Have you ever done the Cowboy Trail?

The Cowboy Trail is one of the most unique hiking and biking trails in Nebraska and one of the largest and longest rails-to-trails projects in the United States. The Cowboy Trail begins in Norfolk and extends 321 miles west to Chadron. It was constructed between Norfolk and Valentine and consists of 187 miles of crushed limestone pavement.

An additional 15-mile trail was recently constructed between Gordon and Rushville and is now open. For more information on the Cowboy Trail, visit OutdoorNebraska.gov/guides-maps/maps/.

I haven't done the entire trail, but it's on my bucket list. I've done the Newport to Valentine section of the trail. That's the section east of Newport to Norfolk that I need to do to cross it off my bucket list.

This was originally the route of the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad. Railroad engineers chose this route because it did not have a great change in topography in Nebraska. It is not flat, but from its starting point in Norfolk, the elevation gain to Valentine is only 190 feet. That's an elevation gain of about seven inches per mile. Most people who walk or bike the trail find it flat and not difficult to walk.

The old rails and ties were removed and the track was rebuilt with an 8-foot-wide path made of crushed limestone that was compacted to create a smoother surface. If you are doing the trail by bike, it is best to have a mountain bike or a bike with wider tires. Along the trail, you will cross wooden bridges that lead over small streams and cross the 100-foot-wide trail, which provides important cover for wildlife and small habitat zones for native prairie plants.

During the spring and summer, you can experience an explosion of wildflowers. You can also see wildlife such as bald eagles, turkey vultures, deer, rabbits, ground squirrels, pheasants, quail, and hundreds of wild bird species. If you're interested in bird watching, this trail should also be on your bucket list!

All hiking/biking trails have their special sights. Two of them that I saw on this trail are the railroad bridges over Long Pine Creek and the Niobrara River. These bridges are massive structures and offer exceptional views of each river valley. The bridge at Long Pine is 600 feet long and 144 feet high above the creek. The bridge east of Valentine is about 1,300 feet long and 150 feet above the Niobrara River. Biking over these bridges is a fantastic experience!

Towns along the line are generally 12 to 15 miles apart, which indecently corresponded to the distance steam locomotives could travel before they needed more water to make steam. Towns were generally built around the water towers to support the railroad. Most towns now have facilities to accommodate walkers and cyclists.

Many places have motels or campgrounds and places to eat, get supplies and water. The original Long Pine Depot is a restored wooden building and the crew quarters next to it can be rented for overnight travelers. You can get a sense of what it was like to live on the high prairie 100 years ago.

However, if you think you'd better go now and check this trail out for yourself, consider the following information. Starting August 7, a 1.5-mile section of the trail will be closed for repairs following flood damage that occurred near Long Pine several years ago. The project includes repairing the existing dam and building new culverts along the trail. This section of the trail is expected to reopen in November.

If hiking or biking is your hobby, consider the Nebraska Cowboy Trail for one of your adventures.