Cowboy Trail facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Cowboy Trail |
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Cowboy Trail near Rushville, NE.
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| Length | 195 miles (314 km) |
| Location | northern Nebraska |
| Established | 1996 |
| Designation | National Recreational Trail |
| Trailheads | Norfolk, Nebraska Valentine, Nebraska |
| Use | Hiking, Cycling, and Horseback Riding |
| Grade | 2% or less |
| Surface | finely crushed gravel, short sections have concrete |
| Right of way | Chicago and North Western Railway |
The Cowboy Trail is a really cool path in northern Nebraska. It's a special kind of rail trail, which means it used to be a railroad track! Now, it's a fun place for people to go bicycling, walking, and even horseback riding.
This trail follows an old railroad route. When it's all finished, the Cowboy Trail will stretch from Chadron to Norfolk. That's about 321 miles (517 km) long! This will make it the longest trail in the United States that used to be a railroad. It's also Nebraska's very first state recreational trail. The trail goes right through the beautiful Nebraska Outback area.
Contents
History of the Trail
From Railroad to Trail
Long ago, a railroad company built the "Cowboy Line" in the late 1870s and early 1880s. This was the same path that the Cowboy Trail uses today. The railroad stopped using the tracks west of Norfolk in 1992. The section east of Norfolk was closed even earlier, in 1982.
The railroad decided it was better to use other train routes. They didn't want to spend money to make this line strong enough for heavy coal trains. So, most of the old tracks were no longer used.
Creating the Cowboy Trail
In 1993, a group called the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy bought the old railroad land. They then gave it to the state of Nebraska. The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission is now in charge of building and taking care of the trail.
Workers have been building the trail bit by bit, adding about 10 to 20 miles (15 to 30 km) each year. By the summer of 2009, a big part of the trail was finished. This connected Valentine and Norfolk, creating a continuous path of 195 miles (314 km).
There was a small train line that used to run on the westernmost 74 miles (119 km) of the Cowboy Trail. This was from Chadron to Merriman. That train line stopped running in 2007. Now, plans are being made to finish the very last part of the Cowboy Trail in that area.
Exploring the Cowboy Trail
Towns Along the Way
There are 29 towns and communities located along the Cowboy Trail. Some of the bigger towns you'll find on the trail, going from west to east, include:
You can start your adventure at special trailheads in Valentine and Norfolk.
Trail Surface and Bridges
The parts of the trail that are finished are covered with finely crushed limestone. This makes it smooth for walking, biking, and riding horses.
One of the coolest things about the Cowboy Trail is its bridges! There are 221 bridges along the path. All of them have been made safe for people to use.
Some bridges are very impressive:
- The bridge over the Niobrara River near Valentine is super long. It's about a quarter-mile long (400 m) and 148 feet (45 m) high!
- The bridge over Long Pine Creek at Long Pine is also very long, at 595 feet (181 m), and 145 feet (44 m) high.
What You'll See
The Cowboy Trail runs next to US 20 and US 275 for most of its length. As you travel along the trail, you'll see many different kinds of landscapes. These include the tall trees of the Pine Ridge, the rolling hills of the Sandhills, and the beautiful valleys of the Niobrara River, Long Pine Creek, and the Elkhorn River. It's a great way to see the natural beauty of Nebraska!
