...took a road trip today to Scottsbluff, Nebraska, to visit the National Monument. Very windy, especially the drive out and the time we spent up on the bluff. By the time we headed for home the front causing the wind had moved eastward. Otherwise the weather was perfect, very cloudy but with patches of warm sunshine. A very pleasant autumn day.
The drive to Scottsbluff was fabulous, we took CO 14 and CO/ NE 71 both ways, which took us through a nice part of the Pawnee Grasslands, which we always enjoy driving through. Such a nice day for a drive! And such a great surprise when we got here and saw the magnificent views!!
I wasn't quite sure what to expect at the National Monument. We've seen Scottsbluff (and the other bluffs) from a distance, and knew that the monument was focused mostly on the Oregon Trail, but for some reason I hadn't really thought about how dramatic the views from the top of the bluffs would be.
And they are: breathtaking!!
In all directions!
The natural beauty is stunning (eroded bluffs and prairie vegetation), added to the geometrical designs carved by man (roads, cultivated fields, rows of houses...) and the feeling of being able to absolutely see to the ends of the earth...it all results in the realization of how special a place it is. And until today, I had no idea.
many of the drop-offs are quite steep
We hiked both the north and south trails on the top of the bluff. Both trails were paved and easy. The bluffs are very crumbly and some of the distances to the bottom are incredible--the paved trails provided a nice touch of confidence.
a section of the south trail
view of the North Platte River valley
the towns of Gering and Scottsbluff in the distance
driving to the top of the bluff
The Visitor's Center for the Monument is at the bottom of the hill, to get to the top of the bluffs you take a 1.5 mile road built by the CCC in the 1930s, a really nice road. 3 great tunnels.
the tunnels and tight turns limit the size of vehicles that can use the road
this is the lowest tunnel, and there really is a tight little curve inside!
taken from the top of the bluff, showing the road from the Visitor's Center to the first tunnel
just had to include these pictures of a plant we encountered on our hike on the south bluff trail. An opportunist which broke through the asphalt barrier, somehow, the only one we saw that did.
There weren't a lot of other people visiting the Monument today, but there were a few other vehicles full. Just happened to hit a lull as we were finishing up our north bluff trail hike and I took this picture, with our car the sole occupant of the parking area.
taken near the Monument entrance
view from just inside the Monument
taken from an overlook behind the Monument entrance sign
Just a few miles south of the Monument on 71 is this very nice Nature Center/ Rec area. We stopped in for a visit on our way home.
We drove around the rec area and checked out the camping and day use areas and took a general look around. Looks like a very nice place.
The Nature Center is obviously set up for school kids, with all kinds of fascinating exhibits. I especially enjoyed the living honeybee hive (wow!) and a display of mounted owls they had. I'd never seen anything like the diversity of the owls I saw today, don't think I've seen many together for a comparison before. And of course a rattlesnake skeleton, pictured above, and its skin:
The tree behind Joe is 2-stories tall and fake, it is in the center of the Nature Center. Very well done!
a
close-up of an exhibit in the tree
