| Hiking and mountain biking western Nebraska trails... |
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Toadstool Geologic Park: (Sioux County, northwest of Crawford)
* Toadstool Trail (one mile loop trail)
* Bison Trail (3 miles to Hudson-Meng Bison Kill area)
Agate Fossil Beds: (Sioux County prairie trails, 20 miles south of Harrison on Highway 29)
* Fossil Hills Trail
* Darmonelix Trail
Fort Robinson area: (60 miles of hiking trails and 20 mikes of biking trails in Sioux & Dawes Counties, west of
Crawford - some maps available in Crawford and at Fort Robinson - National Forest Service maps are most
detailed, though)
* Fort Laramie-to-Fort Robinson Trail (primarily a Sioux County trail)
* Trooper Trail (Soldier Creek Wilderness Area)
* Boots and Saddles Trail (Soldier Creek Wilderness Area)
* White River Trail (a very well-maintained 3 mile trail from Crawford to Fort Robinson)
Crawford area: (Dawes County)
* Red Cloud Buttes trail system from Crawford around Lover's Leap Butte, Giants Coffin Butte, and Saddle
Rock, shown on forest service maps
Pine Ridge Trail: (Dawes County, south and southwest of Chadron - see Forest Service maps) The forest
service is now working on new trail that will link the whole Pine Ridge Trail system from Spotted Tail to West
Ash Creek.
* West Ash Creek Trailhead (West Ash Creek Road)
* East Ash Creek Trailhead (East Ash Creek Road)
* Roberts Trailhead (accessible from county roads)
* Rock Butte Loop Trail (branch loop from Roberts Trailhead)
* Coffee Mill Butte Trailhead (from Deadhorse Road)
* Spotted Tail Trailhead (several branches in area - goes through 2006 burn area)
* Chadron State Park Trailhead (across Highway 385, north 1/10 mile - small sign)
The Cliffs: (Dawes County, south of Chadron and 5.5 miles east of the Job Corps Center. Has picnic area &
vault toilet at parking lot)
* Two main trails that branch just south of The Cliffs. Hikers will notice a side trail from the west branch. This
runs back to the road you came in on. These trails are accessible from the Pine Ridge Trail system, by hiking
down the back road labeled on the Forest Service map as 718.
Chadron State Park Trails (Dawes County, 8 miles south of Chadron, on Highway 385) These trails have seen
major work, and are becoming much more "user-friendly"!
* Black Hills Overlook Trail (the park's best trail, with many scenic overlooks and a deep canyon pathway)
* Norwesca Trail (the park's newest trail, with trail links to Steamboat Loop, the Blue Trail, and the Yellow Trail)
* Outrider Trail (branch to Black Hills Overlook Trail, a favorite for horseback riders)
* Steamboat Loop Trail (short trail, but very scenic overlooks)
* Creekside Trail (short and not well-marked)
* Blue Trail
* Yellow Trail
Chadron (Dawes County)
* C-Hill trails (paved trailway, now officially the Heritage Trail. It is roughly 1.2 miles from the trailhead by the
CSC football stadium out to Maple Street. There are also unmarked dirt trails on the top of C-Hill)
* Cowboy Trail (under construction from Norfolk to Chadron - 321 miles long, a "rails-to-trails" project)
Ponderosa Wildlife Management Area (Dawes County)
* Rim of The World Trail (see cautions in next section below)
* Rattlesnake Trail (unmarked trail from Rim of The World Trail, out to Crown Butte)
Chadron Creek Wildlife Managment Area (Dawes County)
* this new state wildlife management area has a number of old roads that are good for hiking. These roads are
shown on forest service maps.
Wildcat Hills Area Trails (Scottsbluff County - maps & more info available from Scottsbluff-Gering Chamber of
Commerce)
* Scottsbluff Monument Trail (when completed, this very well maintained trail will be connected to the
Scottsbluff & Gering city trail system for a total of 26 miles of trails.)
* Scottsbluff & Gering city trails (includes paved trailway along North Platte River - trail access at Riverside
Zoo, "U" Street in Gering, and at Broadway & South Beltline in Scottsbluff)
* Wildcat Hills trails at State Recreation Area (Highway 71)
Bridgeport (Morrill County)
* Courthouse Rock hike and climb (5 miles south of Bridgeport on Highway 88, then turn at sign and go one
mile to public parking for Courthouse Rock.)
Garden County
* Ash Hollow Trails (Lewellen area, at Ash Hollow State Park. Trails at Visitors Center and at Windlass Hill)
* Crescent Lake National Wildlife Refuge (one short marked trail, plus thousands of acres of off-trail hiking
allowed).
Off-Trail & Backroad Hiking Only (no marked trails)
Safety Note: If you choose to do an off-trail or backroad hike in any area, especially the various state wildlife
managment areas, it is in your best interest to be aware of when the various hunting seasons are on. If you
choose to hike into an area that is open for hunting, please strongly consider wearing an orange vest! The
Nebraska Game and Parks Commission can assist you with information you need to determine the safest times
to hike. Permits are needed for organized group hikes in state wildlife managment areas.
Hay Springs (Sheridan County)
* Metcalf Wildlife Management Area (10 miles north of Hay Springs)
Chadron Area (Dawes County)
* Bordeaux Wildlife Management Area (east of Chadron)
* Chadron Creek Wildlife Management Area (south of Chadron)
* Ponderosa Wildlife Management Area (southwest of Chadron)
* Bighorn Wildlife Management Area (southwest of Chadron)
Fort Robinson Area (Sioux County)
* Peterson Wildlife Management Area
Gilbert-Baker State Wildlife Management Area (5 miles north of Harrison, in Sioux County - follow signs)
* canyon off-trail hiking & biking trails
Wildcat Hills Area (Scottsbluff County)
* Buffalo Creek State Wildlife Area (at County Road X and CR26)
* Cedar Canyon Wildlife Management Area (4 miles west of Highway 71 on Carter Canyon Road, then 1 1/2
south on county Road 17, and finally 1 mile west to the parking area)
* Bead Mountain Public Access Area (new - 3000 acres southeast of Gering, for hiking in only) (308) 763-2940
Off-Trail Hiking & Climbing
PLEASE bear in mind that not all panhandle summits are on public ground, and it is VERY IMPORTANT that you
get the owner's permission FIRST before attempting to cross private land and climb to the top. If you study the
list on the website below, you will note that it is not exhaustive. Despite the misconceptions about Nebraska
being all flat, many of these peaks and buttes are quite steep, some with sheer sides or rock walls well over
100 feet, and in some cases, over 200 feet. The summits of some of these are up to 800 feet above the valleys
nearby. Many do not have marked trails or roads, so it is well worth your time to stop first at the nearest
National Forest Service Office to check maps, find out who the landowners are, and get any other relevant
information necessary for a safe trip.
Some of the major buttes in Sioux and Dawes County are on public lands, eliminating the need to obtain
landowner permission. But, all require some off-trail hiking. And, some are adjacent to private land, so please
study your maps carefully! These are the major public buttes: Aristocrat Butte, Barrel Butte, Eagle's Eye,
Round Top Peak, Pine Butte, Crown Butte, Lovers Leap Butte, Flannigan Butte, Giants Coffin Butte, Coffee Mill
Butte, Rock Butte, and Saddle Rock.
* Toadstool Trail (one mile loop trail)
* Bison Trail (3 miles to Hudson-Meng Bison Kill area)
Agate Fossil Beds: (Sioux County prairie trails, 20 miles south of Harrison on Highway 29)
* Fossil Hills Trail
* Darmonelix Trail
Fort Robinson area: (60 miles of hiking trails and 20 mikes of biking trails in Sioux & Dawes Counties, west of
Crawford - some maps available in Crawford and at Fort Robinson - National Forest Service maps are most
detailed, though)
* Fort Laramie-to-Fort Robinson Trail (primarily a Sioux County trail)
* Trooper Trail (Soldier Creek Wilderness Area)
* Boots and Saddles Trail (Soldier Creek Wilderness Area)
* White River Trail (a very well-maintained 3 mile trail from Crawford to Fort Robinson)
Crawford area: (Dawes County)
* Red Cloud Buttes trail system from Crawford around Lover's Leap Butte, Giants Coffin Butte, and Saddle
Rock, shown on forest service maps
Pine Ridge Trail: (Dawes County, south and southwest of Chadron - see Forest Service maps) The forest
service is now working on new trail that will link the whole Pine Ridge Trail system from Spotted Tail to West
Ash Creek.
* West Ash Creek Trailhead (West Ash Creek Road)
* East Ash Creek Trailhead (East Ash Creek Road)
* Roberts Trailhead (accessible from county roads)
* Rock Butte Loop Trail (branch loop from Roberts Trailhead)
* Coffee Mill Butte Trailhead (from Deadhorse Road)
* Spotted Tail Trailhead (several branches in area - goes through 2006 burn area)
* Chadron State Park Trailhead (across Highway 385, north 1/10 mile - small sign)
The Cliffs: (Dawes County, south of Chadron and 5.5 miles east of the Job Corps Center. Has picnic area &
vault toilet at parking lot)
* Two main trails that branch just south of The Cliffs. Hikers will notice a side trail from the west branch. This
runs back to the road you came in on. These trails are accessible from the Pine Ridge Trail system, by hiking
down the back road labeled on the Forest Service map as 718.
Chadron State Park Trails (Dawes County, 8 miles south of Chadron, on Highway 385) These trails have seen
major work, and are becoming much more "user-friendly"!
* Black Hills Overlook Trail (the park's best trail, with many scenic overlooks and a deep canyon pathway)
* Norwesca Trail (the park's newest trail, with trail links to Steamboat Loop, the Blue Trail, and the Yellow Trail)
* Outrider Trail (branch to Black Hills Overlook Trail, a favorite for horseback riders)
* Steamboat Loop Trail (short trail, but very scenic overlooks)
* Creekside Trail (short and not well-marked)
* Blue Trail
* Yellow Trail
Chadron (Dawes County)
* C-Hill trails (paved trailway, now officially the Heritage Trail. It is roughly 1.2 miles from the trailhead by the
CSC football stadium out to Maple Street. There are also unmarked dirt trails on the top of C-Hill)
* Cowboy Trail (under construction from Norfolk to Chadron - 321 miles long, a "rails-to-trails" project)
Ponderosa Wildlife Management Area (Dawes County)
* Rim of The World Trail (see cautions in next section below)
* Rattlesnake Trail (unmarked trail from Rim of The World Trail, out to Crown Butte)
Chadron Creek Wildlife Managment Area (Dawes County)
* this new state wildlife management area has a number of old roads that are good for hiking. These roads are
shown on forest service maps.
Wildcat Hills Area Trails (Scottsbluff County - maps & more info available from Scottsbluff-Gering Chamber of
Commerce)
* Scottsbluff Monument Trail (when completed, this very well maintained trail will be connected to the
Scottsbluff & Gering city trail system for a total of 26 miles of trails.)
* Scottsbluff & Gering city trails (includes paved trailway along North Platte River - trail access at Riverside
Zoo, "U" Street in Gering, and at Broadway & South Beltline in Scottsbluff)
* Wildcat Hills trails at State Recreation Area (Highway 71)
Bridgeport (Morrill County)
* Courthouse Rock hike and climb (5 miles south of Bridgeport on Highway 88, then turn at sign and go one
mile to public parking for Courthouse Rock.)
Garden County
* Ash Hollow Trails (Lewellen area, at Ash Hollow State Park. Trails at Visitors Center and at Windlass Hill)
* Crescent Lake National Wildlife Refuge (one short marked trail, plus thousands of acres of off-trail hiking
allowed).
Off-Trail & Backroad Hiking Only (no marked trails)
Safety Note: If you choose to do an off-trail or backroad hike in any area, especially the various state wildlife
managment areas, it is in your best interest to be aware of when the various hunting seasons are on. If you
choose to hike into an area that is open for hunting, please strongly consider wearing an orange vest! The
Nebraska Game and Parks Commission can assist you with information you need to determine the safest times
to hike. Permits are needed for organized group hikes in state wildlife managment areas.
Hay Springs (Sheridan County)
* Metcalf Wildlife Management Area (10 miles north of Hay Springs)
Chadron Area (Dawes County)
* Bordeaux Wildlife Management Area (east of Chadron)
* Chadron Creek Wildlife Management Area (south of Chadron)
* Ponderosa Wildlife Management Area (southwest of Chadron)
* Bighorn Wildlife Management Area (southwest of Chadron)
Fort Robinson Area (Sioux County)
* Peterson Wildlife Management Area
Gilbert-Baker State Wildlife Management Area (5 miles north of Harrison, in Sioux County - follow signs)
* canyon off-trail hiking & biking trails
Wildcat Hills Area (Scottsbluff County)
* Buffalo Creek State Wildlife Area (at County Road X and CR26)
* Cedar Canyon Wildlife Management Area (4 miles west of Highway 71 on Carter Canyon Road, then 1 1/2
south on county Road 17, and finally 1 mile west to the parking area)
* Bead Mountain Public Access Area (new - 3000 acres southeast of Gering, for hiking in only) (308) 763-2940
Off-Trail Hiking & Climbing
PLEASE bear in mind that not all panhandle summits are on public ground, and it is VERY IMPORTANT that you
get the owner's permission FIRST before attempting to cross private land and climb to the top. If you study the
list on the website below, you will note that it is not exhaustive. Despite the misconceptions about Nebraska
being all flat, many of these peaks and buttes are quite steep, some with sheer sides or rock walls well over
100 feet, and in some cases, over 200 feet. The summits of some of these are up to 800 feet above the valleys
nearby. Many do not have marked trails or roads, so it is well worth your time to stop first at the nearest
National Forest Service Office to check maps, find out who the landowners are, and get any other relevant
information necessary for a safe trip.
Some of the major buttes in Sioux and Dawes County are on public lands, eliminating the need to obtain
landowner permission. But, all require some off-trail hiking. And, some are adjacent to private land, so please
study your maps carefully! These are the major public buttes: Aristocrat Butte, Barrel Butte, Eagle's Eye,
Round Top Peak, Pine Butte, Crown Butte, Lovers Leap Butte, Flannigan Butte, Giants Coffin Butte, Coffee Mill
Butte, Rock Butte, and Saddle Rock.
| Please Note: The trails in the Panhandle vary greatly, whether it is length, grading, surface, or accessibility. The northwest part of the Panhandle has the greatest number of trails, with the majority of those being in Dawes and Sioux counties. There are also many old logging roads and unmarked trails used by hikers and mountain bikers. Please be aware of occasional horseback riders on these trails. Horses can sometimes spook easily, so please give right-of-way to horse traffic. The wise hiker or biker will take the time to study reliable maps, and if necessary, seek additional advice or other options. The National Forest Service offers the best maps locally, and you can also get lots of friendly advice as well. Please do not overlook state park offices, either. They also offer a wealth of information and friendly advice. The best map for trails, back roads, and landmarks in Dawes and Sioux counties, is the Nebraska National Forest Pine Ridge/Oglala National Grassland map, available from the National Forest Service offices. Below, you will find a list of marked trails in the Panhandle. These areas also allow some off-trail hiking: |
| Trail Notes A look at public hiking and biking trails and areas |