Cowboy Trail Forum

I will be hiking the Cowboy Trail this June. I plan on leaving my car in Valentine and hiking the trail ending in Norfolk. So I need transportation back to Valentine. I am looking for people to share shuttle service on 17 June from Norfolk to Valentine. Or other affordable transportation.

North Fork Outfitting in Norfolk offers shuttle rides. Their number is 402-316-0157. If you need anything else, you can contact us at 402-371-2932 or info@visitnorfolkne.com.

Wow I envy you for hiking on foot the entire trail! How many days are you anticipating it to take and will you be tent camping? I'm interested in taking the bike on the trail but its the getting back to the car issue also. Nice to know there is a shuttle available but with gas prices going up, I wonder how pricey it'll be by this summer?!

I will be hiking the trail for 9 days, tent camping at the various towns along the way. The shuttle service was to expensive, so my wife will be dropping me off in Valentine and I will return home via Greyhound and Amtrak. Looking forward to this hike!

My husband and I rode and camped August 2017.
We would pick a spot and ride east one day and west the next. Then leap frog down the trail and repeat until we ended in Norfolk. That worked out well and we could say we rode Valentine to Norfolk and back.????

WOW, hiking that takes determination, I applaud you! My brother-in-law and I are planning to bikepack the trail this late summer. Still a plan in progress. Hope the trail stays open and is ridable throughout the summer! CHEERS!

PACRFAN! I posted above about this very issue and missed your thread....Indeed I would be interested in sharing a ride from Norfolk to Valentine on the 17th! In fact, it's exactly what I asked the community. Are you still looking for someone to share the cost of a charter?

Anthony

I will not be shuttling. Decided to return home via Greyhound and Amtrak. Sorry

Can anyone tell me if the trail is open all the way from Norfolk to Valentine? The maps show several places the trail is closed.

I'm going to be at the Prairie Club for a meeting. I'm not a golfer so thought about bringing my bike up and do part of the Cowboy Trail for an afternoon from Valentine. Is the Trestle Bridge South of Valentine and is it open? For an afternoon ride is that a short distance or a long distance? Thanks!

Yes the Cowboy Trail bridge over the Niobrara River is currently open. Not sure what kind of bike you have but a gravel, hybrid, or mountain bike is recommended...something with a wider tire. The bridge is only 2 miles from the trailhead in Valentine. Enjoy the trip! Prairie Club is a neat place too.

Yes the Cowboy Trail bridge over the Niobrara River is currently open. Not sure what kind of bike you have but a gravel, hybrid, or mountain bike is recommended...something with a wider tire. The bridge is only 2 miles from the trailhead in Valentine. Enjoy the trip! Prairie Club is a neat place too.

Thanks Alex. I have a hybrid bike so I should be ok. Just need to air up the tires.

My room was very clean, very quiet. I recommend it for all travelers.

Thursday Jun 16, 2022 I rode the trail from Valentine to Ainsworth on my mountain / commuter conversion bike. I was pleasantly surprised at the condition of the trail. It was firm and lightly gravel covered. The edges had been mowed in most places.

This trail is not getting enough traffic. I encountered 1 rider in the 47 miles I was on the trail. I saw bike tracks, but none that were fresh.

The part of the trail that leaves the highway 20 path was my favorite part. There was nothing to hear but the birds. This area has a lot of sub irrigated meadow land where deer, turkeys, ducks, prairie chickens, and songbirds abound.

If you want to explore the sandhills of Nebraska this is the trail for you.

I plan to ride the rest of the trail from Ainsworth to Norfolk in stages over the next few months.

I hope to see you there.....

Really glad to hear this. We ride spots but have never done the whole thing. If the trail is in good condition I hope someone starts a sagged ride. I'd love to join in. Just finished a ride put on by the South Dakota game and parks on the Mickelson trail (actually done several of them), and it really encourages interest for the trail. In lieu of that we'll probably give the entire trail a go when we can organize some logistics, and after we finish some sagged road rides we have booked. So yeah, we just might see you.

I am planning to ride the trail mid-to-late August and wondered about the prevailing wind direction that time of year. Based on the prevailing winds, do most people go west or east?

Ride whatever is logistically easier is what I recommend to most people. Ending in Valentine is great if you plan to stick around and paddle the Niobrara and see the area.

Additionally, I am considering riding to Chadron and beyond. Do the towns west of Valentine have similar services and municipal/private camping?

The trail west of Valentine has not been developed yet except for 15 miles between Gordon and Rushville, NE. I recommend utilizing the HWY 20 shoulder which is generally wide and has little traffic to go west of Valentine. But do use the Gordon to Rushville section! The towns generally are smaller and services will be limited. Some have parks with camping but not all. Just be prepared and carry lots of water and some food to tie you between towns. Cody, Gordon, and Rushville will have the usual array of services. Outside that it'll likely be hit or miss.

Someone had made inquiry about the prevailing wind direction on the Cowboy Trail; however, it did not get answered. I, too, would like an answer to this question. My starting point on trail would be based on prevailing wind direction. My guess would be winds coming out of the west, generally. Please advise.

There are several sites that give prevailing wind directions so a quick search might give you one you like. I think you will find prevailing winds in NE and North Central Ne, to be westerlies.....mostly southwesterlies, but this is not a given and if the ride takes 3-5 days you could easily find yourself with an easterly wind during a portion of the ride. Your best bet is to wait as long a possible to make your direction determination if wind is important to you. The strongest winds in northern Nebraska often happening in the spring. Elevation also drops from Valentine to Norfolk to the tune of about 2753 ft. It is a long gradual drop (or gain depending on direction) so you won't notice it much, but the overall effect most likely has some bearing on energy expenditure.

Don't overlook the suggestion to kayak the Niobrara at Valantine. It's a lot of fun, regardless of traveling direction

I know this is a shot in the dark but would anyone be interested in "teaming up" and riding this trail over a long fathers day weekend? Thursday or Friday to Sunday? It'd be the third weekend in June.

Even if you're hiking it, I'd love to share the bus ride from Norfolk to Valentine. Going solo would be super expensive (400+); chartering with two people would be just expensive (200+); and chartering with 3 or 4 people would be a great deal (about 100 each). Im not knocking the charter companies, its a long drive and they use those big cargo vans. Gas isn't cheap, so the more we can spread the cost, the more reasonable it'll be per person.

If you're planning to go out to Valentine in June, particularly over that 3rd weekend, and want to share the charter bus cost, let me know. Also, if you're riding the trail and would like some company, I've never ridden it and would be thrilled to have someone around.

~Anthony

Hi, are you still planning to bike over Father’s Day Weekend? I was planning to go around July 1 but sooner would be great as well!

Good Morning - Thanks for reaching out. Yes, I would still like to bike the trail and fathers day seems like an ideal time to go. That said, I am not opposed to going 7/1 either - nothing set in stone on my end. The biggest obstacle to it, for me, is transportation between Norfolk and Valentine. I'd sure like to split a charter out to Valentine. :). Obviously having a "partner" around would be mentally comforting as well, as I dont have a ton of experience out in that area of NE, or with bike-packing really. If your still considering riding the trail though, I'd love to link up and get your thoughts. Thanks again for reaching out!

Hello,
My wife and I are wanting to ride the Cowboy Trail this June and are wondering about how the shuttle service (if there is even such an animal) works. Do all towns on the line participate? Who should I call to check? Thank you!

Greetings and thanks for your interest in the Cowboy Trail. North Fork Outfitting in Norfolk, NE offers shuttle service along the trail. (402) 316-0157

There is not any kind of public transportation between towns, though. If you get in a pinch a friendly local may help you to the next town.

Awesome! Thank you.

Greetings, Chef!

I would like to ride the trail this June as well. I called the outfitters yesterday and was shocked about the price to charter a bus from Norfolk to Valentine. I believe it was in the $400-$450 range. For some reason I naively thought it'd be like getting a taxi across town - haha. I didn't account for the fact that they are not exactly driving a Prius, how far it actually is for them to drive, nor how those big vans don't get great gas milage. Gas is expensive and they've got to make some money in the deal, so I get it.

The gentleman I spoke to was very reasonable though and the cost can be shared by multiple people up to 4, then 75 per person afterwards (if I remember correctly). Basically, $400+ for me is pretty expensive, but $400 spread out over a few of us gets increasingly more affordable.

Would you guys be interested in seeing if we're going at the same time(ish) and sharing the charter? I'd ideally like to go over fathers day weekend, or as an alternative, on a Thursday or Friday (due to work and pto).

Im also not sure if your driving over here from Memphis....but if so, we could probably scheme to get my wife to help us. I've got a Thule hitch rack for (4) and two additional Thule roof racks; so 6 bike capacity total. You could park at long term parking in Norfolk, we could load your bikes on my Jeep Cherokee, then beg my wife to drive us all the way out to Valentine. We'd ride back to your vehicle and you could bring me home (I live 1.5 hours SE of Norfolk / just south of Blair, NE). Just an alternative solution to throw out there.

Simplest remains buying the charter and splitting the cost among us. :)

Thanks for any consideration! ~Anthony

Do they allow car parking at Sunrise Park?

Not sure - give the Tilden Clerk a call - 402-368-2232. I'm sure they could tell you or give you a location to park a vehicle for an extended period of time.

I'd be glad to check for you. There are few campers there now. It's a very small park that I park in often......I never thought to pay. It used to be free for all, including campers, but the service was abused by a few so they started to charge a minimal amount for campers (RVs)....not sure about cars. A few questions.....Any services that you would use or require? How many days would you need? It's right on the trail, but so is a mid-town park...and one on the southern end of town that is connected by a trail that runs through it and eventually connects to the cowboy trail as well. These two parks might have some sports activities going on though. As Alex suggested the clerk might be your safest bet, but I'd be glad to lend a hand. I might add that most towns have nice parks. Neligh has a very nice one, as well as one at the trail head in Norfolk. Both will have several campers (RVs) as well as tents up.

The Nebraska state trails interactive map shows a few closures between Clearwater and Neligh. Can anyone confirm these are current closures? We’re looking at riding mid August. From what I have found on this forum, these closures have been on the map for quite some time. Appreciate any info! Thanks

By any chance do you have a link to the Nebraska state trails interactive map that you mentioned? I will be hiking, starting June 7, from Valentine to Norfolk and I want to verify all trail closure etc.
Thank you

found the link!!!

From Oct,19 to Oct,23 five older guys rode the trail from Valentine to Norfolk. The weather was quite cold to start the days but warmed up as we rode. We stopped in at the L Bow Room as recommended on this forum, it is a fine place for a rest between Valentine and Ainsworth the first day, very friendly people and interesting story on this place. The scenery on that first section is really something special if you think Nebraska is all flat prairie. I used the info on this site to select hotels and restaurants along the way and found the information very helpful. The second day was cold and rainy so we went just to Bassett. That turned out to be a fortunate change of plan since it allowed us to stay at the Bassett Lodge. This is a real piece of mid fifties history, really interesting if you like seeing how things were then. Again the people were super friendly at both the lodge and the Range Cafe. Stayed next in O'Neill and ate a very good Mexican food meal at the Taco and Tequila restaurant. The next day on to Neligh and the Westhill Veiw hotel, again very nice and accommodating hosts, ate at the Imperial II, owned by the same group as the Taco and Tequila, again quite good. The last day on to Norfolk cold with a stiff wind in or face the whole day. All in all we were only able to average around 6-7 MPH on any of the days due to the weather and the trail condition. The trail has several areas where the maintenance seemed a bit behind with lots of vegetation coming through. The surface on 60 percent of the trail is a crushed stone that is not really compacted so the rolling resistance is quite severe. We all have pretty wide tires so that wasn't a problem and those of us with thorn resistant tires did not have much issue with the goat-head thorns. I hope the trial surface can be improved, more like the sections with crushed limestone, in my opinion that would make the trail a lot more enjoyable (I compare this with the more favorable Katy trail which I have ridden on). That said, this forum talked about the surface so I was aware of it and really got what I expected. In all it was a very fine but somewhat exhausting adventure. Really good to see parts of rural Nebraska I have not explored before. We used North Fork Outfitters to get us back to Valentine, they were prompt and efficient and very nice. We had a super celebratory dinner at the Peppermill. Good food and nice people.

Very nice summary, glad you had a good time in Nebraska!

Thank you for sharing your experience. About how many miles did you cover on an average day? Despite the weather?
About how long did it take to shuttle back to the vehicle and what was the final shuttle charge?

Yes, thank you for sharing....helps with our planning! CHEERS!

for Tiffany....it is a 3.5 hour drive, and due to skyrocketing fuel costs, we had to raise our price, total(with $50 non-refundable scheduling fee) is $450 for the first 4 riders, and $75 per rider after that. 402-316-0157 is my number if you have any questions!

We are road bike cyclists and would like to take a two day ride on the Cowboy Trail - We will want to rent gravel friendly bikes so maybe start in Norfolk? We are flexible about the starting point. What recommendations for a starting and overnight location (hotel/motel). We are probably good for about 45 miles a day.

I believe North Fork Outfitting rents Hybrid style bikes which are fine for the trail. Norfolk to Neligh and back is a good ride. Valentine to Ainsworth and back is also a good ride where you get to cross the big bridge over the Niobrara River - but I don't think Valentine has any bike rental services other than Heartland B-cycle which are great but I wouldn't recommend those bikes for a two day ride. Could rent something in Grand Island, Kearney, or North Platte on the drive up to Valentine. Niobrara Lodge is good in Valentine and Ainsworth has two budget chain hotels.

Hi Tim, my number at NFO is 402-316-0157. We offer 7 speed, solid tire Specialized "Hybrid" style bikes, very easy to use and NO FLATS.

I noticed on Google Maps that an area on the Elkhorn River has a lot of the trail washed away between Neligh and Clearwater by flooding. Not sure if I need to get on the highway prior to the bridge area or if the trail is up to par. Plan is to the ride the 187 mile trail in one day starting at sunrise and ending at dusk pending on my transportation as well.

There has been SOME work done on the washed out areas, but still about a half mile you will have to use the highway. The shoulder is 10' paved, and the detour is well marked on the trail. Also, give me a call at 402-316-0157 for shuttle assistance, or any other questions.

Plan on doing several "out and backs" along the route, generally 30 to 50 miles total per day.
What are the most scenic sections?
Thanks in advance!

Valentine to Ainsworth is nice if you want a more rural setting. It's also closer to you for the return trip. Otherwise Norfolk to Neligh and back is a good out and back as well. Neligh has a public pool memorial day to labor day which is nice to cool off after the day's ride.

Are electric assist bikes allowed on the trail?

Technically no. In reality yes, as long as it is e-assist (class 1) and is operated in similar manner to a regular bicycle.

I wondered what others might say. For my part, at least, it is a bicycle. When we rode the Cowboy Trail 5 years ago (can it be that long ago?) I saw evidence of big tractor tracks at least crossing the trail. Definitely saw a four wheeler coming up behind us on the trail. Another time a person on a four wheeler was approaching the trail. Obviously preparing to get on the trail. When they saw us riding down the trail, they turned and went the other way. So E-Assist bicycle on The Cowboy Trail? Not a problem for me.

For those who are familiar with it, how is the trail from Valentine to Chadron? I know the easement runs all the way through, but I haven’t been on any of the uncompleted parts. I am contemplating doing a Thru-Hike of it either later this year or next year, though I thought I would ask about how the uncompleted parts are.

Valentine to Gordon and Rushville to Chadron has not been developed and is not operated as an open trail. Gordon to Rushville (15mi) is developed and opened in 2019.

In general I can't recommend utilizing the undeveloped segments as many of the bridges do not have decking or railings and the corridor is not maintained for public use.

Valentine to Gordon and Rushville to Chadron has not been developed and is not operated as an open trail. Gordon to Rushville (15mi) is developed and opened in 2019.

In general I can't recommend utilizing the undeveloped segments as many of the bridges do not have decking or railings and the corridor is not maintained for public use.

Is their a craft fair like the one you had in 2019

We are looking at hiking the trail starting in Valentine in mid-to-late May. It will be 3 kids and 2 adults, with the intention of using it as a beginner backpacking trip for the kids (ages 7-9). The kids are active and hike a lot, but this will be their first 'backpacking' experience. We are a little concerned about the long distances between some of the campgrounds for hiking (for instance, the 25 miles from Valentine to Wood Lake for campgrounds). Are there any options for camping near the trail in between those? I don't see any on the trip planner, but hoping others might have some advice. Thanks so much!

You know your kids and their capabilities, but that sounds rough. There isn't even a spot to get water between Wood Lake and Valentine. That stretch is the sole reason that I went to 3 water bottles on the bike. As you apparently know, Arabia is just a sign on the trail. I don't know why it's even on the map, b/c it was a real disappointment when I was expecting to water up there my first trip my first year. There are no camping spots until you get to Wood Lake unless you pirate along the trail. It would be better to start at Norfolk so you'll have services in towns along the route if you could make that work as you check out how the kids are going to handle it. Keep us apprised of your progress, and good luck!

Thanks Doug T. That info helps a lot. We're thinking we might skip the Valentine to Wood Lake section with the info we've been finding, and maybe just do a day hike from Valentine to enjoy the bridge and that section without having to deal with the 25 miler. I really appreciate your input!

If you do that, there's not much to see from Valentine east 2-3 miles to the bridge, which is a must-see. If you drive maybe a mile or two east of the bridge on the highway there's a parking lot and you can walk west to the bridge, then back east for an out-and-back for as long as you guys want to hike and the terrain is way more interesting so the kids would have more fun and you'd get a decent hike out of the day. Just a thought.....

You rock, Dougt! I really appreciate your help with this. We're coming in a little blind on this, and just relying on what we find online. Thank you!

Cute town, the pool hall has snacks and a beverage vending machine

Newport is a nice stop. The 1st time we passed through there we did not realize you could go into that little pool hall. On our return trip we bumped into a local who told us about it. We went in, looked around, had a drink and a snack. Especially nice on a hot Nebraska day!