The Cowboy
Recreation &
Nature Trail

 

 

Cowboy Trail Brochure | Cowboy Trail Amenities | General Information

Community Services | Trail Distances | History | Construction

Experience the nation’s longest rails-to-trail trek along the northern tier of Nebraska. You can hike, bike, or horseback ride a total of 195 miles on completed trail from Norfolk to Valentine. Enjoy the small towns along the way, beautiful scenery and pristine air on the Cowboy Trail.

Note: Due to flooding in 2010 -Other than some temporary closures due to resurfacing the only closed section from Norfolk to O'neil is on the washout between Mile Post 123.5 and 121.5 or 1mile east of Clearwater then east for 2 miles. Trail users simply travel HWY 275 to continue.

View a Cowboy Trail Slide Show on Flickr. If you have photos you would like to have included in this slide show email your photos to ngpc.trails@nebraska.gov

Born in the 1870s as a route to Black Hills gold, this 321-mile railroad corridor created and supplied settlements across northern Nebraska. Soon after the trains stopped in 1992, Rails to Trails Conservancy purchased the right-of-way for the nation's longest recreational rail-to-trail project.

For more information on Cowboy Trail:

Craig Wacker
Craig.Wacker@nebraska.gov