Nebraska: Discover Nature, Trails and History

Nebraska combines vast landscapes, exceptional wildlife viewing and historic trails with diverse opportunities for active days. Between rivers, prairies, state parks and sites of cultural and historical significance, you can shape your trip in many different ways: by hiking and cycling, driving along historic roads, observing nature or visiting a museum. When searching for a vacation rental or holiday home, the type of trip you want is therefore particularly important.

Hiking, Cycling and Experiences in Nature

Nebraska’s state park system comprises more than 70 state parks, state recreation areas and state historical parks. Eight state parks offer swimming, cabins, hiking and fishing. There are also trails for cycling, horseback riding, snowmobiling and cross-country skiing. Those who like to plan an active stay will find various options for individual excursions and full-day itineraries.

One notable option is the Cowboy Trail. It stretches for 321 miles between Norfolk and Valentine and is suitable for cycling, horseback riding and hiking. Fort Robinson State Park adds 60 miles of hiking trails and 20 miles of mountain biking trails to this selection. Jeep tours through the surrounding tablelands and geological formations are also offered there.

The Niobrara National Scenic River also offers various ways to experience the landscape. It includes 76 river miles designated as especially scenic. Visitors can travel down the river by canoe, inner tube or kayak; hiking, cycling and wildlife viewing are also possible along the river. In the central Platte River Valley, around one million sandhill cranes gather during their migration from mid-February to early April. The valley serves as a resting place where they can rest and store energy.

History Between Prairies and Historic Trails

Nebraska can also be discovered through its history. Scotts Bluff rises 800 feet above the North Platte River and served as a landmark for Indigenous peoples as well as emigrants traveling the Oregon Trail, California Trail and Mormon Trail. Scotts Bluff National Monument offers almost four miles of hiking trails. Scotts Bluff Summit Road is the oldest concrete road in Nebraska and adds a clear historical dimension to trip planning.

At Homestead National Historical Park, trails lead through restored tallgrass prairie. The Palmer-Epard Cabin is an interpretive feature there and provides insight into life on the frontier after the Civil War. The Heritage Center offers information, exhibits, a bookstore and a film. The Nebraska History Museum is also ideal for a cultural and historical trip: it presents 12,000 years of Nebraska history through artifacts and stories and preserves more than 125,000 objects in its collections.

Traveling Along Scenic Byways

Those who want to get to know Nebraska on a longer drive can include the Heritage Highway Scenic Byway in their plans. It passes through 10 counties and connects communities where Nebraska’s history is preserved. The byway runs for 238 miles along U.S. 136 between Edison and Brownville. It is best to choose a vacation rental or holiday home based on the section of the journey you want to explore and the experiences you would like to combine during your stay.

The Sandhills Journey National Scenic Byway adds another impression of the landscape. In spring, migrating sandhill cranes cross the sky along the byway. Sand dunes and the Nebraska National Forest are landscape features that rise from the plains. The Sandhills Journey Scenic Byway Visitor Center is located in a modern red barn built in a farmhouse style in Broken Bow and offers indoor and outdoor exhibits as well as information about the region.

Regions for Further Searches

For further guidance, you can also visit the following subregions: Red Willow, Lancaster, Douglas, Blaine, Hall County, Dawson County, Buffalo County, Sarpy County, Gage County, Seward County, York County, Lincoln County, Dawes County, Scotts Bluff County, Kimball County, Cheyenne County, Madison County, Dodge County, Adams County, Holt County, Cherry County, Keith County, Dakota County, Otoe County, Richardson County, Cedar County, Washington County, Dundy County, Garfield County, Nuckolls County, Brown County, Sherman County, Webster County, Wayne County, Saunders County, Sheridan County, Cass County, Colfax County, Jefferson County, Deuel County, Franklin County, Cuming County, Thomas County, Thayer County, Phelps County, Kearney County and Valley County.

For the overarching travel overview: USA.