No Better Direction For You: A New Adventure in Northwest Nebraska

No Better Direction For You: A New Adventure in Northwest Nebraska

Flat. Boring. Plain. Not here. Everything you think you know about Nebraska will be turned on its head when you visit Northwest Nebraska.

AFTER ALL, THERE’S NO BETTER DIRECTION…

FOR BIKING

Whether you’re exploring the trails at Chadron State Park, Fort Robinson State Park, or the Pine Ridge Ranger District of the Nebraska National Forests & Grasslands, you’ll find bike trails for every skill level surrounded by scenery ranging from a sea of grassland landscape to towering buttes covered in Ponderosa pine.

FOR HIKING

Explore those same trails on foot or escape to Toadstool Geologic Park to hike through a lunar landscape and end up at Hudson-Meng Bison Education and Research Center, a bison kill site nestled in the surrounding grasslands with 11,000 years of Paleo-Indian history. Or hike to the top of the bluffs at Agate Fossil Beds National Monument to survey mammal fossils dating back 20 million years and then return to the visitors’ center to learn about Chief Red Cloud’s relationship with rancher James Cook through a collection of artifacts presented to the rancher by Red Cloud and other Lakota.

FOR NIGHT SKIES

It’s true that we don’t have large metro areas in Northwest Nebraska, but we make up for it with spectacular views of the night sky. Whether you’re camping out under the stars or just want to take a quick stroll outside after dark…look up for the light show.

FOR THE WILD WEST

What’s your definition of the Wild West? Rodeos? We’ve got ‘em. Every Fourth of July, the third-oldest PRCA rodeo in Nebraska takes place in

Crawford—the Old West Trail Rodeo. Add more western fun at the Sioux County Fair rodeos in Harrison or the Senior Pro Rodeo in Crawford. Quirky events? Check out the World Championship Buffalo Chip Throw during Fur Trade Days in Chadron, the Rubber Check Race during the Dawes County Fair, or hog wrestling at both the Sioux and Dawes County fairs. Little to no pavement? We got you! With 1,300 miles of gravel and natural earth roads, Northwest Nebraska’s Roads Less Traveled trips get you off the highway and onto the backroads. Keep an eye peeled for beautiful scenery and wildlife and explore out-of-the-way attractions. Bonus: The routes are great drives and fantastic gravel grinding options if you prefer two wheels. Frontier History? That’s here, too. Explore the Museum of the Fur Trade or pay your respects at Fort Robinson State Park, where Crazy Horse was killed and the Cheyenne Outbreak took place.

FOR SITTING AROUND THE CAMPFIRE

Tent camping? Traveling in an RV? Set up in Northwest Nebraska. Explore during the day and relax under the stars at night. From fully equipped hook-ups at two state parks to boondocking or pitching a tent on the National Forest Service and everything in between at several private locations, Northwest Nebraska captures the essence of what it means to get away from it all.

For Sitting in the Saddle

Horse lovers love Northwest Nebraska. Stay at the recently updated horse campgrounds at Fort Robinson State Park, once home to the largest remount station for the U.S. Cavalry, or head to Robert’s Tract Campground for a more remote option. Consider one of the many private ranch stays available through Northwest Nebraska High Country for even more options for you and your equine companion. No horse? That is no problem; both the Fort Robinson and Chadron State Parks offer trail rides.

For So Much More

Drop a line in a trout stream, paddle your kayak across a quiet pond or lake, launch your boat at Box Butte State Recreation Area, or chase the big game. The opportunities are endless.

For you, here, this year—what are you waiting for? Discover Northwest Nebraska.

Start planning your trip today. The 2024 Northwest Nebraska Travel Guide is available online or can be mailed upon request.