Indian Cave State Park: Hardwood Trail and Shelters

Indian Cave State Park (near Shubert)

Indian Cave State Park sits on the wooded bluffs above the Missouri River in the southeast corner of Nebraska. The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission lists 22 miles of hike/bike trails and 16 miles of equestrian trails, and says Adirondack shelters are “located periodically along the trails.” Its 2020-2021 State Parks Guide says those shelters “are available for backpackers.”

Backpacker included the park in a 2001 roundup of Nebraska backpacking, describing “twenty miles of up-and-down trail” with overnights at ridgetop shelters. Its namesake cave, which one longtime visitor calls more of an overhang, is reached by a staircase near the river.

The hike

The Hardwood Trail is the spine of most overnight trips. Hiking Project lists it at 7.1 miles point to point, between about 965 and 1,235 feet in elevation, and describes a rough, eroded trail with steep inclines that “can feel like it was designed for horses.” Its tread is mostly doubletrack, with many offshoot trails leading to campsites and Adirondack-style lean-tos. The eastern end is at the day-use area, with a short road walk northwest to the staircase up to the cave. Another guide, America’s State Parks, lists the Hardwood as a 14-mile multi-use loop and the Rock Bluff Trail as a separate option, so check the park map for the route you plan.

Trip reports describe repeated steep climbs. One 2015 hiker who started from Trailhead 3 described a descent of about 300 feet toward the river and a climb of about 250 feet to three Adirondack shelters above the river with what the writer called “outstanding views of the Missouri.” A TrailGroove forum member who backpacked about 17 miles over two days that April said the repeated climbs of roughly 250 feet were tiring, and that the loose, silty soil seemed to be “eroding in front of your eyes.”

Game and Parks writer Renae Blum lists Trail 10 as one of five challenges for Nebraska hikers: a steep climb from the river bottoms to the top of the bluffs with views of the Missouri. A 2019 landslide closed the road to the cave and parts of Trails 10 and 11; we found no notice saying when they reopened.

A 2011 blog post describes a large group camping area at Rock Bluff with picnic tables, fire rings, and open-sided Adirondack shelters. Hiking Project recommends autumn for the fall color and calls the trail a good choice for a kid-friendly backpacking trip because it is short and campsites are plentiful.

For a longer Nebraska backpacking trip, see the Pine Ridge Trail in the state’s northwest corner.

Tips

Check in first. Game and Parks says all campers should check in at the park entrance or office, and a park entry permit is required.
Get the current map at the entrance. The 2015 TrailGroove hiker found an older online map confusing at trail junctions, and America’s State Parks says trail alignments may differ from printed maps.
Bring a filter that handles silt, or carry water from the campground hydrant.
Expect slippery trails after rain (America’s State Parks).
Expect horses on some trails. Game and Parks says the park’s guided trail rides were discontinued beginning with the 2024 season, but its equestrian trails and equestrian campground are still maintained for visitors who bring their own horses.
Have a backup if a shelter is taken. The TrailGroove hiker found one shelter taken by a nesting bird and the next by another group, and moved on to a tent site.

Camping

Game and Parks says Adirondack shelters along the trails serve backpackers, and The Dyrt summarizes the park as offering “primitive camping along the hiking trails.” Beyond that, we found no official rules for trail camping: how many sites there are, whether you camp only at shelters and designated sites, or how to pay. The 2015 TrailGroove report says the author paid for two nights of backcountry camping along with a vehicle pass. Call the park office at 402-883-2575 before you go.

Inside Intel: The 2015 n2backpacking hike report singles out the three Adirondack shelters above the river for their views and says they are worth the roughly 250-foot climb. A Dyrt reviewer (May 2018) wrote that “the campsites on the trails are well kept up if you want to be far from people.”

Trail facts

Distance: Hardwood Trail 7.1 miles point to point (Hiking Project); park trails total about 20 to 22 miles
Route type: Point to point or loops built from park trails
Difficulty: Moderate to strenuous
Campsites: Adirondack shelters and trail campsites; numbers not confirmed
Water: Hydrant at the Basic campground and horse camp; creeks are silty
Permits: Park entry permit; check in at the entrance or office
Fires: Local fire bans possible during drought
Dogs: Leashed (Hiking Project); see needs review
Trailhead: Park trailheads, including Trailhead 3 and the day-use area near the cave
Last verified: October 17, 2026

The Lowdown

Repeated climbs on the Hardwood Trail:

Hikers describe repeated climbs of about 250 feet on loose, silty soil, plus steep inclines on the Hardwood Trail above the Missouri. Poles help with the ups and downs; here is how to use them.

Get the trekking pole tips →

Where this comes from

This page draws on the sources below, along with other guides and trip reports. Links go to the original pages.

Before you go: This page is based on published trail guides, trip reports, and reviews, along with official park and agency information where we could find it. It’s meant to help backpackers discover new trails, not to replace current, official information. Conditions, closures, permits, campsites, and water sources change, and some details here may be out of date or wrong. Confirm everything with the managing agency and check current conditions before you head out, and don’t rely on this page alone for safety or navigation. Backcountry travel involves risk.