Cowboy COLOR brochure May 2010.qxp 5/24/2010 3:54 PM Page 1

Trail Rules and Game and Parks Regulations Commission District Offices: Come enjoy the Headquarters ❖ rd Cowboy Trail! Cowboy Trail Hours: Open ½ hour before sunrise to Cowboy 2200 N. 33 St. / PO Box 30370 ½ hour after sunset. Lincoln, NE 68503-0370 ❖ 402-471-0641 Recreation No motorized vehicles allowed. ❖ Obey traffic signs. Vehicles have right of way Omaha Metro Office and Nature at road crossings. 1212 Bob Gibson Blvd. ❖ Stay to the right. Pass slower traffic on the Omaha, NE 68108-2020 left. Yield to oncoming traffic. 402-595-2144 ❖ RIGHT OF WAY: Cyclists yield to all other Ak-Sar-Ben Aquarium TrailTrail trail users; hikers yield to horseback riders. 21502 W. Hwy 31 ❖ Cyclists should wear a helmet at all times. Gretna, NE 68028-7264 402-332-3901 ❖ All pets must be on a leash no longer than 6 feet. District I ❖ Drinking alcoholic beverages is prohibited. 299 Husker Rd. / PO Box 725 Alliance, NE 69301-0725 ❖ Littering is subject to $100 fine. 308-763-2940 ❖ Camping, fires, hunting, and use of firearms District II are prohibited. 524 Panzer St. / PO Box 508 ❖ Horseback riders should dismount when Bassett, NE 68714-0508 crossing bridges and road intersections. 402-684-2921 ❖ Horseback riders shall NOT use the main District III trail surface. 2201 N. 13th St. ❖ Avoid disturbing natural features, wildlife, Norfolk, NE 68701-2267 and farm animals. Leaving the trail right-of- 402-370-3374 way except at public crossing could subject you to trespassing violations and prosecution. District IV TheThe LongestLongest RailsRails ❖ Report fire or medical emergency by dialing 911. 301 E. State Farm Rd. North Platte, NE 69101-0430 toto TrailsTrails ConversionConversion ❖ To report vandalism or violators, call 308-535-8025 800-742-7627. inin thethe NationNation District VI ❖ No livestock allowed on trail or right-of-way. 1617 First Ave. Kearney, NE 68847-6057 Open from 308-865-5310 Under federal and/or state law, discrimination is prohibited on the basis of race, color, religion, age, gender, marital Norfolk to Valentine status, national origin, disability or political affiliation. If you For more information please call: think you have been discriminated against in any program, activity or facility or want more information, contact the Lincoln Office: 402-471-5511 Affirmative Action Officer, Nebraska Game and Parks Bassett Office: 402-684-2921 Commission, Lincoln, NE, 402-471-0641; the Equal Opportunity Commission, Lincoln, NE, 402-471-2024, TTY / For more information on in TDD 402-471-4693. USFWS, Division of Bird Habitat and Nebraska, check out the Nebraska Game Conservation, Civil Rights Coordinator, 4401 North Fairfax and Parks Commission Web site at: Drive, MBSP 4020, Arlington, Virginia 22203.

www.OutdoorNebraska.org Printed on recycled paper with soy ink. Updated 5/10D Cowboy Trail COLOR brochure May 2010.qxp 5/24/2010 3:55 PM Page 2 Ainsworth Nebraska’s First Bassett • Stuart Emmett • • Merriman • Chadron Recreational Trail Valentine Gordon Inman • • • Rushville • •

The nation’s longest rail-to-trail conversion • • • Wood Lake Battle Creek Johnstown • • • Newport

and Nebraska’s first state recreational trail was Long Pine Neligh • O’Neill accepted as a donation from the Rails To Trails Atkinson Tilden

Conservancy on December 5, 1994. Acceptance • Ewing •

of the gift was authorized by law through the • Clearwater •

Nebraska State Legislature under the provisions • • • Oakdale •

of federal railbanking statutes. Norfolk Meadow Grove The historic Chicago and Northwestern Railroad right- Legend Cowboy of-way, now the Open Recreation Cowboy Recreation and Nature Trail, and Nature passes through spectacular Trail Nebraska scenery will provide Cowboy Trail users as it travels from with camping, restroom and Norfolk west through the Valley shower facilities. with its companion route U.S. Highway 275. The trail now is complete from Farmsteads, cropland, and timber-covered Norfolk to Valentine. This 195-mile riverbanks dot the landscape. continuous stretch passes through At O’Neill, a trailhead is provided at the 20 communities of varying sizes Attention Bike Users Old Historic Railroad Depot, which is on the and offerings. Each stop has unique Proper equipment is always a must. This National Register of Historic Places. Parking, features that only rural America can offer. See old- trail is of crushed limestone and is generally restrooms, water and trail information are time soda jerks, historic depots and one of the last www.OutdoorNebraska.org quite hard when dry. It can become soft when available to the public. drive-in movie theaters still in operation. The rain has fallen within a 12-hour period. It may West from O’Neill the trail parallels ranching, communities offer some of the best in cafes also become rough if some improper use has hay and native prairie along U.S. 20. At Long Pine, with that good old-home cooking that you just occurred. It is always best to use a mountain the trail enters Nebraska’s unique and renowned don’t experience every day. or hybrid type bike. It is also suggested that . Except for an oasis containing a quarter- Camping is available in most community city these bikes have the burr proof tires or the mile-long bridge crossing the parks at little or no charge. Visit the Nebraska Teflon belts to prevent flats. Valley at Valentine, one of the nation’s top 10 Game and Parks Commission’s website for a list They are inexpensive and canoeing rivers, these vast grass-covered dunes of amenities in each community. The amenities easy to install. The reason border the trail en route to the country listing will show you where to find food, lodging for this is that the Texas near Chadron. and supplies, as well as special events and festivals sandburs (goathead) or When finished this hiking, biking and that take place during the summer months. puncture vine may be puncture vine equestrian trail will stretch 321 miles across present and unseen since Nebraska. The trail will pass over 221 bridges Always follow the creed of the trail user, they are so small. This very small burr is a and through 29 communities nicely spaced leave only your tracks or footprints and problem in almost all states and can prevent about 10 to 15 miles apart. These communities respect the landowner’s property. you from enjoying a great day of riding.