Hidden gem in the mountains

We stayed here for a night in early June. Beautiful campground surrounded by aspens and conifers at about 9000 ft elevation.

There is a very large group site there (I think can accommodate ~100 people) which is why the max fee is so high. There are 10 regular sites for $21 each. The drives up to them are fairly narrow, and some you could not get many (if any) RVs into. Sites 1-5 especially are small and perfect for a couple small tents, and are close together but fairly private due to the relatively thick trees.

There are no trash dumpsters so be prepared to pack everything out. It's also bear country so keep everything locked up. There are flush toilets, surprisingly, probably because of the large group site.

There were several species of wildflowers blooming in our campsite, and we heard an owl and coyotes at night. The breeze through the aspens was lovely. 10/10 would recommend.

Great western Nebraska camping

While it's technically National Forest land, most is Sandhills prairie which is awesome for off-trail hiking and exploring. You can do free dispersed camping according to USFS guidelines, or camp at the Steer Creek campground on the west side of the National Forest which is under pine tree canopy. Do exercise caution by wearing bright orange when hiking there, as it's a popular destination for hunters.

Beautiful spot tucked away

I visited this campsite over Labor Day weekend. It never filled up, though other people were always there (maybe 1/2-2/3 capacity). No extra/second vehicle fee. There are lots of shady sites, almost all the trees are pines and there's lots of downed, dry wood for campfires. There are two vault toilets, a centrally located water pump (fresh, cold Sandhills groundwater!), and a dumpster. I didn't see any pests like raccoons while there. We heard coyotes both nights. There are plenty of pull offs in the surrounding National Grassland if you want to explore (highly recommend, but wear long pants! Lots of prickly plants there). Overall a fantastic spot for a weekend in the quiet heart of Nebraska.

Tent campground is pleasant and out of the way

I've camped in this campground (the tent/no hook-up part) a couple times over the summer and have enjoyed it both times. There are no tent pads, people can just disperse over the lawn. Nice views of the reservoir and sunsets.