The area has a 222 acre lake, surrounding marshy and grasslands, and some wooded habitats. There are primitive camping facilities and toilets. Between Lakeside and Rushville, 50 miles apart, excellent roadside birding opportunities exist, and nesting records for such rarities as the long-eared owl, black-necked stilt and piping plover have been obtained. A local (unpublished) list of 145 species has been developed for the Smith Lake area, with 49 confirmed breeders, including the only recent (1990) Nebraska nesting of the marbled godwit.