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Shuttle - Norfolk to Valentine - Sep 2
 -  + It's a bit pricey for just me and my trip companion, so is anyone else needing the shuttle service at this time?
Discussion started 07/20/2018 04:37 PM by Jeni - 14 replies (last reply by Jon Stuthman at 08/14/2018 10:10 AM)
Jeni from West Texas on 07/20/2018 04:37 PM
It's a bit pricey for just me and my trip companion, so is anyone else needing the shuttle service at this time?

 
Dimitri from Lincoln on 07/26/2018 12:37 PM
When are you riding and are you doing the whole trail? If so, are you camping or staying at any hotels? I am wanting to ride this, but have yet to plan it out...can do it on the fly. :-)

 
Jeni on 07/27/2018 03:14 PM
We're not looking for trail companions, just someone to share the shuttle to cut down on costs. We booked the shuttle for September 2nd.

 
Anonymous on 08/08/2018 02:57 PM
Did you find someone to share the shuttle on Sep 2? That actually might work for us. We are a couple who will be doing the trail the week prior to Labor Day. I believe the outfitters charge $350 to carry up to 4 bikes? Just realized, we want the shuttle from Valentine to Norfolk that day. Maybe they can cut us both a deal since they will be making the trip to Valentine anyway to drop you off.

 
Patty from Brownsville, MN on 08/08/2018 03:37 PM
Just checked with the outfitter and he said he would consider a discount both our groups. He is confirming with his partner now and will get back to us. I'm the one in last post who wants the shuttle from Valentine to Norfolk on Sept 2.

 
Jeni on 08/09/2018 08:33 AM
Awesome! I'll wait to hear back.

 
Patty from Brownsville, MN on 08/11/2018 09:23 AM
I have a voicemail from him but he did not confirm anything and I need to call him back. Previously he said he would apply $100 discount for both of us. I would confirm with him on your discount. We will definitely do this if he applies the discount. If not, we might ride back instead of exploring the unimproved trail beyond Valentine.

 
Patty from Brownsville, MN on 08/11/2018 09:58 AM
I called him and he reluctantly agreed to the $100 discount after I told him that we'd probably not take the shuttle for just a $50 discount. So call and confirm the discount directly with him but he did say he would give you a discount too. We need to know your drop off point so we can be there for pickup on the 2nd.

 
Anonymous on 08/12/2018 08:03 AM
Yes, I spoke before checking into it. This shuttle is on a holiday. One of our busiest days of the summer for my kayak business. I do this shuttle to help folks get on the trail. Because I am honoring my mistake, I will not be able to open my business until we return, costing me hundreds of dollars in lost income. It takes 2 employees 7 hours to do this shuttle. I guess if folks think its "A bit pricey" I will quit offering the service in the future.

 
Jon Stuthman from norfolk on 08/12/2018 09:42 AM
Sorry, didn't mean to respond anonymously. I'm just guessing that folks do not understand that this shuttle takes 2 employees at least 7 hours to complete if everyone is where they are supposed to be. In the future, there will be an additional charge for holiday shuttles. For this trip, as long as the other group is willing to move their departure time to 6am to accommodate you, we will give you each the discount. Thanks, and have a great day!

 
Jon Stuthman from norfolk on 08/13/2018 08:52 AM
Patty, I will need you to fill out the form on our website like I mentioned on Friday. We will also need the $100 deposit by tomorrow evening to complete our scheduling for your holiday shuttle. The form is at nforkoutfitting.com, and after you send it Lita can call for the deposit. Thanks, and see you soon!

 
Patty from Brownsville, MN on 08/14/2018 08:21 AM
I didn't know the other party had to move their departure time. You said they were leaving at 8? and would arrive at 11. Are they willing? So now what time will you arrive in Valentine? Anyway, I just saw this post about filling out form. I did plan to do it soon and will do it today.

 
Patty from Brownsville, MN on 08/14/2018 08:36 AM
I filled out the online form. My thoughts about this is that it is expensive compared to other shuttles. You can get support for each day of week long state ride for that, including some meals but the difference is volume, so they can charge less. Your service is very much needed and would essentially end business for Cowboy Trail if you stopped doing it. More people need to offer this service. The other option (Panda Transportation) is even more expensive, so essentially Norfolk Outfitters have a monopoly.

 
Patty from Brownsville, MN on 08/14/2018 08:58 AM
Example of Shuttle Service in Minnesota:
Embracing Pines Shuttle Service
Serving the Paul Bunyan & Heartland Trails
Schedule and Rates

Standard trail pick-up and drop-off
$10 per person and bicycle
$20 minimum, six passenger maximum
$1 per mile*
Ex: 4 cyclists & Bicycles 30 miles one-way with the B&B along the way, pick-up or drop-off, would be $70.

 
Jon Stuthman from norfolk on 08/14/2018 10:10 AM
My rate for 4 bikes 30 miles would $55.50. Sorry for being a bit offended by the comment. I do not like having to charge $350 for my shuttle, but between outrageous liability insurance, vehicle maintenance, and 6 hours pay for 2 employees, I do not make anything on this shuttle, I do it to bring tourists like yourself to my amazing town to ride on our awesome trail. See you soon!


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Shuttle - Norfolk to Valentine - Sep 2
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Chadron to Valentine
 -  + Does anyone know what trail conditions are like from Chadron to Valentine, particularly for running? I emailed a Parks Dept. staff member who said it was possible but there is tall grass, and not deve...
Discussion started 08/11/2018 08:34 AM by Phil - 2 replies (last reply by steve at 08/13/2018 04:38 PM)
Phil from New York on 08/11/2018 08:34 AM
Does anyone know what trail conditions are like from Chadron to Valentine, particularly for running? I emailed a Parks Dept. staff member who said it was possible but there is tall grass, and not developed. I'm accustomed to rough trails but I also want to make good time. If anyone has any experience there, it would be appreciated.

 
Anonymous on 08/11/2018 09:31 AM
It's very difficult to get any information on this portion of the trail. We want to explore it on our trip in late August and will have some info for you. Towns and services are limited. We probably won't make it all the way to Chadron. I'll check our proposed itinerary and get back to you.

 
steve from Saint Louis on 08/13/2018 04:38 PM
I drove on the highway from Chadron to Valentine a few years ago and from what I observed from the road I would not run or bike that section. I doubt anything has really changed since that time. I also ran the Sandhills Marathon near Valentine(but not on the Cowboy) two times, and I seen all the Sandhills that I ever want to see with that race.


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Chadron to Valentine
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Norfolk to Valentine and back
 -  + I'm planning on mtn biking from Norfolk to Valentine and back in mid-late Sept. The plan is a couple of 80 mile days, a shorter 3rd day and checking out Valentine, then heading back the next day. La...
Discussion started 08/09/2018 06:37 PM by Dougt - 0 replies
Dougt from Onawa, Ia on 08/09/2018 06:37 PM
I'm planning on mtn biking from Norfolk to Valentine and back in mid-late Sept. The plan is a couple of 80 mile days, a shorter 3rd day and checking out Valentine, then heading back the next day. Last year there were comments about a bridge being out between Neligh and Clearwater, and lots of thorns on the trail between Ainsworth and Johnston. Is that still true? Suggestions as to cheap, clean places to stay in O'Neill and Ainsworth on the way out, and maybe Basset or Stuart and Neligh on the way back. Any and all helpful information is appreciated!


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Norfolk to Valentine and back
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Tree down between Long Pine & Ainsworth
 -  + A few days ago, someone reported a tree blocking the trail between Long Pine and Ainsworth, just east of where Road 435 intersects the trail. There is room to get past the tree by climbing over some ...
Discussion started 08/07/2018 08:45 AM by Ray (webmaster) - 0 replies
Ray (webmaster) on 08/07/2018 08:45 AM
A few days ago, someone reported a tree blocking the trail between Long Pine and Ainsworth, just east of where Road 435 intersects the trail. There is room to get past the tree by climbing over some branches to the side, but just be aware and prepared.



Thanks MB for the heads-up!


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Conditions on the Cowboy Trail
 -  + Five of us rode the Cowboy Trail from Valentine to Norfolk last weekend (May 18,19) -- Two of us did 196 miles in two days; a third guy did three days. We had a blast. We were concerned after hearin...
Discussion started 05/22/2018 12:50 PM by B.A. Fezziwig - 4 replies (last reply by Dougt at 08/06/2018 10:37 AM)
B.A. Fezziwig from Norfolk, NE on 05/22/2018 12:50 PM
Five of us rode the Cowboy Trail from Valentine to Norfolk last weekend (May 18,19) -- Two of us did 196 miles in two days; a third guy did three days. We had a blast. We were concerned after hearing the comments from the riders from Kansas. W wonder what trail they were on - there was some rough spots in the first 20 miles and minor vegetation growth on the trail in another section, but it was a fantastic trail/ride. We had no complaints like Kansas riders - I guess we had realistic expectations. We weren't expecting a sidewalk - we were expecting a trail. It rained 2.5 inches the night before we started, but the trail was surprisingly not that soft. We also kicked out to Highway 20 for the 7 miles before Ainsworth and Atkinson since we'd heard last year that those areas are bad for goat-heads. We did not encounter a single goat-head. The only issue we had was rain most of the second day, but again, we knew what we were getting into when we signed up for it.

 
troy from lincoln ne on 05/29/2018 04:07 PM
Is there a trail wash out east of Clearwater? Read that there was on another posting.
Thanks!

 
Alex from Lincoln on 06/05/2018 06:16 AM
Thanks for the condition update!

Troy - yes there is a detour around a bridge on the east side of Clearwater. It is well marked, and about 3 miles of riding along the highway with a good shoulder. Not bad at all.

 
Thomas from San Antonio on 06/05/2018 04:09 PM
B.A
what types of bikes did you use? Is there any part of this trail Road Bike friendly?

 
Dougt from Onawa, Ia on 08/06/2018 10:37 AM
Interested in your ride. I'm thinking of driving to Norfolk mid Sept and taking off. Making a 3 day trip to Valentine, spending the rest of the day and a night there and then biking back. I'd be interested as to where you stayed, recommendations, etc. I can do 80 miles/day on a mtn bike on a trail no problem, but trying to do it in 2 days might be stretching me out too far. Thanks in advance! Secure parking in Norfolk?


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Thirsty for information and contacts
 -  + Planning an event in July 2019 and the CT is the center piece. Currently planning to bookend this event with a marathon. In between is rucking with self support gear, and also mountain biking to picku...
Discussion started 07/27/2018 09:11 PM by Arlus - 0 replies
Arlus from Currently South Bend on 07/27/2018 09:11 PM
Planning an event in July 2019 and the CT is the center piece. Currently planning to bookend this event with a marathon. In between is rucking with self support gear, and also mountain biking to pickup mileage. It’s a Pipe dream, but looking to cover 500 miles in 7days.
Mainly wanted to know why the map is shading Kilgore to Valentine?
Also, are there places to drop gear, food, and whatever else along the journey.
Will take any guidance or information..


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Norfolk to Valentine
 -  + My wife and I made the trek from Norfolk to Valentine June 5-7, 2018. We were on mountain bikes with tubeless tires and only had one problem that was easily resolved with adding more sealant in the ...
Discussion started 06/16/2018 07:55 PM by A & L - 2 replies (last reply by Dimitri at 07/26/2018 12:43 PM)
A & L from California on 06/16/2018 07:55 PM
My wife and I made the trek from Norfolk to Valentine June 5-7, 2018. We were on mountain bikes with tubeless tires and only had one problem that was easily resolved with adding more sealant in the tire. We over estimated our ability for day 1 with our attempt to ride from Norfolk to O’Neill (@ 80 miles). Our lunch stop was Mamas’ and Nanas’ – which we would recommend. The afternoon of this day is a little bit of blur as we were focused on the next shade and/or town with a place to cool off. We thought the trail was in good condition on day 1 and we only rode on the road for @ 2 miles due to the bridge being out. For day 2, we were able to hitch a ride from Emmet to Bassett. After that, we continued our ride into Ainsworth. The Local House 20 in Ainsworth is a great place to grab a bite to eat and cool off. The trail from O’Neill to Emmet and from Bassett to Ainsworth was in good condition. Day 3 was the rest of the way to Valentine. Day 3 had the worse trail conditions of all three days, but none were enough to make us get on the road. There were sections that were more overgrown than other areas, there were areas where livestock had rutted the trail pretty good, and once we veered away from Highway 20, there was quite a bit of washboard from vehicle travel. All of these areas were not for very long. We had anticipated few stops on this day and picked up some lunch stuff at the store in Ainsworth the night before. We stopped at the post office in Wood Lake, who directed us to the park to refill our water. In Valentine, we had lunch at the Coachlight Café (try the peanut butter bacon cheeseburger), pre-dinner drinks at Bolo Brewery (good selection), and dinner at the Peppermill (highly recommend). We did ride partially through Valentine to find the Cowboy Trailhead park.

We stayed in hotels along the way, rather than camping. Due to the ability to make reservations online, we stayed at chain hotels. After driving through the area, several of the smaller, local hotels looked nice. We did take advantage of the breakfast at the hotels most mornings. Most restaurants were not open until a little later, so having a somewhat substantial breakfast helped carry us through the day.

One thing that we noticed about the trail is that many of the towns are not well marked and neither are points of interest that you might be interested in just off the trail. Luckily we had cell service and were able to find some of these along the way. Even still, we missed several.

When we were planning the trip, it was suggested that we ride from Valentine to Norfolk because of the grade but we found the grade to not be a challenge. Surprisingly, we had a tail wind or slight side wind for most of the three days.

On our drive to Valentine to drop our vehicle, we saw quite a few riders on the road and only one or two on the trail. During our ride, we only saw one other pair of cyclists, who were going the opposite direction (and they were on the road).

Almost everyone we met was very friendly. Surprisingly, some were not aware of the Cowboy Trail serving as a rail trail (for biking) and several businesses were not aware of the website that lists amenities in each town.

Overall, the 2 ½ days made up for the ½ day of misery (caused by our over-estimating our ability to deal with the heat/humidity). If we were to do it again, we’d break it into 4 days. I have seen several comments in this thread about creating a resource of “must see” areas while on the trail and that would be a great addition for riding this trail.

 
Alex from Lincoln on 06/26/2018 03:56 PM
Thanks for your write-up! Glad you came out at rode the Cowboy Trail.

 
Dimitri from Lincoln on 07/26/2018 12:43 PM
Yeah, thanks for the in-depth write-up, it was AWESOME! I hope to ride this trail soon!


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Cowboy Trail 6/26-6/29
 -  + Hi.
Just finished the trail on Friday 6/29. (Valentine to Norfork) We rode a Fat tire Pugsley and 2 older road bikes with 1 1/4 tires
(In our defense we have used the road bike setup on the KT ...
Discussion started 07/02/2018 07:47 AM by Kevin Mulvihill - 2 replies (last reply by Kevin Mulvihill at 07/05/2018 06:16 PM)
Kevin Mulvihill from Rensselaer on 07/02/2018 07:47 AM
Hi.
Just finished the trail on Friday 6/29. (Valentine to Norfork) We rode a Fat tire Pugsley and 2 older road bikes with 1 1/4 tires
(In our defense we have used the road bike setup on the KT Trail, the C+O, the GAP and others without problems)
The Pugsley floated over everything! The 1 1/4s not so much...quite possibly because of the horrendous rains the area had received recently.(duh)
The trail was rough and our choice of bikes made it worse.
We ended up doing about maybe 25% on the trail and the rest on the road. Traffic was mostly light, gave us plenty of room and the shoulder was clean and smooth. The people we met and the towns we stopped in were all very friendly and supportive. East City Park in Ainsworth was very clean. Mill Race Park in Atkinson has a new hot shower! Hot shower in Riverside park in Neligh too! We finished up in Ta-Ha-Zouka Park (hot shower!) were we had left our car before being shuttled to Valentine by North Fork Outfitting. In short it was a good ride in a great area amongst friendly people.
I'll be happy to answer specific questions, if I can.

 
Anonymous on 07/05/2018 11:48 AM
I have a road bike I outfitted with 28 mm Continental touring tires. Completed the Katy Trail this year, and the Sparta-Elroy trails (both crushed limestone) with no problems, and no flat tires. Are you indicating that I should have some wider tires? (Meaning, quite probably, a different bike.)


 
Kevin Mulvihill from Rensselaer on 07/05/2018 06:16 PM
Hi,
I've done Elroy-Sparta too on my 1 1/4 tires, my point is that the Cowboy Trail is quite doable on bikes like ours, but just not as enjoyable as Don was on his fat tire Pugsley. Both of us 1 1/4 guys decided that maybe a mountain bike would've been the way to go. Then again like I said it could have been that the weather put the trail in less than ideal shape.


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Tire Sizes
 -  + We've enjoyed reading the comments from previous riders, but haven't seen a lot of info on recommended tire widths. Was wondering if a 38C hybrid tire would suffice, or, if not, what tire width folks...
Discussion started 05/28/2018 03:31 PM by ronray43 - 3 replies (last reply by Dave at 07/05/2018 11:58 AM)
ronray43 from Colorado Springs on 05/28/2018 03:31 PM
We've enjoyed reading the comments from previous riders, but haven't seen a lot of info on recommended tire widths. Was wondering if a 38C hybrid tire would suffice, or, if not, what tire width folks are recommending.

 
Alex from Lincoln on 06/05/2018 06:05 AM
I would recommend cramming the largest tire that fits in the frame but 38c would be sufficient for sure. I’d run it down around 40 psi to make the ride a bit more supple and helps the tire float on the loose limestone a bit better. A nice fast rolling tread helps.

 
Jay from Rochester MN on 06/25/2018 03:07 PM
Just rode Valentine to O'Neill with 5 people, four with 32mm tires, one with 40mm tires. It had rained for like 4 straight days so the trail was pretty soft. The 40mm bike found the trail to be ride-able but for the 32mm tires it was just too soft. We sunk in and it was exhausting. We mostly rode on the highway.

 
Dave from St. Paul, MN on 07/05/2018 11:58 AM
I have 28 mm tires on a road bike, and did the Katy trail with no problems this year. (And Sparta-Elroy as part of a St. Paul to Chicago trip a year ago.) Based on what you're indicating, it sounds like you wouldn't recommend taking on the trail with those tires, correct? Is the trail crushed limestone? In the two other trails noted above, I had no problems.


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Bike shop(s) in Norfolk
 -  + In Norfolk:
1. Andrew Bicycle and Fitness appears to be permanently closed
2. Cleveland Bike & Sport is closed Mondays and Sundays
Discussion started 07/02/2018 09:11 AM - 0 replies
Anonymous from Hanover NH on 07/02/2018 09:11 AM
In Norfolk:
1. Andrew Bicycle and Fitness appears to be permanently closed
2. Cleveland Bike & Sport is closed Mondays and Sundays


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Hiking the trip with a rolling cart
 -  + I’m planning on a hike on the entire Cowboy Trail in spring 2019 for the purpose of night sky photography. I’d like to carry enough gear for evening or night camp along the way. My thinking is to u...
Discussion started 06/23/2018 09:09 PM by Mike14k - 2 replies (last reply by Mike14k at 06/28/2018 10:44 PM)
Mike14k from Kingfisher Oklahoma on 06/23/2018 09:09 PM
I’m planning on a hike on the entire Cowboy Trail in spring 2019 for the purpose of night sky photography. I’d like to carry enough gear for evening or night camp along the way. My thinking is to use a jogging/trail -stroller modified to carry my gear. I’ve researched the surface as crushed gravel but like to make sure a small rolling-type vehicle would work. And ask for thoughts on the western “undeveloped” portion of the trail. I am an experienced backpacker, just wanting to make sure the surface is not extremely rough in places for smaller wheels.

 
Alex from Lincoln on 06/26/2018 03:48 PM
Sweet! I can tell you there will be some fantastic night skies waiting for you. I think a jogging stroller would work well for you on the completed portion of the trail. It's more like a pea sized, packed crushed limestone, great to walk/run on. If you wanted to try and find a wider tire for the stroller so you could air them down a little to add some suppleness, you could. I always recommend slime in your tubes as well (or go tubeless!).

As far as the "western" portion, it's for the most part not suitable for most to travel but I'd be the last person to say don't try it! I've heard of some folks riding fat bikes down it before. The biggest problems you'd probably face are tall grasses on the trail (3'-4'+), bridges that are not decked, and the surface would probably still contain loose ballast rock which would not be fun to walk/push a stroller on.


 
Mike14k on 06/28/2018 10:44 PM
Great info.... my thanks for posting.


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Wood Lake Cafe in Wood Lake
 -  + According a search on google, this place is permanently closed and the phone number is a fast busy.
Discussion started 06/13/2018 07:50 PM by Lisa R - 5 replies (last reply by Jay at 06/25/2018 10:56 AM)
Lisa R on 06/13/2018 07:50 PM
According a search on google, this place is permanently closed and the phone number is a fast busy.

 
Ray (webmaster) on 06/14/2018 06:29 AM
Thank you for the heads-up; I have removed that listing.

Happy trails!

 
Cynthya from Salina, KS on 06/14/2018 09:43 AM
There is a very good restaurant in Johnstown, the next town after Wood Lake. They serve up a great hamburger, loved the atmosphere and the folks that ran it were very friendly. This was August 2017. We ate there twice and if we are back in area, we would be disappointed if they were not there. I don't see them listed, but if the are still there, they should be listed! As I recall the sign into town didn't appear to be open, but they were.

 
Cynthya from Salina, KS on 06/14/2018 09:46 AM
Forgot to mention name of resturant. It was The Lbow Saloon.

 
Cynthya from Salina, KS on 06/14/2018 09:54 AM
Should have named the town. Lbow Saloon, Johnstown. Great place to eat.

 
Jay from Rochester MN on 06/25/2018 10:56 AM
We had breakfast in Norfolk then took the shuttle to Valentine. We were pretty darn hungry by the time we got to Wood Lake so the Cafe being closed was disappointing (also no shelter from the persistent rain). The first stop is the L Bow Room Saloon in Johnstown, 34 miles from Valentine. Plan accordingly.

The mushroom-swiss burger i had at the L Bow Room was fantastic.


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wheel size
 -  + Hello all, I am curious to get some feed back on the use of small wheels on the CowboyTrail. My family and I are planning a trip spring 2019 and part of us will be on a Bike-Friday tandem. I'm wonderi...
Discussion started 06/17/2018 12:21 AM by kevinfoote - 3 replies (last reply by CYNTHIA at 06/22/2018 08:56 AM)
kevinfoote on 06/17/2018 12:21 AM
Hello all, I am curious to get some feed back on the use of small wheels on the CowboyTrail. My family and I are planning a trip spring 2019 and part of us will be on a Bike-Friday tandem. I'm wondering if anyone has a perspective or guidance on how the smaller wheeled bike would handle.

- Kevin

 
Jim from Lincoln now Indiana on 06/19/2018 01:56 PM
Need more detail. Which section are you planning to ride? How far? You'd be OK going for a little while and on certain portions of the trail, but you don't want to try a long distance

 
Cynthya from Salina, KS on 06/19/2018 06:11 PM
We rode August 2017 on Ranz recumbents from Valentine to Norfolk and back. 20" on front and 26" on back. No problems.

 
CYNTHIA from BELLEVUE on 06/22/2018 08:56 AM
We just finished the trail from Valentine to norfolk. My peeps used mountain bike tires. Road tires i would not recommned. We also had the tire liners for thorns. This time of year the thorns are not mature but later in the year they will be worse. But we did keep meeting up with a group that used road tires. They did it but had to travel down the high way in sections and had to get a tire replaced. We had a wet ride with lots of rain. We didn't have any tire trouble. If you do use road tires bring spare tubes with you.





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Detours
 -  + I am planning on hiking the trail in late August. Can anyone tell me how long it takes to get around the detour and if it is clearly marked? Also, I would like to being my companion dog. Are they a...
Discussion started 05/02/2018 10:41 AM by Laurie - 6 replies (last reply by chris at 06/18/2018 11:49 AM)
Laurie on 05/02/2018 10:41 AM
I am planning on hiking the trail in late August. Can anyone tell me how long it takes to get around the detour and if it is clearly marked? Also, I would like to being my companion dog. Are they allowed on the trail?

 
Alex from Lincoln on 05/09/2018 10:18 AM
Hi Laurie,

Dogs are welcome on the trail!

The detour at Clearwater,NE is not very clearly marked but is easy to get around. I recommend staying on HWY 275. Here's a link to a google map showing how to get around the damaged bridge/portion of the trail.

https://goo.gl/maps/RWTeyVQBGkS2




 
Tyler from Norfolk on 05/10/2018 10:56 PM
Where are you hiking to and from?

 
Laurie from Castleford on 05/11/2018 11:06 AM
Thanks, Alex, for the detour info. Looks pretty simple.
Tyler, I want to go from Valentine to Norfolk.
Thanks!

 
Alex from Lincoln on 06/05/2018 06:10 AM
I was just out there a few weeks ago and I retract my statement about the detour markings - they now have signs up marking the detour. If you want though, I checked out broken bridge and it was kind of neat.

 
Laurie from Castleford on 06/05/2018 08:05 AM
Thanks, Alex!

 
chris from Lincoln, NE on 06/18/2018 11:49 AM
I just completed a backpacking trip on the trail. We did not have to deal with the detour, but saw the area on the way down the highway. We started in Stuart and were to hike to Ainsworth with 3 days of hiking. 22 day 1, camp at Bassett, 10 more to Long Pine, and then a final day of 10 to Ainsworth. We did not get started until 1130am and it was over 90 degrees our first day. Minimal shade available, but overall, we managed.

I wanted to mention here, and plan to write up our trip notes to share, but the #1 surprise to us (considering myself a somewhat seasoned and experienced backpacker in good shape)was the wear and tear the 22 miles from Stuart to Basset did to our legs and feet. The trail is like crushed limestone but it is not packed very well in this stretch and being sandhills, there is....sand, not packed earth underneath. I felt the effects within a mile or 2. Changed socks, and it did not help. Maybe it was the extreme heat heating up the ground adding to it, but stopping at 10 miles I put moleskin on one foot pad to see if it would help. Unfortunately I powered on through the second leg and forgot about my other foot. Large blisters on my right foot pad that night. Very painful. I also feel I may have worn out my left foot by compensating for the blisters and walking off kilter. Either bruised it bad or stress fractured. The extra weight (40-60lb packs) 22 miles of sustained 3mph pace, little stopping or changing direction, heat, and somewhat sandy ground all lead to each of us with major blistering.

I guess what I am getting at is, tape your feet up well before you start. Use moleskin or duct tape, but do it before you start, not once you feel it. Wish I would have. If you are going to go 20 miles in a day, start early and break more than once. Also, I would recommend some sturdy hiking boots. I opted to leave mine at home since I was not going to be going over rocks and uphill, went with a NewBalance trail runner, and they did fine, but wished I would have had my Keens. Good luck!


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Detours
https://bikecowboytrail.com/talk.aspx?tid=1255&tonly=1

Cowboy trail ride June 10th ->12th
 -  + Just finished going from Valentine to Ewing. Trail was decent except for a few badger holes along the way -also East of Arabia for about 3-4 miles the trail is somewhat overgrown but manageable. Usin...
Discussion started 06/15/2018 02:38 PM by Troy - 0 replies
Troy from Lincoln on 06/15/2018 02:38 PM
Just finished going from Valentine to Ewing. Trail was decent except for a few badger holes along the way -also East of Arabia for about 3-4 miles the trail is somewhat overgrown but manageable. Using MTBs with liner and thorn resistant tires with no issues.


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Cowboy trail ride June 10th ->12th
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Rode Valentine to Norfolk last week (May-June '18)
 -  + My husband, his brother, and I completed a ride on the trail from Valentine to Norfolk last week.
I have posted notes, info, and photos on my blog in a series that begins with this one. (Hope link ...
Discussion started 06/07/2018 07:09 PM by Cindy - 4 replies (last reply by Cindy at 06/13/2018 06:12 PM)
Cindy from Perkins, Oklahoma on 06/07/2018 07:09 PM
My husband, his brother, and I completed a ride on the trail from Valentine to Norfolk last week.
I have posted notes, info, and photos on my blog in a series that begins with this one. (Hope link is allowed here.) Will be happy to answer any questions as well as I can.
https://cindysheets.wordpress.com/2018/06/06/cowboy-trail-day-1-long-day-on-the-road/

 
ronray43 on 06/10/2018 07:53 PM
Enjoyed the blog! Did you use tubeless tires?

 
Schosh from Pass-a-grille , Fl on 06/11/2018 12:39 PM
Excellent Blog...great info .. you have persuaded me to come and ride the CB trail.

 
Alex from Lincoln on 06/13/2018 08:59 AM
Thanks for sharing! Excellent write-up on the trail. Be sure to stop at Long Pine SRA next time! It's a great place to camp overnight.

Alex

 
Cindy from Perkins, Oklahoma on 06/13/2018 06:12 PM
ronray43 - Glad you enjoyed it! My tires were tubeless, but Keith and John's weren't. No issues either way.

Schosh - Yay! I want to read your experiences on the trail!

Alex - Thanks for your kind words! Honestly, I think the Long Pine scenery was my favorite. I would love to visit the area again!


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Rode Valentine to Norfolk last week (May-June '18)
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Curious about the trail want to ride in Sept 2018
 -  + Hi All.
I am looking to ride the trail the last week of Sept. I have a mountain bike and trailer for my JRT -Skipper as he has a bad leg. Curious to know if the trail is good enough for the trail...
Discussion started 05/23/2018 10:07 PM by Lara Sims - 3 replies (last reply by anonymous at 06/13/2018 10:59 AM)
Lara Sims from Ridgway CO on 05/23/2018 10:07 PM
Hi All.
I am looking to ride the trail the last week of Sept. I have a mountain bike and trailer for my JRT -Skipper as he has a bad leg. Curious to know if the trail is good enough for the trailer? We travel slow so trying to figure out the best stopping points. We will most likely stay in hotels along the way. Appreciate any feedback. Happy Riding - Lara

 
Kris from Denver on 05/24/2018 02:21 PM
I was wondering the same thing. I am looking to pull a trailer w/dog. I am sure someone will give a response. Have fun on your trip!

 
Alex from Lincoln on 06/05/2018 06:20 AM
I pulled a bob trailor on the trail a few years ago. I had about 40 lbs on it and it wasn’t that bad. At times it did feel like I was dragging a boat anchor but I think that was more just me being out of shape! Bring the trailor and dogs along!

 
Anonymous on 06/13/2018 10:59 AM
Thanks Alex, appreciate the feedback


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Curious about the trail want to ride in Sept 2018
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Dog Question
 -  + Planning on visiting the area in july and will be traveling with a dog. Are there any vets/boarding kennels in the valentine or Norfolk. Normaly my wife stays at the RV with the dog , but I'd like to ...
Discussion started 06/03/2018 01:53 PM by Schosh - 1 reply (last reply by Alex at 06/13/2018 09:08 AM)
Schosh from Pass-a-Grille,Fl on 06/03/2018 01:53 PM
Planning on visiting the area in july and will be traveling with a dog. Are there any vets/boarding kennels in the valentine or Norfolk. Normaly my wife stays at the RV with the dog , but I'd like to do an overnighter with her if we can find a dog sitter/kennel to keep the mutt for a day or two. Thanks in advance,Schosh

 
Alex from Lincoln on 06/13/2018 09:08 AM
Yes in Norfolk there's Happy Tails -

http://happytailss.com/

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