Towering 800 feet above the North Platte River, Scotts Bluff has served as a landmark for peoples from Native Americans to emigrants on the Oregon, California and Mormon Trails to modern travelers. Rich with geological and paleontological history as well as human history, there is much to discover while exploring the 3000 acres of Scotts Bluff National Monument.
Visible for miles, Chimney Rock was more than a wonder of nature. It was also a significant landmark in measuring the emigrants’ progress west. This natural feature was a “grand and splendid object” to emigrants who had never seen the geology of the American West. As they traveled alongside the North Platte River, they peered eagerly ahead for their first view of the rock. As such, it was mentioned in more emigrant diaries than any other landmark on the Oregon Trail!
The park, which is situated high on a rocky escarpment in the Wildcat Hills, offers an escape to the region’s signature rugged topography and evergreen-studded canyons. Features include a Nature Center, Shooting Sports Complex, overnight camping and a vast system of trails. An extraordinary view of the North Platte River Valley can be seen from the trails and Nature Center observation decks.
At 2158 acres, Lake Minatare State Recreation Area is the Panhandle’s largest body of water, attracting thousands of anglers, campers, water skiers and swimmers each year. Lake Minatare boasts excellent outdoor recreation opportunities, while irrigating thousands of acres in the North Platte Valley.
The Refuge was recognized as an important place for migratory birds with fall concentrations of Mallards (250,000); Canada geese (11,000); and Bald Eagles. President Woodrow Wilson established this area as a National Wildlife Refuge in 1916 by Executive Order No. 2446 as a “preserve and breeding ground for native birds”. Today, the over 2700 acre Refuge provides habitat for a variety of wildlife species.
In the early 1900s, paleontologists unearthed the Age of Mammals when they found full skeletons of extinct Miocene mammals in the hills of Nebraska — species previously only known through fragments. At the same time, an age of friendship began between rancher James Cook and Chief Red Cloud of the Lakota. These two unprecedented events are preserved and protected here… at Agate Fossil Beds.
Carhenge consists of the circle of cars, three standing trilithons within the circle, the heel stone, slaughter stone, and two station stones. Sir John Aubrey first recognized the earthworks and great stones as a prehistoric temple in 1648. It was not until excavations undertaken in the 1920’s that there were found to be holes cut to hold timber uprights. A total of 56 holes were discovered and named the Aubrey Holes in honor of his observation.
Originally establishedas a private fur trading fort in 1834, Fort Laramie evolved into the largest amd best known militaty post on the Northern Plains before its abandonment in 1890. This “grand old post” withnessed the entire sweeping saga of America’s western expansion and Indian resistance to encroachment on their territories.
In the Nebraska National Forests and Grasslands you can find quiet, undeveloped spaces. Solitude is closer than you think. Here, East meets West as seen in the wildlife and plant mix. These large tracts of public land are the closest places for Midwesterners to hunt and play. Travelers crossing the country often stop here to rest and see something different. Nebraska National Forests and Grasslands include the Nebraska National Forest, Samuel R. McKelvie National Forest, Buffalo Gap National Grassland, Fort Pierre National Grassland and Oglala National Grassland.
Stunning Fort Robinson State Park comprises more than 22,000 acres of exquisite Pine Ridge scenery, compelling Old West history, exceptional lodging, scenic camping and the park’s own buffalo and longhorn herds. Fort Robinson is a particularly popular destination for family reunions and has been named one of the nation’s top family reunion spots by USA Today, among other publications.
The 6,600 acre Pine Ridge National Recreation Area was established south of Chadron, NE on October 20, 1986. The intent was to provide backcountry recreation opportunities in a primitive/semi-primitive ponderosa pine environment. Wildfires swept through the Pine Ridge region in 2006 and again in 2012, burning thousands of acres of forest and meadow areas.
Trail Ride at Chadron State Park in Dawes County. Visitors enjoy a trail ride at Chadron State Park. Haag, Sept. 5, 2015. Copyright NEBRASKAland Magazine, Nebraska Game and Parks Commission.
Nebraska’s first state park, Chadron State Park was founded in 1921 and is nestled among the distinctive buttes and canyons of Nebraska’s Pine Ridge. Since its founding a century ago, it’s remained a popular spot for camping, family reunions and old-fashioned vacations where guests can escape and enjoy spending time in one of the state’s most famous landscapes.
Badlands National Park contains a number of stories. Whether you’re interested in a 75-million year old fossil record, archeological finds dating back 12000 years, or recent monitoring of the park’s mixed-grass prairie, you’re sure to find something that interests you. Use the links below to navigate to the park’s learning portals, where you can check out articles and read about the many stories of the Badlands.
Rocky Mountain National Park’s 415 square miles (265,807 acres) encompasses a spenctacular range of mountain environments. From meadows found in the montane life zone to glistening alpine lakes and up to the towering mountain peaks, there is something for everyones to discover. Along the way explore over 300 miles of hiking trails and incredible wildlife viewing,
America’s Shrine of Democracy, Mount Rushmore National Memorial features the 60 feet faces of four great American presidents — George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln, respectively. These four U.S. Presidents represent the birth, growth, development and preservation of this country.
on March 1, 1872, Yellowstone became the first national park for all to enjoy the unique hydrothermal and geologic features. Within Yellowstone’s 2.2 millon acres, visitors have unparalleled opportunities to observe wildlife in an intact ecosystem, explore geothermal areas that contain about half the world’s avtive geysers, and view geologic wonders like the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone River.
Located on the Oregon Trail, the Legacy of the Plains Museum features an impressive collection of pioneer and early community artifacts, antique tractors, and farm implements; an 80-acre working farm; historic farmstead structures; and striking views of Scotts Bluff National Monument. Come live the timeless stories of the Nebraska prairie.
A premier visual arts and Cultural Center featuring 20 exhibits each year by local, regional, and nationally known artists. The galley is always free and opent to the public.
