Cowboy Trail Forum

We cycled the Cowboy Trail from Valentine to Norfolk September 11-13.
We found the trail to be excellent, well maintained. In fact, we met two men who do trail maintenance for the State and they both take pride in the condition of the trail.
Although the goathead issue is much improved, goatheads are a significant issue. We found that in crossing intersections, we almost always picked up goatheads. However, we never had a flat tire because after crossing intersections, we would stop and pull out goatheads. And we had good, wide, protective touring tires.

Two of us will be doing Norfolk to Valentine and back Oct 1-6. It's good to hear that the trail is in good condition, although not so good to hear that you stopped after crossing every intersection b/c there are a ton of intersections to cross. We run heavy tires, tire liners with heavy tubes, and sealant in the tubes and usually have pretty good luck. I've read a couple of accounts of people skipping the Johnston-Ainsworth section this year to avoid goatheads. You didn't do that did you? We've never done that over 5 or 6 years, but it always seems like they crop up west of Ainsworth. One year we had like 8 flats on the trip. Last year only one but I brought back a ton of thorns embedded in one tire that I never was able to remove. Always an adventure! Thanks for the update!

Rode Valentine to Neligh and back last week. Photoed one goathead stuck in my tire tread within first 10 miles. Pulled it out and completed the journey w/o a leak. As a regular commuting and recreation rider I decided long ago I didn't like having flats. (and have goatheads in home area also) For decades have standardized on good tires + thorn-resistant tubes + tread liners. My wheels are little doubt heavier and don't roll as nicely as the next guy's but I have not had a flat from an external puncture since 1996. (knock on wood - could happen anytime!) I got home from the ride and inspected tires. Found and pulled out four more goathead thorn tips. No flats yet. Given their proven presence here - you'd be wise to take the extra measures of your choice - and/or spend some time patching. Good luck!

Anyone interested in sharing a shuttle from Norfolk to Valentine between October 19 and 22?

Is the trail still closed around the Neligh area??

Unfortunately yes. The trail will be repaired between Neligh and Oakdale along with the short segment just west of Neligh. The spot halfway between Neligh and Clearwater is permanently closed from flooding in 2010 as the river occupies the trail ROW. The Nebraska Game and Parks online trail map shows all current cowboy trail closures: https://outdoornebraska.gov/parks/explore-trails/hiking-biking/cowboy-trail/

How do we get from the Omaha train depot to Valentine to ride the cowboy trail west to east?

Probably two realistic options for you:

1 - Call North Fork Outfitting in Norfolk and have him shuttle you - I think he still does Omaha pick-ups. 402-316-0157

2 - Rent a U haul in Omaha, drive it to Valentine. Ride to Norfolk. Rent a U Haul in Norfolk and drive back to Omaha.

Not a lot of other options unfortunately as it is pretty rural.

Started Saturday in Valentine and were chased from the beginning by an ominous looking front coming in from the Northwest with black clouds and lightning. Two of us tried to outrun it but ended up getting caught out in hail and rain a mile short of Wood Lake. The others arrived 45 minutes later, dry as a bone. Good lunch at Ma's cafe, then beers at the L Bow in Johnstown. Locals recommended we avoid the trail from there to Ainsworth so we bypassed on highway 20 with little traffic and very respectful drivers. Overall, trail was excellent but can't vouch much for the Johnstown to Ainsworth leg. We did try to ride the last 1/4 mile into Ainsworth on the trail and immediately got a goathead so aborted back to the highway.

If the problem area is just Johnston to Ainsworth that's an improvement over most years. I've done Norfolk/Valentine/Norfolk the last 5 years and usually the issue is Atkinson west. Last year wasn't bad though. We'll be doing it in a couple of weeks so appreciate the trail report!

Hello,
We are planning to ride from Valentine to Norfolk this fall - either last week of September or third week of October. Are campgrounds still open at these times? The weather appears to generally hold through November but if anyone has more info to share about special considerations for a fall trip, please let me know! TIA Susan

Most of the communities have a campground or city park open for camping year round. The trail itself does not permit camping and relies on the communities for that service. I find that a great time of year to ride the trail. Just plan on potentially cold overnight lows from the 40s-20s.

I’ve been thinking about riding the trail about those same dates and looking for a few others to go with. I’m a fit 71 year “young” married guy (just did a 40 mile ride around the Helena valley before lunch today) with bikepacking experience. I have a truck that can haul bikes and gear for 4 or 5 riders and would be happy to drive or help shuttle. If you’re up for adding to your group you can reply here or email me at csmithwmi@msn.com.

8/6/23 to 8/19/23 Valentine to Norfolk. 188 miles. Trail appears to be in very good condition. All areas passable Except the permanant closures which were clearly marked. (Long Pine, Clearwater to Neligh, Neligh to Oakdale). Weather plays a significant factor in the trail conditions. Just 20 miles can make a big difference in surface conditions and debris on the trail. My first 4 days, it rained every day and the trail was pretty soft in some areas. The last 4 days there was no rain but the trail still had some soft areas. (Permanently moist areas. Rain where I wasn't. Errant pivots, etc.) Compaired to the secondary (dirt) roads the trail conditions were exceptional.
The people at every stop were friendly courteous and helpful. I tried to "shop" at the grocery stores in every overnight town. (plus a couple of pass through towns when I needed supplies.) Everywhere I stopped people asked me about my journey and if I needed anything.
A note about "Goatheads". (It seems to be a big part of the discussions.) I had no issue with goatheads on the trail. They were a non issue. Its highly noticeable when you get off trail for any reason. I "cut through" a small grass section at the start of my journey in Valentine and my pants and socks were just loaded with burrs. I also stayed in a campground between Inman and Clearwater that was horrible. It was impossible to walk 20 yards without getting dozens of goatheads in your shoes. It really highlights how much better the trail is compared to anywhere that has minimal or marginal maintenance. A shoutout to Don at Any And All Bikes in Englewood, CO.. The tire and tube combination he put together was stellar. I told him when I was going, where I was going and the total distance. He recommended the equipment necessary for a problem free experience. Highly knowledgeable. I left it to the experts and had no issues with equipment whatsoever.
In conclusion, get out and enjoy the trail. Be prepared for changing conditions and equipment failures. Let the experts recommend the proper equipment for your trip and your abilities.

Thanks for sharing your experience! There are so many variables that dictate how good someone's experience is on the trail, some controllable, some not. I'm glad you enjoyed your time. Happy Trails!

Question for Smartazz, What were the recommended tires and tubes that worked so well for you? Also, what size tires were you using? Our tandem has 35 mm which I assume would work. Thanks , Glen

Really trying to avoid a discussion on what's the "best" equipment. For sure what worked for me may not work for others. Especially a tandem. I believe it will be impossible to avoid the questions. SO... The tire I used was a Schwalbe Marathon Plus in a 1.75 width. I used thorn / puncture resistant tubes but dont know the brand. I want to strongly suggest that you consult with an expert on your specific equipment, weights, timing, etc..

We are planning to ride trail (west to east) end of August. hotels, not camping. We made arrangements with North Fork Outfitting in Norfolk to shuttle us on front end out to Wood Lake where we would ride wrong way the first day to Valentine as a way to shorten ride on first day due to the half day of shuttle time. Then next day was hoping to shuttle the 26 miles back to Wood Lake and from there continue remaining ride heading east.
The issue is we are striking out in attempt to locate a shuttle, or even a bike shop in Valentine to help us accomplish this plan.! Anyone have any suggestions? Ideas?
If we don't do it this way, and rather shuttle all the way to Valentine on front end then our first ride day will be something over 60 miles (this after the 3 hour shuttle time in the morning) just to reach the first town with lodging. Too much! Thus the idea of starting at Wood Lake and splitting the first stretch over two days by paying for a shuttle. thanks!

If I'm reading your question correctly, you seem to be going from Valentine to Bassett on your first day. There is a nice place to stay there and it is 64 miles. You can however stop in Ainsworth which is 47.5 miles and also has lodging available. My wife and I are coming up with the same dilemma take an extra day and make the first day shorter, or ride 64 miles and get done a little faster. Ainsworth has three hotels listed and one in Long Pine. You might want to double check me on this, and correct me if I am wrong tho.

I rode a very enjoyable out and back from Neligh to Ainsworth. Started on 7/15/23 and returned to Neligh on 7/21/23.
I was very lucky with the weather, most days it was low/mid 80's. Really nice for mid July in Nebraska. Happy to report that I had no trouble with my Trek Dual Sport 3 with tubeless tires. No Flats! I've been riding for years but this was my first multi-day bike ride.
The trail was in great shape. Thanks Alex and the maintenance crew. Pay attention and avoid the few bumps, ruts & holes in the trail. One of the bumps turned out to be a huge turtle! I rode a leisurely pace of 30-40 miles each day. Stayed overnight in O'Neill (Carriage House Motel), Stuart (Stuart Village Inn), Long Pine (Bunkhouse), Atkinson (Sandhills Guest House Motel) and Ewing (2 Rivers Motel). All of the motels were excellent. The restaurants and mini marts were very accommodating. I was able to fill up my 3 water bottles with ice & water in almost every town I passed through. Although I had not planned any activities besides biking I had a lot of fun going to the drive-in movie in Neligh, the rodeo in O'Neill, the stock car races in Stuart, floated down Long Pine Creek, bought a cowboy hat at Ranch Land Western Wear in Ainsworth (perfect fit thanks to Joe) and even went to the Bassett Livestock Auction. I'm convinced, biking is the best way to experience the sandhills.
My advice is take it easy. Ride in the morning when it is cooler and less windy. Prepare for the worst and bring extra tubes but definitely go with tubeless tires. Stop and explore the area whenever you can. Find the best place to eat by looking for where the pickup trucks are parked. Lots to see and do. I always had service on my Verizon iPhone. I'm already planning my next bike trip on The Cowboy Trail.

Thanks for riding the trail and taking the time for making this writeup! I'm glad you enjoyed the trip - getting off the trail at each town and exploring is key for a memorable trip.

Happy Trails!

Canadian smoke is causing me to possibly rethink my planned trip in July along the Erie Canal trail in NY. I've always been curious about the Cowboy Trail. If I drive to one end does anyone know if there is anyway (other than riding back) to get back to my car?
And any opinions as to going east to west or vice versa?
Thanks

I tend to recommend west to east as there is a higher probability for a tailwind. North Fork Outfitting runs a shuttle along the trail. Another option is to rent a U-Haul in Norfolk and drive it back to Valentine.

Thanks Alex.

Crap Katy......my wife and I are just packing up to head to the Erie Canal. Smoke just about done us in on the Couer d'Alene trail a few years ago. I was hoping that would be the only time.

We plan on doing the Cowboy in August. I can speak for the east end of the Cowboy, and say the trail is in good shape there, and am hearing good things about the west but haven't ridden it. We're looking forward to riding it and when we do. we will ride from west to east. Along with what Alex mentioned there is also a gradual drop in elevation from the west to the east to the tune of about 1200' if memory serves.

If you ride it, I'd be very interested in an assessment here if you have the time.

Hi opedaler

Thanks for the message!

I hope the smoke stays away from you. I'm in southern Indiana and we had some bad smoke days last week so, given the unpredictability of wind currents, and not wanting to either 1. stay glued to my air quality app or 2. spend time in coffee shops or libraries waiting for the smoke to clear I decided at the last minute to change rides - I've had my eye on the Cowboy Trail for some time.

As well as the opportunity to see some prairies, visit Carhenge, and kayak on the Niobrara River.

I will post my assessment later on.
I'd love to hear how your trip on the Erie goes. Are you riding Buffalo to Albany?

Katy

I'm going to take the trail I'm one day from east coast to Reno,Nv. Hope it's in good shape

Katy Kelly,
The Erie Canal ride went very well for us, no smoke until the last day when rain also made its presence known. Several accidents with the group on slippery bridges ,a couple fairly serious, for others however. Also one individual overheated and passed away in his tent during the night. A lesson for everyone who rides in heat and humidity.....stay hydrated, and rest when needed.

Still looking forward to doing the Cowboy trail. We've done portions of it quite often, but never the whole thing at once. It's a bucket list thing for us. Alex has convinced me to make the switch to tubeless slime however. I've been a diehard no slime guy, and had liners, thorn resistant tubes, and hard case tires all lined up, but a previous rider from western Ne (Gordon) told me nice try but you need to go tubeless so I guess we'll try it and see. I'll report how it goes.

I hope you enjoy your ride and Nebraska hospitality. Ride safe.

Hello!
Coming up to visit family on the Cowboy Trail! The last time I rode between Atkinson and O'Neill there were lots of "goat heads" and I got a flat. I am planning to ride a few sections this summer with a shuttle drop off. How are trail conditions? TIA!

I would say it is getting better but still recommend using slime in your tubes or run tubeless tires. Also if you do pick up a goat head, don't pull it out, the sealant will work better as the thorn acts like a plug.

I’m in valentine tonight with a desire to ride east a few miles tomorrow. Where do the goat heads show up? Our prime purpose of being here is to see and ride the bridge. We’re hoping to ride 10 out and 10 back if the trail isn’t stickers.

We just used the goathead roller a few weeks ago from the Niobrara bridge going east on the trail about 4 miles. Let me know your experience, as we definitely picked up a good amount of goatheads and prickly pears.

Hi all,

We sustained some heavy storms over the weekend in the O'Neill area. We are in the process of cleaning things up but there may be downed branches we haven't gotten to for the next week. If you do find an issue please report it here: https://arcg.is/1HPvbv

Happy Trails!

Everything Charles said in 2021 is still true. Nice little park, clean, well stocked bathrooms, running water, electricity. Plenty of seating.

We camped here, and it was a nice break in between some tough trail. The owners stopped by and were excited to have campers. While the pool hall has a water hydrant outside, there aren't bathrooms...but the owners were nice enough to open up the city gym so we could have access to bathrooms overnight.

Also always exciting to have some snack options you haven't been carrying with you. Neat little stop and friendly people.

I keep looking at the trail online from Google Earth and MSN maps and notice that the there is a bridge that appears to be washed out crossing the Elkron River. Has this been repaired or do I need to go around. I am planning on riding the trail either in August or September.

Here's a list of current closures and detours:

- A large bridge over the Elkhorn River between Oakdale and Neligh is still out so you will need to take the highway shoulder between Oakdale and Neligh for about 4 miles.

- Just west of Neligh there is a short stretch next to the river that has been eroded severely. You will be able to see some construction cones on the trail, you will need to walk adjacent highway shoulder for roughly 1/4mile and then can jump back on. Or if comfortable you can probably hike through the damaged section, stay away from the edge though.

- Between Neligh and Clearwater there is a section of trail that is permanently closed due the river reclaiming the trail in this section. You will need to take 519th ave back to the highway and ride around on the highway for about 3 miles. You can take 517th ave and head south to get back on to the cowboy trail. About a 2.5 mile detour for this one.

- The next closed spot is on the east edge of Long Pine. A large section of the trail embankment was washed out due to a culvert failure from the flood. To detour around, take 440th rd to the highway and then come back in to Long Pine and find the trail by the park on the main road, about 2.5 miles.

On NGPC's online trail map it will show a closure just east of the Niobrara River trail bridge, it is passable at the moment but exercise caution. These detours are likely to remain the same for the remainder of 2023.

My sons and I are planning to ride from Montana to Iowa to do RAGBRAI this summer, and are interested in including the Cowboy Trail in our trip. We'll be on road bikes, likely on tires in the 32-38 mm width range. I see from older posts that the trail condition has improved recently. Is this a good choice for road bikes or should I look into a different route?

I would say 32mm is the minimum to use on the trail, but definitely doable. You will have a better time with 38's if you can swing those. Worst case you can use HWY 20/275 shoulder as a backup if the trail ends up not being your cup of tea. Sounds like a great trip!

Pat - Could you share the route you plan to take from Montana to Sioux City? I have been looking for a good Missoula, MT to Valentine, NE route. Thank you.

My wife and I started the trail today from Ainsworth. We made it to Stuart averaging a comfortable 10 miles per hour. 75 degrees, little to no wind. Trail in great shape. Scenery may not rival the Micklesen Trail, but beautiful just the same.

Thanks for the trip report!

Wanted to give a shout out and recommendation for the Neligh Deli in Neligh. It is a short distance from the trail and offers daily lunch specials. The owners would like to cater to bikers and you can even order on-line and have it ready for pick-up for you fkt aficionados!

Unless your absolute favorite thing to do in the whole world is to patch bicycle tube punctures, then thorn-resistant tires, slime, or other thorn mitigation measures are an absolute MUST to ride this trail. I rode the entire trail from Norfolk to Valentine as a series of out-and-backs over seven days (May 13-19, 2023), with just regular MTB tires. Stay on the main travelled part of the trail as much as possible. More than half of the 12+ punctures I experienced were after pulling my bike to the right side of the trail, though still on the limestone trail. The absolute worst section (from a thorn perspective) is between the Elkhorn gravel plant (2-3 miles west of Atkinson) and Stuart. I experienced two double punctures over this 6-mile section - one set heading west to Stuart, and one set on the return to Atkinson headed east. Highway 20 is close by over this section, and unless you are a rail-to-trail "purist", consider riding this 6-mile section on the ample 6-ft+ shoulder of Highway 20 to avoid the thorns. A 6-ft+ shoulder is available for the entire length of the Hwy 275 and 20 routes that closely follow most of the Cowboy Trail ( within 25-100 feet). The 16-17 miles east of Valentine were the most pleasant of the entire route, as they are well away from the highway and, until I got into Valentine city limits, thorn-free. Pack a sharpie pen so you can easily mark the puncture locations for patching

Thank you for this valuable information and I'm sorry goatheads gave you trouble on this trip. We will hit the sections described as soon as we can with the new implement we have.

Agree with the suggestion for hwy alternate in the Elkhorn Gravel Plant to Stuart section. On April 30th I did my last out-and-back of my trip from Atkinson to Stuart and had a rear flat somewhere between MM 98 & MM 100 and a front flat from a goat head on the return from Stuart to MM 100. I never went off-path but I guess I didn't get them all and must have left some for others to experience! :) Otherwise, I had no issues and really enjoyed the out-and-backs from Norfolk to Atkinson.

Hi All – With traffic picking back up on the trail, I wanted to put up a reminder that we still have some closures on the trail.
- A large bridge over the Elkhorn River between Oakdale and Neligh is still out so you will need to take the highway shoulder between Oakdale and Neligh for about 4 miles.
- Just west of Neligh there is a short stretch next to the river that has been eroded severely. You will be able to see some construction cones on the trail, you will need to walk adjacent highway shoulder for roughly 1/4mile and then can jump back on. Or if comfortable you can probably hike through the damaged section, stay away from the edge though.
- Between Neligh and Clearwater there is a section of trail that is permanently closed due the river reclaiming the trail in this section. You will need to take 519th ave back to the highway and ride around on the highway for about 3 miles. You can take 517th ave and head south to get back on to the cowboy trail. About a 2.5 mile detour for this one.
- The next closed spot is on the east edge of Long Pine. A large section of the trail embankment was washed out due to a culvert failure from the flood. To detour around, take 440th rd to the highway and then come back in to Long Pine and find the trail by the park on the main road, about 2.5 miles.

On NGPC's online trail map it will show a closure just east of the Niobrara River trail bridge, it is passable at the moment but exercise caution. These detours are likely to remain the same for the remainder of 2023.

A bit about goatheads - all trails and roads pose potential flat hazards, best you can do is try to mitigate and be prepared with extra tubes. I have had luck running slime in my tubes and if I do pick up few goatheads, don't pull them out, the thorn acts like a plug and helps the sealant seal the air leak. We are trying some new mitigation measures to reduce the presence of goatheads this year.

I hope you come out to ride the trail!

My cousins and I are planning a tripto to NE to bike the Cowboy Trail. Does the tail go beyond Valentine,NE? it looks liik it is completed to almost Kilgore,NE. Is it completed to almost Kilgore or not? Any info on the Trail west of Valentine would be greatly appreciated for planning our trip. Thank you.
Ron

The trail is developed, surfaced, and maintained between Valentine and Norfolk NE. Besides the 15 mile segment between Rushville and Gordon, the trail west of Valentine is not developed yet. Hope you enjoy your trip!

What is the cost for one night for one person? Thank you

My cousins and I are planning a tripto to NE to bike the Cowboy Trail. Does the tail go beyond Valentine,NE? it looks liik it is completed to almost Kilgore,NE. Is it completed to almost Kilgore or not? Any info on the Trail west of Valentine would be greatly appreciated for planning our trip. Thank you.
Ron

Some heavy rains have caused localized erosion near the trail surface at Cache Creek, appx 2.7 miles east of Tilden. Also undermining caused a depression of the trail approach to the Claire Creek bridge, appx 2.5 miles east of Oakdale. Please exercise caution in these spots.

Claire Creek
https://goo.gl/maps/S5FSxvTfq4Fuojmm6

We will be working on Claire Creek the next few days.

Cache Creek
https://goo.gl/maps/HKBhzUPm9tFUfsme8

Claire creek is fixed - these are passable.

Does anyone have any experience with Skinner's Motor Court in Ainsworth? Clean? Comfortable? Decent? Thank you.

Steve F, Roseville CA

I'm not sure if Skinner's is still open? I just called and the call wouldn't go through. I can recommend the historic Bassett Lodge for an overnight stay or there are the usual chain hotels in Ainsworth too.

Bassett Lodge,& cafe is outstanding, as I stayed there awhile back following the Cowboy trail with my car! (Walking problem) So many blueberries in the pancakes, I couldnt count them! Very good resting place!

Hello, I'll be riding the Cowboy trail solo from Valentine to Norfolk starting Friday morning 04/28 and aiming to arrive in Norfolk around lunch hours 04/30. My legs of the trip are as follows:

Day 1 Friday 04/28 - Valentine > Bassett (63 miles)
Day 2 Saturday 04/29 - Bassett > Neligh (89 miles)
Day 3 Sunday 04/30 - Neligh > Norfolk (35 miles)

If anyone wants to tag along or has feedback for this plan, feel free to respond in this thread or contact me on Facebook. Supe excited to book this stretch.

Daniel, I’d love to join you, but I’ll be doing the Mickelson with my family that same time. Let me know how it goes. I’m planning to ride the Cowboy Trail (and maybe the Katy) in September. If your plans change maybe we can ride together in the fall.

Thanks Chris, pretty set on this duration, however September will probably be much more predictable in terms of the weather! Enjoy and hope to see you around MT!

We are planning a ride from Santa Clara, CA to Brooklyn, NY. This ride will take place in 2026. We have come through that area in 2011 and 2021. In 2021 I was in contact with you about using the trail. We did get on a section of it and tire and tube exchange was needed on both wheels due to flats caused by several punctures at once. We would love to use the trail but cannot afford the risk having the team experience these issues. Do you know how much maintenance the trail receives throughout the riding season. We will be leaving Cody on August 21stheading to Bassett. We can modify our route if the trail is in good conditions. If not we will stay on our current route. you can see more about what we are doing by visiting baytobrooklyn.org. all my contact information can be found there.
Thank you

Greetings! Thanks for reaching out. I understand your concern about puncture vine, it can be nasty at times and can certainly ruin a trip if not prepared for a double flat. We are attempting some new mechanical control methods this year which actually picks up the seed, often referred to as a goathead. I hope this greatly reduces the presence of puncture vine on the trail. Check the forum to see if cyclists report fewer issues with flats from goatheads in the coming years. All trails and roads pose potential flat hazards, best you can do is try to mitigate and be prepared. I have had luck running slime in my tubes and if I do pick up few goatheads, don't pull them out, the thorn acts like a plug and helps the sealant seal the air leak. I hope you come out to ride the trail!

A promising sign last year was that the trail had a new maintenance man, Tom Theis who covers the trail from O'Neill to Valentine, and the trail was in a much, much better condition than it has been in the four or five years that I've ridden it out and back. He was keeping the goat heads down, and mowing and trimming were much better than in the past so hopefully he's taking care of it again this year! Keep up the good work tom!

Hi, I see that there is camping in several of the towns along the trail, but what if you're riding the trail on horseback? Is there anywhere to camp with your horse? Thanks.

I don't have that information available unfortunately. Check with the each city you would like to stay at. Many have rodeos or do 4h livestock events and have corrals with hay and water for a fee or may permit horses at the campground. Google each city office and you will find their phone number and can point you to who to call to set it up.

I will be hiking the Cowboy Trail starting 23 May. Just wondering about the Lone Pine trail closure and detour. For someone hiking and NOT riding, can you make it past the trail closure/issues or do you still need to take the detour?

Any way to get back to Norfolk from Valentine if one rides solo one way?

North Fork Outfitting in Norfolk offers shuttles and is great. 402-316-0157 or https://www.nforkoutfitting.com/

Other option is to rent a uhaul truck in Valentine and drive it back to Norfolk but I have heard the service can sometimes be spotty as it's more of a car dealer / shop that happens to have uhaul rentals. Highly recommend calling and planning well in advance if you go this route.

Registration is now open for the 35th annual Tour de Nebraska that will take bicyclists on a 250-mile loop through east central Nebraska in June 20-25 [2023].
...
Highlights of the 2023 tour include the Hwy. 14 Brewing Company and a street festival in Albion, Divots Brewery plus live music in Norfolk, a two-day gravel adventure that includes the Cowboy Trail, as well as tubing and kayaking options on the Elkhorn River.
...

Published by North Platte Bulletin 12/7/2022
Full article: https://northplattebulletin.com/tour-de-nebraska-bicycle-ride-announces-2023-route/

My wife and I have ridden this ride numerous times and will most likely again this year. As with all group rides, weather is a central figure in how much the rides are enjoyed. Hopefully, we get weather like last year, and not the year previous. One of the changes this ride has made is staying two nights in a town before being required to move on. This minimizes the weather element. There are only three days of riding where the riders must get to the next destination point. This gives a few days to sit out because of inclement weather, or just rider fatigue, if needed. Most don't, but there are days that just aren't that fit for riding so staying in the tent, gym, or hotel and relaxing and not being forced into getting to the next point is a nice option. Also, some modifications into rider safety during extreme heat, and excessive wind or rain were made last year, and was much appreciated. Earlier starting times for heat (if needed), more sags for excessive wind, and unexpected issues were also added.....and appreciated.

I'm planning to ride the Cowboy Trail from Valentine to Norfolk in the spring of 2023 as part of a three trail trip: Katy, Cowboy, and Mickelson. What's the earliest I can expect decent temperatures and riding conditions on the Cowboy trail?

Greetings! If you are ok with colder weather it is doable as early as late March. Depending on our precipitation during the winter, there may still be snow drifts in spots. I typically think that mid - late April is about when we get into decent weather, 40's overnight and low 60's during the day. That all being said I've been on the trail in early May and encountered snow storms so YMMV. Best bet is to watch forecast and gear up appropriately as the weather can be unpredictable at times.

It appears that if following your order of rides you will start with the Katy, move on to the Cowboy, and finish it off with the Mickelson. The Katy will certainly be warmer, and the Mickelson will certainly be colder. I'm older so cold weather doesn't interest me as much as it did when I was younger. For me PERSONALLY I'd wait until at least until May if I could. There's also the potential for soggy riding from melted snow much earlier than that imo. Since you've picked all limestone trails I'm assuming you're aware of what it takes to ride these kinds of trails.....the good things....and the bad. My wife and I did a three-trail ride to your north a few years ago (Centennial, Coeur d'Alene, and the Hiawatha). We've also done the Katy, Cowboy, and Mickelson. I've enjoyed them all, but found timing pretty important on all of them. I've seen too much smoke up north late in the year, and too much rain south at times. Imo if you have to nail down a timeline, you'll just have to take a little risk, but the later you can wait to make your decision the better imo.

There is debris blocking the trail in Battle Creek from a grain elevator tower that collapsed from a recent wind storm. The co-op is having a contractor clean it up on Thursday next week but for the time being you just need to detour around the debris by using city streets.

Here is the location of the blockage: https://goo.gl/maps/MyWfTHrJPPxbsL6C9