Trail Reports The trails in the Panhandle vary greatly, whether it is length, grading, surface, or accessibility.  The northwest part of the Panhandle has the greatest number of trails, with the majority of those being in Dawes and Sioux counties.  There are also many old logging roads and unmarked trails used by hikers and mountain bikers.  Please be aware of occasional horseback riders on these trails.  Horses can sometimes spook easily, so please give right-of-way to horse traffic.  The wise hiker or biker will take the time to study reliable maps, and if necessary, seek additional advice or other options.  The National Forest Service offers the best maps locally, and you can also get lots of friendly advice as well.  Please do not overlook state park offices, either.  They also offer a wealth of information and friendly advice. The best map for trails, back roads, and landmarks in Dawes and Sioux counties, is the Nebraska National Forest Pine Ridge/Oglala National Grassland map, available from the National Forest Service offices.  Below, you will find a list of marked trails in the Panhandle.  These areas also allow some off-trail hiking: Toadstool Geologic Park: (Sioux County, northwest of Crawford)  * Toadstool Trail (one mile loop trail)  * Bison Trail (3 miles to Hudson-Meng Bison Kill area) Agate Fossil Beds: (Sioux County prairie trails, 20 miles south of Harrison on Highway 29)  * Fossil Hills Trail  * Darmonelix Trail Fort Robinson area:  (60 miles of hiking trails and 20 mikes of biking trails in Sioux & Dawes Counties, west of Crawford - some maps available in Crawford and at Fort Robinson - National Forest Service maps are most detailed, though)  * Fort Laramie-to-Fort Robinson Trail (primarily a Sioux County trail)  * Trooper Trail (Soldier Creek Wilderness Area)  * Boots and Saddles Trail (Soldier Creek Wilderness Area)  * White River Trail (a very well-maintained 3 mile trail from Crawford to Fort Robinson) Crawford area:  (Dawes County) * trail system from Crawford around Lover's Leap Butte, Giants Coffin Butte, and Saddle Rock, shown on forest service maps Pine Ridge Trail:  (Dawes County, south and southwest of Chadron - see Forest Service maps)  * West Ash Creek Trailhead (West Ash Creek Road)  * East Ash Creek Trailhead (East Ash Creek Road)  * Roberts Trailhead (accessible from county roads)  * Rock Butte Loop Trail (branch loop from Roberts Trailhead)  * Coffee Mill Butte Trailhead (from Deadhorse Road)  * Spotted Tail Trailhead (several branches in area - goes through 2006 burn area)  * Chadron State Park Trailhead (across Highway 385, north 1/10 mile - small sign) The Cliffs:  (Dawes County, south of Chadron and 5.5 miles east of the Job Corps Center.  Has picnic area & vault toilet at parking lot) * Two main trails that branch just south of The Cliffs. Hikers will notice a side trail from the west branch.  This runs back to the road you came in on.  These trails are accessible from the Pine Ridge Trail system, by hiking down the back road labeled on the Forest Service map as 718. Chadron State Park Trails (Dawes County, 8 miles south of Chadron, on Highway 385)  * Black Hills Overlook Trail (the park's best trail, with many scenic overlooks and a deep canyon pathway)  * Outrider Trail (branch to Black Hills Overlook Trail, a favorite for horseback riders)  * Steamboat Loop Trail (short trail, but very scenic overlooks)  * Creekside Trail (short and not well-marked)  * Blue Trail  * Yellow Trail Chadron (Dawes County)  * C-Hill trails (paved trailway, now officially the Heritage Trail.  It is roughly 1.2 miles from the trailhead by the CSC football stadium out to Maple Street.  There are also unmarked dirt trails on the top of C-Hill)  * Cowboy Trail (under construction from Norfolk to Chadron - 321 miles long, a "rails-to-trails" project) Ponderosa Wildlife Management Area (Dawes County) * Rim of The World Trail (see cautions in next section below) * Rattlesnake Trail (unmarked trail from Rim of The World Trail, out to Crown Butte) Chadron Creek Wildlife Managment Area (Dawes County) * this new state wildlife management area has a number of old roads that are good for hiking.  These roads are shown on forest service maps. Wildcat Hills Area Trails (Scottsbluff County - maps & more info available from Scottsbluff-Gering Chamber of Commerce)  * Scottsbluff Monument Trail (when completed, this very well maintained trail will be connected to the Scottsbluff & Gering city trail system for a total of 26 miles of trails.)  * Scottsbluff & Gering city trails (includes paved trailway along North Platte River - trail access at Riverside Zoo, "U" Street in Gering, and at Broadway & South Beltline in Scottsbluff)  * Wildcat Hills trails at State Recreation Area (Highway 71) Bridgeport (Morrill County)  * Courthouse Rock hike and climb (5 miles south of Bridgeport on Highway 88, then turn at sign and go one mile to public parking for Courthouse Rock.) Garden County  * Ash Hollow Trails (Lewellen area, at Ash Hollow State Park.  Trails at Visitors Center and at Windlass Hill)  * Crescent Lake National Wildlife Refuge (one short marked trail, plus thousands of acres of off-trail hiking allowed - see map, by clicking here:  Crescent Lake )  Off-Trail & Backroad Hiking Only (no marked trails) Note:  If you choose to do an off-trail or backroad hike in any area, especially the various state wildlife managment areas, it is in your best interest to be aware of when the various hunting seasons are on.  If you choose to hike into an area that is open for hunting, please strongly consider wearing an orange vest!  The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission can assist you with information you need to determine the safest times to hike.  Permits are needed for organized group hikes in state wildlife managment areas.  Hay Springs (Sheridan County)  * Metcalf Wildlife Management Area (10 miles north of Hay Springs) Chadron Area (Dawes County)  * Bordeaux Wildlife Management Area (east of Chadron)  * Chadron Creek Wildlife Management Area (south of Chadron)  * Ponderosa Wildlife Management Area (southwest of Chadron)  * Bighorn Wildlife Management Area (southwest of Chadron) Fort Robinson Area (Sioux County)  * Peterson Wildlife Management Area Gilbert-Baker State Wildlife Management Area (5 miles north of Harrison, in Sioux County - follow signs)  * canyon off-trail hiking & biking trails Wildcat Hills Area (Scottsbluff  County)  * Buffalo Creek State Wildlife Area (at County Road X and CR26)  * Cedar Canyon Wildlife Management Area (4 miles west of Highway 71 on Carter Canyon Road, then 1 1/2 south on  county Road 17, and finally 1 mile west to the parking area)  * Bead Mountain Public Access Area (new - 3000 acres southeast of Gering, for hiking in only) (308) 763-2940  Off-Trail Hiking & Climbing Hikers who like to do some climbing with their hiking, may find the following website links interesting: AmericasRoof.com - Nebraska page - http://americasroof.com/highest/ne.shtml MountainPeaks.net - Nebraska - http://www.mountainpeaks.net/hiking_nebraska.html Until we get live link permission for these pages, you will have to copy and paste, to go to these pages.  PLEASE bear in mind that not all these summits are on public ground, and it is VERY IMPORTANT that you get the owner's permission FIRST before attempting to cross their land and climb to the top.  If you study the list, you will note that neither is exhaustive, nor do they agree with one another.  Despite the misconceptions about Nebraska being all flat, many of these peaks and buttes are quite steep, some with sheer sides or rock walls well over 100 feet, and in some cases, over 200 feet.  The summits of some of these are up to 800 feet above the valleys below.  Many do not have marked trails or roads, so it is well worth your time to stop first at the nearest National Forest Service Office to check maps, find out who the landowners are, and get any other relevant information necessary for a safe trip up. Some of the major buttes in Sioux and Dawes County are on public lands, eliminating the need to obtain landowner permission.  But, all require some off-trail hiking. And, some are adjacent to private land, so please study your maps carefully!  These are the buttes:  Eagle's Eye, Round Top Peak, Pine Butte, Crown Butte, Lovers Leap Butte, Flannigan Butte, Giants Coffin Butte, Coffee Mill Butte, Rock Butte, and Saddle Rock.