availability: Some facilities close during colder months. "The bathrooms and shower were not open yet," reports JAMES B. about an early spring visit to Carney Park.
Tips for camping with families
Police presence: The area benefits from regular security patrols providing added safety. "I noticed they also patrolled the area," mentions JAMES B. about Carney Park, noting how local law enforcement "opened my truck, within 20 minutes" after locking his keys inside.
Playground access: Families with children can utilize the play equipment at Carney Park. "Cute bath house and a cute play park with swings, etc. Quiet at night," shares Carissa W.
Town proximity: The campgrounds offer convenient access to nearby communities for supplies. "We ate dinner and then breakfast in city as convenient," explains Glenda about the O'Neill location.
Tips from RVers
Site selections: RVers should note the concrete pads and hookup options at Carney Park. "We had a great one night stay when we were passing through O'Neil on our way to South Dakota... It was great having electric and water hookup," explains Carissa W. about Carney Park.
Road conditions: Construction projects may temporarily affect access to camping areas. "They are doing road construction and they have road completely torn up and one way section of road into campground," warns Glenda about her experience at Carney Park.
Stay duration policies: Different fee structures apply based on length of stay at some campgrounds. "Stay up to 3 days without checking in to the city offices. Donation but they do charge $10 per nite if the stay is over 3 days," explains Chris C. about the policies at Carney Park.
