Trail 3 boat ramp at Swanson Reservoir SRA to close for renovation
The Trail 3 boat ramp at Swanson Reservoir State Recreation Area will close Sept. 28 for a renovation project and is expected to reopen in spring 2027. The low-water ramp on the south side of the reservoir also will be temporarily closed for minor repairs. As a result, boating access will be temporarily unavailable.
The Trail 3 project will improve boating access and provide additional protection from wind and waves. Improvements include reshaping the existing two-lane ramp to provide a more consistent launch slope, installing two new docks, and adding an Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant parking stall and accessible route to the ramp. Additional parking also is being evaluated and added as funds allow.
The breakwater just west of the ramp will be renovated to provide improved protection from wind and waves. The improvements are expected to enhance boater safety and reduce ramp maintenance needs.
Construction has been scheduled strategically during the reservoir’s seasonal low-water period. This timing allows the upper and middle portions of the ramp — the area requiring the most extensive replacement — to be constructed in the dry while tying into the existing lower portion of the ramp, which remains in usable condition.
The Trail 3 boating access project is expected to reach substantial completion by May 21, 2027, weather permitting.
During the Trail 3 closure, the south-side low-water ramp will be closed for a short period while maintenance repairs are completed to improve access and address safety concerns. A small section of the ramp will be removed and repoured, and riprap will be placed adjacent to the ramp perimeter. This work will be completed as quickly as possible, with substantial completion expected on or before Oct. 26, 2026.
The project is being completed in partnership with the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation through a Title 28 grant.
Direct any questions regarding this project to ngpc.boataccess@nebraska.gov.
To view a map of other public boat ramps, visit OutdoorNebraska.gov/guides-