| Trekking Through the High Country |
 |
 |
 |
Experience the rugged beauty of northwest Nebraska. This path will take you through the natural wonders and manmade curiosities of Nebraska’s scenic high country. Towering geological formations, pine-studded bluffs and buttes, rolling sandhills, wagon wheel ruts, Old West storefronts, and lush river valleys await your visit. Have a blast exploring some of the best that the West has to offer. Experience an up-close pioneer’s-eye view of Chimney Rock at the Oregon Trail Wagon Train near Bayard. Be sure to stop at one of the most fascinating places in Nebraska, Carhenge near Alliance. This unique attraction is an exact replica of Stonehenge—but built entirely out of cars! Chadron State Park south of Chadron is Nebraska’s first state park and an outdoor recreation lover’s paradise. Nestled among towering pine trees and rugged buttes, the park is packed with fun-filled activities such as paddleboating, black powder demonstrations, hiking, biking, and sightseeing. Historical interests along this route include the ancient forces that carved the region’s unique rock formations and the fossilized remains of prehistoric beasts that roamed the area long before the pioneers came rolling through. At Toadstool Geologic Park north of Crawford, you’ll see some of the most dramatic rock formations on the planet. Within the wind- and rain-eroded clay lie many fossilized mammals. Also north of Crawford is Hudson-Meng Research and Education Center, where you’ll find the bones of more than 600 primitive bison killed more than 10,000 years ago. Agate Fossil Beds National Monument south of Harrison is a fossil lover’s dream come true. This 3,000-square-foot national monument houses fossilized mammals from 19 million years ago. Route Directions Start in Bayard at the Oregon Trail Wagon Train 53 miles east on US-26, north on US-385 to Alliance 56 miles north on US-385 to Chadron 25 miles west on US-20 to Crawford 27 miles west on US-20 to Harrison 24 miles south of Harrison on NE-29 to Agate Fossil Beds National Monument |
||||||||||
