Cowboy Trail Forum

Coming down there to ride your trail tomorrow. I am going to dominate it! I hope there is beer along the way. And you have shoveled the sand off the path some.

We keep the sand shoveled, and you will not beat my records. Free beer if you mention my name at George's

I think I passed by Cowboy Ken on the trail. He was taking a break by some hay bales on the side of the trail. Lots of washboard on the trail about 10 miles east of Valentine.

This is a short one--5 miles, mostly adjacent to Hwy. 275. This is also where there is 1 bridge that is out, but it's probably only 30 - 40 yds. thru a mowed ditch to the highway, across the bridge, and back to the trail. Very easily navigated!

On a multi-day trail ride last July, I became very sick and had to end the trip. We made it as far as Atkinson and were lucky to get a room at the Sandhills Guest House. When the manager found out about my situation, she made phone calls and sent emails until she found someone to drive us back to our car in Norfolk (one of her relatives!). This kind act saved me a day's worth of time and a taxi ride that would have cost a couple hundred dollars. And besides all that, the motel is comfortable, clean, quiet, and reasonably priced. Can't say enough good things about the Sandhills Guest house.

Ainsworth to Long Pine is the best 10 miles of the Cowboy Trail because the trail is away from the highway. On my ride I saw horses, cattle, a garter snake, birds and a lonely coyote. The Sandhills start on the south and it is fun to ride the trestle over Pine Creek. It is a fun family ride.

Coming down there to ride your trail tomorrow. I will dominate! It looks like a fine ride.

There are LOTS of services in Ainsworth...It's a pretty big town with a city campground in the park, several restaurants and bars, shops, banks, an excellent supermarket, a Bomgaars and two national brand motels. There is even a place to get a latte.

Goodrich ice cream is served at the Subway. Sellers cabin in the city park is worth a visit.

This place was wonderful. I asked if I could use the laundry facilities, and the manager insisted on doing all of my laundry for me, even after I warned her that it was filthy, stinky, sweaty trail clothing. Reasonable price, nice people, convenient location.

My husband and I were at Subway (O'Neill) at 8:00 on 3-14-14. The young man who took our order and made our sandwiches was very rude. He was unintelligible when he spoke to us, and when I kindly asked him to repeat what he said, he became more rude. The change machine was not working. I understand that making change in this day of technology is difficult for some, however, the young man should NOT have responded to me in such a brusque manner. The bread for the sandwich was mangled and the meatballs were hard, dry and impossible to chew. My husband quietly took the sandwich back and explained the problem to the Devall girl. She was very, very nice and offered to make a different sandwich but my husband declined and asked for a couple of cookies instead. Another young man (blonde hair) brought coupons to our table, was apologetic and handled the situation politely.
The young man who initially waited on us went to the back of the store (or left) and we never saw him again. We've been patrons of the O'Neill Subway store since it's opening. We were very disappointed this evening and hope that you will speak to the young man about his poor behavior. We commend the way the Devall girl handled the situation and hope you will pass this compliment on to her. Thank you.

Why on Earth are you making complaints about the O'Neill Subway in a forum about the Cowboy Trail?! There's a customer satisfaction survey on every receipt from Subway. I suggest you go to that website and take the survey. It's about the only way you'll ever get through to anyone that cares enough to correct the behavior. This way, the store manager and owner will see your feedback.

I agree with Aaron, what the heck do we care about Subway and your problems? This forum is for info on the Cowboy Trail.

What are you eating at subway for? There is a Mcdonalds in Oneill! lol.

Just wondering how the trail is from Battle Creek to Meadow Grove. I have a hybrid bike and am a fairly new biker so don't want to go the whole trip. I plan to stay in Battle Creek at the B&B, then take a day trip to Meadow Grove and back. Maybe would have enough tim to go on to Ashfall Fossil Beds the same day. Anyone out there who's done that?

I would be interested in your opinion of the trail from Battle Creek to Meadow Grove. When I biked it, it was just awful. Soft, rutted, full of thorns and used by farmers as a farm road for tractors and livestock. Not very scenic, mostly beside the paved roads. Maybe I am spoiled from biking super awesome trails, like the Homestead, Mopac, Steamboat all in NE and the Katy Trail in MO, plus the Wabash in Iowa.
Let us all know about your experiences.

The B&B in Battle Creek has been sold, FYI. And Ashfall is quite a trip north from where the trail is.

I've not been more disappointed in a trail before. The trail is so sandy, that it's like trying to ride on a beach. In some places it's an inch thick. After 4 miles we ditched the trail and rode the rest of the day on paved country roads. Such a shame that this isn't ridable. It has such potential.

Yes, I agree, this is how I found the Cowboy Trail, horrible to ride on!
I did learn an interesting theory and not sure if correct, but I was told the trail was built to keep it open for a possible return to using it again for trains and the folks in charge of the trail are not the least bit concerned or interested in the trail construction (it was not build correctly!) or if anyone is able to bike on it. It is used by ranchers and farmers as a "farm road." The people up in the area are probably happy we can't ride the trail. :)
Thankfully there are so many other wonderful Rails to Trails in the midwest, that we have a huge choice of trails. This summer I am headed for the Mickelson Trail in SD,
Happy cycling and hiking this summer.

There's a nice article from NebraskaLand Magazine about a complete ride on the whole trail. I recommend reading it.
http://neblandvm.outdoornebraska.gov/2014/05/looking-back-cowboy-trail/

I wanted to see first hand the Cowboy Trail from the Valentine area. I started at the trailhead in Valentine, early in the morning, June 17, 2014. The trailhead picnic shelter is nice and set in a gravel and dirt area. The trail heads east and is paved for a short distance and then is gravel and dirt. The trail surface was hard but covered with an inch or two of that red sand and is not pleasant to bike on. I only went out an hour and then turned around and headed back to Valentine. It was a workout to bike in the sand. The Valentine High Bridge is 1/4 mile long and was exciting to bike over. I didn't enjoy this end of the trail any more than I enjoyed the Norfolk end of the trail. It is like biking on a beach. I didn't go far on the trail as I was headed to Hot Springs, SD to bike the Mickelson Trail, which by the way is a beautiful trail in excellent condition.

Our group just completed the GAP/C and O and are looking for the next trail to bike. What is the status of the Cowboy trail riding east? Thank you.

I'd do the KATY. Loved the GAP/C&O trip, KATY is next best. Planned to do the Cowboy Trail, but have not read anything positive, and the locals/state does not support the trail.

3 of us are contemplating tackling the trail in late Aug or early Sept. How does it compare with the Wabash Trace in Iowa which we knocked out in one day? Is it really that deteriorated or are the people that have actually enjoyed it not giving positive feedback post ride?

The Wabash Trace Trail is so excellent, a wonderful trial to ride. I haven't had a good experience on the Cowboy Trail, but would love to hear if it has improved since I was on it. I thought the Cowboy Trail was pretty awful but maybe it has been worked on since then? Let us all know if you do ride it and tell us about the condition of the trail.
Good riding.

I went to this bike shop in 2012 as I was riding on the Cowboy and broke some spokes. They said if I left it there it would be ready in 3 days...Yada...Yada...Yada...I ended up going to a bike shop in Lawrence, KS that fixed it the same day and spent the rest of my time riding the Prairie Spirit Trail instead of sitting in a hotel in Norfolk waiting for my bike to be fixed.

Who cares? Stop being a whining infant about something that happened nearly two years ago. This forum is for info, updates and conditions about the Cowboy Trail.

Again, I agree with Aaron, we don't care about stevo's bike shop problems!
We need and want updates on trail conditions on the Cowboy Trail.

I've not ridden this trail, but I know from riding other trails (e.g. Great Allegheny Passage, C&O canal towpath) that the right tires can make a substantial difference in the experience. Does this trail require full mountain bike tires due to the soft gravel, or would a faster tire (e.g. 35mm Schwalbe Marathon) be better?

Again, don't waste precious vacation time on this trail! There are so many well maintained trails to choose from. It doesn't matter what tires you use, you will end up riding the nearby roads.

Sounds like the State should be paving the trail instead of using this lame "crushed crap" on the trail. Half of the trail isn't completed, and the part that is, no one can ride on. I had such high hopes for this trail years back. Why won't the State of Nebraska do something?! They are really missing the boat on this Cowboy Trail. Sad.

I'm not sure if anyone is interested in joining me ...

I'd like to ride from Valentine to Norfolk this summer in order to assess the trail's current conditions. This would simply be an simply information-gathering.trip. The bigger and long-term goals should be obvious.

I would really like additional help and input with this "project" and welcome anyone to join me. My bicycle-touring skills are advanced.

Sorry about the typos in my post!

Matt;

Depending on when you plan to go, I may be able to go with you. I really can't make it in June, but if you plan to go let me know when. I have done the Katy Trail six times and the Allegheny/C&O from Pittsburgh to DC once.

I would be interested

A group of us are considering the Cowboy Trail for a trip in May of 2014. All of the comments I am seeing are making me question our choice. Has the trail improved over the last year or so? Is there any work being done to improve it? Where would I find a good resource for information, either in Norfolk or Valentine? Thanks in advance for any help.

Your best bet for info is probably the bike shop in Norfolk. Click Norfolk in the map above and you'll see it in the list of businesses.

Why spend you time and money where the state and local support is not there ? KATY, GAP/C&O/Erie Canal, ... There are great trails out there. Don't waste your time in Nebraska.

There are so many wonderful Rails to Trails in SD, Iowa, NE, Kansas and MO. Why waste time and money on the Cowboy Trail, it is not a good trail to bike on. I would not choose the Cowboy Trail for my vacation ride!

You can ride it but you'll possibly spend more time on parallel US 20 and US 275. Better get Kevlar tires because of the goathead sandbur. That sandbur is absolutely wicked.

Wondering if a bunch of strangers could meet up on the cowboy trail in April and kind of start our own mini RAGBAI all the little towns along the way be the support needed. Frank

I would be interested in riding the trail in April

The trail running east from valentine crosses the beautiful trestle bridge but soon deteriorates. More specifically, the section eat of Thatcher until almost Arabia was in bad shape. For almost five miles the trail is severely washboarded by agricultural vehicles. Even sections marked 'no motorized vehicles' shows clear signs of ATV and pickup use. In many cases the tire tracks lead into fields, suggesting local rancher traffic is making extensive use of the trail. The surface of the trail can also be challenging since the fine gravel is not compacted and can cause sliding where it has accumulated. I was disappointed after being converted to exploring this part of the world after cycling the marvelous Mickelson trail in SD twice.

I agree, don't bother with the Cowboy Trail. I stick to the Mickelson Trail in SD, The Wabash Trace Trail in Iowa, the Homestead and the Mopac in NE. My favorite is the Paul Bunyan Trail in MN. It is over 100 miles long and paved!

Last year I rode from Bassett to Battle Creek in late September. I spent more miles on US 20 and US 275 than I did the trail. Some of it was closed and other places they were working on it. Several times I had to get off because of new gravel. Good people to meet there though.

May 2012

Nebraska spent a fortune building the longest off-road bike trail in the country. However, it is currently unridable since the gravel is not compacted and it is like riding on sand most of the way. Also, the pink quartzite they have added to certain stretches is a much poorer riding surface than the white limestone on other stretches. It would take a very small additional investment to pay someone to steamroll the trail once a year and it would then be a jewel. It is my hope that this will happen and then be followed by positive comments from riders. If so, it will attract riders and much needed income to the wonderful communities along the route. On our trip, we did not pass one other biker over the 180 mile stretch we were on.

Positives;
1) Unbelievably friendly and charming communities
2) Beautiful wide open countryside
3) Flat terrain for riding
4) Wonderful steaks (try Golden Steer in Ainsworth and L&B in Clearwater)
5) Wonderful breakfasts (try West End in O’Neill)
Lodging;
1) Pine Valley Resort cabins; outstanding
2) Stuart Village Inn (Stuart), Historic Golden Hotel (O’Neill), West Hill View Motel (Neligh), New Victorian (Norfolk); all clean and comfortable
Thorns and Bike Repair;
1) The western parts of the trail have goat thorns which easily puncture tires. We had no problem using Continental Punctureproof tires and Sunlite Puncture Resistant tubes.
2) We had a broken derailer hanger and found that the only top bicycle shop on the trail is Cleveland Bike and Sport, 407 E. Norfolk Ave, Norfolk. However, this shop was AMAZING and saved our trip. We had a car at each end of each day’s trip and shuttled the cars with us as we proceeded or we would have been in trouble (i.e. we were able to drive to Norfolk for our repair)

I agree with this comment. The trail communities and the surrounding area have so much to offer and the puzzle is no one seems to care and the trail continues to be useless. Who wants to ride in these conditions, when there are so many other wonderful trails to choose from. Not me.

Rode the trail east 10 miles out and back from valentine, on road bike , trail was great! Wish I could go more but got dark on me.

Don't forget that valentine has the best river in Nebraska for canoe, kayak, and floating. several outfitters in town for shuttles and rentals. The bridge over the Niobrara is awesome!

I have biked several trails in the US. Five of us will be biking from Crazy Horse, SD on the Mickelson Trail south to Edgemont, (South end of traill) and then on to the Cowboy Trail starting in Chadron, NE to the end at Nolfolk, NE. After reading all the reports of the Cowboy, do any of you suggest that we stay on the highway? Chris

The trail is fine. I rode 60 miles of it last September. The surface is hard enough; I disagree with those who say it is too soft. It is a wonderful ride. You're missing out if you don't take it. I'm going back this fall.

Has anyone been on this bike trail recently. I'm thinking of doing a bike ride in memory of my grandson.

We have a group of about 10 folks heading that way the first of June.
As an out an back it looked fun and interesting and affordable. I see the incomplete section from Valentine to Chadron and was wondering if it is rideable even if not built up yet. We all ride larger tires 700x40's being the smallest of the group so single track and such is doable so long as we aren't walking for miles ... any knowledge of those areas as we could shuttle out and ride the entire 300 plus miles that way instead of an out and back.

Thanks

Kelly

You are probably already on your trip. I know it's in the 30's in Chadron today, so good luck. I do not believe you can bike from Valentine to Chadron, even without the trail build-up. We rode last year around the Norfolk area heading west and the trail was terrible. There were also bridges out from flooding a few years back and with the state's financial situation, I doubt they will be replaced.

From the state park website, the funding for the flood repairs was coming from federal resources.

Hi, I am cross country by bicycle now, and here I am in Des Morines now, predict will arrive Norfolk about a week, I would like to consider thhe trail to lead to to Rapid city, my bike is road bike with 700X25C tire, is it possible to ride to Rapid city by the trail?

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Best darn food in the country. You will never leave hungry!

My father and I are interested in doing the entire trail this June. How much of the Cowboy Trail has been finished? If I were to arrive in Omaha what would be the easiest way to get to trail. How could we get back to Omaha from the finish line? Thank you for the support?

There are much better trails, that are supported by the State and local communities. Trails that are maintained and unauthorized vehicles kept off. The KATY in Missouri is fantastic. The GAP/C&O Canal is another one. The Mickelson trail in South Dakota. Don't waste your valuable time and money that are adverse to the cycling community.

I agree with the reply. I would not waste the money or time on the Cowboy Trail The Katy Trail in MO, the Mickelson Trail in SD are so awesome and well maintained.

We are planning to ride the full length of the Cowboy Trail in May. Has anyone been riding on it yet this year? If so, what are the conditions? Are there still parts of the trail that are closed? Appreciate any information you can give us.

The friendliest place in town. Both receptionists were helpfull and considerate. I was made to feel very comfortable. You must stop here for your night.Great restaurant around the corner.

I am wondering if the less than stellar conditions on the Cowboy Trail are accidental or a plan to eventually discontinue this trail? I know the ranchers and farmers in the area use the trail as a farm road for animals and equipment and would probably cheer if the trail was abandoned. If people like me don't ride the trail because of the poor condition of the trail, does that give everyone involved reasons to stop funds for the trail? It seems a mystery to me that those responsible for this trail don't see the economic advantages to surrounding communities. Just look at the success of the Katy, the Mickelson and the Wabash Trace trails. Just wondering. Anyone have any thoughts on this?

What sections are really bad? I was thinking about trying to ride the whole trail as an out and back this summer starting in Norfolk.

Hi Anonymous, Perhaps the question might be what trail sections are good? As you can read, others attempting to ride this trail usually end up riding the roads instead of the trail. The trail is paved from Norfolk for a few miles and that is nice but other than that it is not too good. I haven't been back to the trail since the Spring 2012, so maybe there have been improvements. I had a goal of cycling the entire trail but now will focus on the other Rails to Trails. Good luck and let others know of your experiences on the trail next summer.

Same. I was planning to do the trail end-to-end last summer, but it doesn't seem that the trail has the support. I'm not looking for a paved trail, but do not want to trip where I'm not wanted. Did the GAP-C&O Canal ride - what an experience! And the people I met were great. Looking at the Erie Canal trail this year. Everyone, there are many other trails to go on.

It is a good trail but I rode on and off US 20 and Us 275 for better speed. The state was working on the trail near O'Neill with that red gravel. It is flat but you better have kevlar tires. I had Bontrager Hard Case tires on my bike but got a flat on my Burley Bugger from the Texas Sandburr--even with kevlar tires on it. There's good people there and good camping. You might want to ride a short distance

Working on blog article while my son wraps up a slide deck from our June 2012 adventure. A group of 14, 11 on bike completed the whole trail in June for Boyscout Troop 7.
The trail was very rough from Valentine to Ainsworth - we changed about 12 flats that day - many on the same bikes. There were only 2 bikes that made it w/out a flat over our 4 and 1/2 days.
The communities and ranchers were very accomodating. We camped over night at Ainsworth, Atkinson, Ewing and Battle Creek. It was an outstanding experience. In our group were five boys ages 11-12 - they held up well. A couple got some sag wagon support on Day 2-4.
My son and I are planning a repeat next summer - this time w/ Kevlar, Double Tubed, Guard tires. While choppy, Valentine to Ainsworth can be done. Plus you won't need chiropractic care for awhile! ;-)

The Neligh website also indicates primitive camping is available at Fred Penn Park.

The thorns are really bad on the trail right now. It has limited my riding of late. Does anybody know what sections of the trail are concrete other than Norfolk?

O'Neill has a segment in town that is concrete or asphalt and probably about 1/4 mile. Other than than that, it's crushed limestone. Good luck.