Western Nebraska
Pine Ridge Trail East and West
LOCATION: Chadron, NebraskaTwenty-three miles of trails are available, beginning a Spotted Tail Campground, Coffee Mill Butte and ending at Chadron State Park, East Ash Road. The trails are moderate to difficult and best hiked on an excursion of more than one day. Elevations along the trails range from 3800 to 4000 feet. These trails feature scenic vistas, ponderosa pine forest and hardwood bottoms. Primitive dispersed camping is possible along the trail. In addition, nearby Chadron State Park has 74 developed campsites. These trails get only light use, so encountering other hikers is unlikely. The trails may be located on topographic maps Chadron East, Chadron 3 NW, Coffee Mill Butte and Chimney Butte.
Further information:
Nebraska National Forest
270 Pine Street
Chadron, NE 69337
Phone: 308-432-3367
Pine Ridge Ranger District
HC 75, Box 13A9
Chadron, NE 69337
Phone: 308-432-4475
Toadstool Park Loop Trail
LOCATION: Chadron, NEThis is a 1-mile trail loop that is easily traveled by family groups. The trail begins and ends at Toadstool Park Campground. It offers highly eroded sandstone and clay badlands; unusual shapes, including characteristic toadstool caps on clay pedestals. Bertebrate fossils can be found that are 29-37 million years old. Prickly pear and a variety of prairie wildflowers bloom each year in mid-June. The elevation of the trail is 3800 feet. It gets only light use. The trail can be located on topographic map: Roundtop.
Further Information:
Nebraska NNational Forest
270 Pine Street
Chadron, NE 69337
Phone: 308-432-3367
Pine Ridge Ranger District
HC 75, Box 13A9
Chadron, NE 69337
Phone: 308-432-4475
Trooper Trail
LOCATION: Chadron, NEThis 10-mile long trail loop begins and ends at Soldier Creek Wilderness Trailhead. It is best treated as an overnight trip. The trail is of moderate difficulty. This trail is located in the 7800-acre Soldier Creek Wilderness. The was was burned in 1989, and 90 percent of the native ponderosa pine forests were destroyed. It is therefore a good example of wildfire recovery. The trail covers elevations of 4100-4700 feet, and it is shared by hikers and horseback riders. A hiker must, therefore, watch where he puts his feet. Topographic maps, Andrews and Smiley Canyon, include this trail.
Further Information:
Nebraska National Forest
270 Pine Street
Chadron, NE 69337
Phone: 308-432-3367
Pine Ridge Ranger District
HC 75, Box 13A9
Chadron, NE 69337
Phone: 308-432-4475
Points of Interest Along the Way
Agate Fossil Beds National Monument
Located on the Niobrara River in northwestern Nebraska, Agate Fossil Beds National Monument and its surrounding prairie are preserved in a 3,000 acre national monument. Once part of "Captain" James H. Cook's Agate Springs Ranch, the nearby beds are an important source for 19.2 million year-old Miocene epoch mammal fossils. Exhibits explain the fossil story, and an area of exposed fossils may be visited via a self-guided trail.Cook's ranch also became a gathering place for Chief Red Cloud and other Oglala Lakota (Sioux) Indian people. The monument's Cook Collection of American Indian artifacts reflects years of gifts brought by the Indians during visits to the ranch from the 1880's through the early 1900's.
The monument is reachable by State Highway 29 either from Harrison 20 miles to the north or from Mitchell 34 miles south. Information: Scotts Bluff NM Superintendent: PO Box 427, Gering, NE 69341-0427. http://www.nps.gov/agfo/
Homestead National Monument
4 mi. west on Hwy. 4. FREE LAND was the cry! The Homestead Act had an immediate and endurable effect upon America that is still felt today. This site commemorates the free land idea. Under this law, more than 270 million acres, 10 percent of the land in the United States, were turned over to individuals. This great transformation led to profound and lasting changes to the land, Native Americans, to immigration and migration patterns and to agriculture. Homestead National Monument of America commemorates the lives and accomplishments of all pioneers and the changes to people, the land, and the world brought by this act. The park includes the Daniel Freeman site, musuem exhibits and videos, historic structures, hiking trails, and picnic tables. Open year-round, Mon.-Sun., 8:30 am-5 pm, Labor Day - Memorial Day weekend hours are Sat.-Sun., 9 am-5 pm. Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day. FREE. 402-223-3514. Handicapped Accessible. Information: Superintendent: Rout 3, Box 47, Beatrice, NE 68310. http://www.nps.gov/home/
Scott's Bluff National Monument
The sandsone and clay bluff rising 800 feet above the plain was a milepost for wagon trains rolling west along the Oregon Trail. Visitors may hike or drive to the bluff top. The monument is 5 miles southwest of the city of Scottsbluff. Information: Superintendent: PO Box 427, Gering, NE 69341-0427. http://www.nps.gov/scbl/Chimey Rock National Historic Site
4 mi. south of Bayard, 1 mile south of junction of Highways 92 and U.S. 26. "Towering to the heavens" is how one pioneer described Chimney Rock, the most recognized landmark along the Oregon Trail. Today an interpretive center operated by the Nebraska State Historical Society pays tribute to those who traveled the trails and features original maps made from Captain John C. Fremont's 1842-43 exploration of the Oregon Trail. Visitors Center is open daily, Oct. 1-Mar. 31, 9 am-5 pm and Apr. 1-Sept. 30, 9 am-6 pm. Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year's Day and Veteran's Day. Admission $1 per adult. 308-586-2581. Handicapped Accessible. Information: Superintendent: PO Box 427, Gering, NE 69341-0427.Top of this Page
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