Disappointed

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Craig from St George, UT on 9/29/2017 8:22:47 PM:

My wife and I came to Velentine for several days with plans to ride the Cowboy Trail...thinking it was a classic rail trail like the Mickelson or Katy. Sadly, it is not. The State of Nebraska has a possible gem and the Valentine bridge is worth the trip itself but the trail is a bummer. The gravel/chat is too deep and is not a great surface...you are in fear of washing out constantly. There are also many goat heads and other thorns. These could easily be managed with a little spraying and maintenance. However, the biggest drawback is that ATV and farmers/ranchers now us the trail as there personal highway. There is significant washboard starting 8 miles a South of Velentine...so bad we finally gave up our plan and returned to Valentine. The ATVs and farmers have even ripped out the barriers intended o prevent motorized vehicles. The state could do,ve this but otherwise this trail won't get much use. It's sad to see such a great idea, with considerable investment made so far, be such a disappointment for lack of a few things. Complain to the state...but don't waste your time on the Cowboy Trail at this time.

art reisman from boulder on 9/30/2017 9:15:20 AM:

We rode a little bit east of there. Here is my blog post on the subject. Yes the trail could be a little better. It is such a great right of way it needs some community support but the area is so sparsely populated east of Valentine it is not likely to happen

https://travelreporter.wordpress.com/2017/05/30/the-cowboy-trail-and-sand-hills-nebraska/

Diisaacs from The Foothills of Northern Colorado on 10/4/2017 11:20:02 PM:

I appreciate the heads up and I hope your disappointment along with the rest of us resonates to the community. It would be pleasing to be able to have both those who appreciate these trails so much and those who have adjoining land, work together for the common good.

Gerald Wilgus from Frankfort, MI on 2/11/2018 6:56:57 PM:

I had just learned about the Cowboy Trail today so looked it up. As bicyclists as well as kayakers we were thinking it would be nice to ride the Cowboy and kayak the Niobrara. This thread is not encouraging.

Trail surface makes a big difference since we ride recumbent trikes and three wheels on a soft surface is a bit hard to push. And landowners showing and demonstrating disdain for the trail isn't encouraging.

Stephen McGregor from Hannibal, MO on 2/12/2018 8:43:56 AM:

I didn't experience any of the "locals" not wanting us there. Spoke with several ranchers and farmers all wanting to know where we were going how long etc. One rancher took us from the LBow Room in Johnstown to the Rodeo(that'd been our plan since the afternoon heat hit 100).

The trail is mostly well taken care of and you can hope out onto the highway anytime you want(with a few small exceptions),I have a blog here of our three day ride last Labor Day weekend, and some video at my YouTube channel with some idea of what the trail looks like.

We had a great time, and I encourage you to go (PS, my friend had Swchalbe Tires with puncture guard put on her bike and I had Teflon liners in my Clement XPLOR USH tires).

K.D. Holland from Ada, OK on 4/1/2018 6:59:18 PM:

I have ridden the Katy Trail 2x’s and enjoy the solitude. Hope they get this trail going

Cynthya from Salina on 4/1/2018 10:15:50 PM:

We rode the trail August 2017, on Ranz recumbents. The Trail surface was not ideal, but rideable. Some places were rough and weedy, but we rode from one end to the other and back, camping along the way in city parks. We met nice people. Yes, the trail could use some work, but give it a try. People need to get out and ride. Ride and share the experience and make the trail happen!

Jack on 4/3/2018 12:00:35 PM:

Allowing motorized vehicles on these trails is the kiss of death in attracting visitors. Thought about this trail because of its length but if motorized vehicles are using the trail I have no interest in it.

I've bicycled trails in CA, PA, WI, GA, MO, UT, AZ, WV, MD.

The Katy in MO is decent, many in WI are nice but the best is the GAP/C&O. It is very well maintained, offers great camping spots, many small towns, beautiful scenery along rivers and the only motorized vehicles are for maintenance.

It is also served by AMTRAK with walk-on service for bikes. Met visitors from other states and countries who have made the trip because of the trail's reputation. The small towns and businesses along the GAP/C&O are booming, restaurants-bike shops are expanding and so are housing options. Do it. I plan to do again with my sons as we did a couple of years ago.

Cynthya from Salina on 4/3/2018 3:55:02 PM:

Jack, Your thoughts are well taken. I am ready to bike the GAP. I have only done a small portion of The Katy. That was my first experience with rails-to-trails. I enjoyed it because it was flat and no traffic. When we rode The Cowboy, there was evidence of motorized traffic. On one occasion I looked back and saw an ATV coming up behind my husband. Another time I saw a rider approaching the trail and it was obvious they were used to accessing The Trail at that point. When they saw us coming,they quickly turned and went another direction. I am glad we rode The Cowboy Trail. It has great possibilities and I hope people read these comments and realize what an oppportunity for riders and the state of Nebraska this trail offers.

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