Head
’em up. Move ’em out!
When it’s time to round up the gang for a fun and relaxing vacation,
Nebraska offers outdoor destinations for everyone to enjoy. From
working guest ranches to lazy days on winding rivers, the wide-open
skies and wildly diverse terrain will leave your family begging
for more!
The western Panhandle of Nebraska offers striking sunsets, towering
buttes, and rare geological formations. Here you’ll find Chimney
Rock (the most mentioned land formation in pioneer journals), Courthouse
and Jail Rocks, Scotts Bluff, Wildcat Hills, and Toad-stool Geological
Park—all a part of Nebraska’s Pine Ridge country.
Spend
a day amongst the towering ponderosa pines
of the Nebraska National Forest, Pine Ridge
District, near Chadron and find yourself
wondering if you haven’t perhaps discovered
a little piece of paradise. Recognized as
a top mountain biking destination by Bicycling
and Adventure Cycling magazines, the Pine
Ridge area features 70 miles of mountain
biking trails and more than 25 miles of hiking
and horseback trails.
Nearby,
Chadron State Park also comes up big in the
outdoor fun category. The 927-acre park boasts
nearly 100 miles of dual- and single-track
dirt trails that meander up, over, and through
the rugged cliffs and tree lines of the Nebraska
National Forest. At 5,000 feet above sea
level, the trails offer an enjoyable challenge.
Be sure to pick up a weather-proof topographic
trail map at the Chadron Chamber of Commerce
or any local bike shop before beginning your
trek.
With
nearly 22,000 acres of spectacular scenery,
Fort Robinson State Park west of Crawford
is Nebraska’s largest state park and one
of its most beautiful. The park is popular
with outdoor enthusiasts because it features
20 miles of horseback trails and more than
60 miles of hiking and biking trails. Visitors
can camp in the park but often choose to
stay in “cabins” that once served as the
fort’s officer quarters.
Head
north from Fort Robinson and encounter one
of the world’s most complex ecosystems—the
95,000-acre Oglala National Grassland. The
preserve is a veritable ocean of prairie
grass and is considered to be a top spot
for hiking, biking, wildlife viewing, and
photography.
As
you make your way to the north-central part
of the state, pine-covered buttes make way
for 19,000 square miles of grass-stabilized
sand dunes— the largest formation of its
kind in the western hemisphere. The Sandhills
region is also prime cattle country. Here
you’ll find a number of guest ranches and
riding trails in one of the most pristine
and untouched parts of the country.
If
you’re looking for entertainment of the musical
variety, come be a part of one of the largest
country music festivals in the country. At
2nd Wind ranch near Comstock, you can listen
to four full days of top country acts while
admiring the world’s largest collection of
standing windmills.
If
peace and quite are music to your ears, this
region offers that as well. Paddle down the
Niobrara River—considered one of the top
ten canoeing destinations in the country.
Or simply sit and gaze at the twinkling night
sky at the Nebraska Star Party near Valentine.
Eastern Nebraska also has its share of unique geography. From the
bluffs along the Missouri River to the tall-grass prairies that
conestoga wagons once traversed, outdoor activities abound. Stay
at one of many state parks including Indian Cave State Park near
Brownville, Mahoney State Park between Lincoln and Omaha, and Ponca
State Park just west of South Sioux City. Here you’ll find a mixture
of modern conveniences and rustic beauty.
From
one end of the state to the other, Nebraska
offers outdoor adventure around every corner.
Call 1-877-NEBRASKA for a free packet of
information, or see the Web at www.VisitNebraska.org.
We’ll be delighted to get you started on
the kind of vacation you deserve.
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