Paul & Tara Visit the National Parks: Scotts Bluff National Monument

Visited: March 2018

Nearby city: Scottsbluff, NE

Although not the highest point in Nebraska, Scotts Bluff is one of the most prominent peaks in the state. It is located in the extreme western edge of the state (in the Nebraska Panhandle).

These bluffs were a very important landmark on the long trails to the West - (Oregon Trail, California Trail, Pony Express Trail, Mormon Trail, etc.) They signaled to these pioneers that the flat, featureless plains they had been traversing were finally coming to an end...and the Rocky Mountains were about to begin. This was a great place to stop and prepare for the upcoming, arduous leg of the trek. Scotts Bluff is the second-most referred to landmark along these trails in the journals and diaries of these pioneers.

Towering over the North Platte River, the Native Americans referred to these bluffs as Me-a-pa-te - meaning "the hill that is hard to go around." The first non-natives to see the bluffs were fur traders traveling along the North Platte River in 1812. The most prominent bluff was named after Hiram Scott, a fur trader who died in the area during the expedition. The other bluff is named South Bluff. The gap between the two bluffs is known as Mitchell Pass.

Between 1843 -1869, over 250,000 emigrants passed along Scotts Bluff on their trek westward.

The first non-native permanent settlement in the area was the town of Gering, founded in 1887. The town of Scottsbluff was established in 1900, across the bluffs on the other side of the North Platte River.

Due to the historical importance of this landmark, Scotts Bluff National Monument was established in 1919.

This is an interesting roadside stop and is worth spending an hour or two. Your first stop is the excellent visitors center at the base of the hill, with lots of information of the Oregon Trail, and all the other trails that passed by the bluffs. Spend some time here and then walk around the grounds for great views of the prominent bluff.

You can take a trail up to the top of the bluffs, or you can drive your car up to the top. This gives great, expansive views of the surrounding area.

The town of Gering.

Off in the distance, you can easily see another prominent landmark along the Oregon Trail: Chimney Rock. More on that below.

The bluffs are slowly eroding. This marker was placed on the bluff in the 1930s. When it was placed, the top the marker was level with the bluff. As you can see, in a little under a hundred years, the bluff has eroded several inches.

The town of Scottsbluff to the north.

The road that leads up to the top of the bluff.

Fun fact: the tunnels along the road to the top of the bluff are the only road tunnels in the entire state of Nebraska. 😀 *There is a railway tunnel in the state, but it has been abandoned since 1982.*

Learn more about the site here: https://www.nps.gov/scbl/index.htm

Bonus #1:

Chimney Rock National Historic Site

Just a few miles down the road is another prominent landmark along the Oregon Trail: Chimney Rock.

Rising 286 ft above its surroundings, this beautiful, craggy peak, is made up primarily of brule clay, intermixed with volcanic ash and Arikaree sandstone.

Chimney Rock is designated as an NPS unit, however it is managed and administered by the Nebraska State Historical Society. There is a small museum at the site.

Bonus #2:

Carhenge

About an hour's drive from Scotts Bluff, is one of my favorite quirky roadside attractions. Carhenge!

Just outside the small town of Alliance, you will find an exact replica of Stonehenge...but instead of being built with giant stones, it is made out of a variety of cars painted grey (and some partially buried in the ground).

An eccentric farmer and artist, Jim Reinders, constructed this homage to the ancient landmark in 1987.

There is also some other eccentric junkyard art to check out. It is pure Americana. I love this place. It's worth going a little out of your way to see.