Join us in celebrating Nebraska's Cowboy Trail in 2025!
In 2025, Nebraska’s Cowboy Recreation and Nature Trail will saddle up for an extraordinary milestone — its 30th anniversary! This scenic, 317-mile stretch of adventure winds through the heart of the Cornhusker State, offering a trail of rich history and breathtaking landscapes. From the rolling plains to vibrant small towns, the Cowboy Trail has become a symbol of Nebraska’s rugged spirit and its deep connection to the Great Plains.
As we celebrate three decades of exploration, the Cowboy Trail invites adventurers, history enthusiasts, and families to experience the legacy of the trail by joining in on fun events throughout 2025. Dust off your boots, pack your gear, and get ready for a trailblazing celebration like no other!
Bike enthusiasts ride across the bridge crossing the Elkhorn River on the Cowboy Trail near Norfolk in Madison County. Eric Fowler, Nebraskaland Magazine/Nebraska Game and Parks Commission.
Tubers float down Long Pine Creek beneath a bridge on the Cowboy Trail near Long Pine in Brown County. Eric Fowler, Nebraskaland Magazine/Nebraska Game and Parks Commission.
A bridge on the Cowboy Trail crosses the Elkhorn River at Dry Creek Wildlife Management Area in Holt County. Eric Fowler, Nebraskaland Magazine/Nebraska Game and Parks Commission.
An aerial photo shows the Cowboy Trail bridge over the Niobrara River south of Valentine in Cherry County. Eric Fowler, Nebraskaland Magazine, Nebraska Game and Parks Commission
A couple rides bikes on the Cowboy Recreation and Nature Trail, passing through the Sandhills southeast of Valentine. Eric Fowler, Nebraskaland Magazine/Nebraska Game and Parks Commission
Nebraska Game and Parks Commission is celebrating 30 years of the Cowboy Trail with a bike ride, dinner and social on the bridge on Friday, Sept. 5 in Valentine. Join in on all three parts of the day, or pick and choose what you’d like to participate in!
The day will kick-off at 9 a.m. with a bike ride along the trail. Ride either 32 miles with Arabia Ranch as your turnaround point, or ride 16 miles and end your ride at Arabia Ranch. Shuttles will be available for those who choose the shorter distance.
Sign up by Aug. 8 to ensure you get a limited edition Cowboy Trail T-shirt.
Dinner will be served from 5 to 7 p.m. at Valentine Trailhead Park picnic shelter and is a celebration of how far we’ve come in the last 30 years, while looking to the future of the trail system.
Limited spots are available; reserve yours by Aug. 15.
A free social will be hosted from 7 to 8:30 p.m. on the iconic, 1/4-mile-long Cowboy Trail Bridge. Drinks are available for purchase along with shuttle options being available between Valentine and the bridge.
By registering, you’re directly supporting the improvement and investment in the Valentine Trailhead area. We’ve set the goal to raise enough money to purchase and install a bike fix-it station and an information kiosk.
Nebraska Game and Parks and its partners are hosting fun events and activities along the trail in 2025. Find one near you:
| Event | Date & Time | Host | Location | Event website |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| First Day Hike | Jan. 1 from 1-2 p.m. | Nebraska Game and Parks | Cowboy Trail Broken Bridge, Norfolk | View more details |
| Historical marker tour | Jan. 1 to Dec. 31 | Nebraska Historical Society | Multiple locations | View more details |
| Meet Ya in Clinton – Celebrate the Cowboy Trail | April 26 | Cowboy Trail West, Nebraska Game and Parks | Rushville/Gordon – Clinton | View more details |
| Nebraska Passport & Cowboy Cache | May 1 – Sept. 30 | Nebraska Tourism, Nebraska Game and Parks | Towns along the Cowboy Trail | View more details |
| Your Parks Adventure: Trail Trek | May-October | Nebraska Game and Parks | Multiple locations | View more details |
| National Trails Day – Bike Rodeo | June 7, 1-5 p.m. | Nebraska Game and Parks | The Cowboy Trail, Basset | View more details |
| Bubba’s Pampered Pedalers Cowboy Trail Bike Tour | June 8-14 | Bubba’s Pampered Pedalers | The Cowboy Trail (Valentine to Norfolk) | View more details |
| Stars, Strolls and S’mores | June 11 | Lower Elkhorn NRD, Visit Norfolk & Nebraska Game and Parks | Cowboy Trail Parking Lot by Broken Bridge, Norfolk | View event details |
| Valentine Marathon | Aug. 2 | Valentine Marathon | Valentine | View more details |
| Bioblitz | Aug. 23 | Nebraska Game and Parks | Norfolk | More details to come. |
| Cowboy Trail 30th Celebration Party | Sept. 5 | Nebraska Game and Parks and Bike Walk Nebraska | Valentine | Will include a bike ride, dinner and evening social on the historic bridge. Register to attend. |
| CowVal Bike Ride | Sept. 6 | ROAM Share, Nebraska Game and Parks | Valentine to Wood Lake (50-mile ride) or Valentine to Long Pine SRA (108-mile ride) | View more details |
| Cowboy 200 (100- and 200-mile footrace) | Sept. 26 at 6 a.m. (200-mile) Sept. 27 at 8 a.m. (100-mile) | Ultraverse Supplements | Norfolk (200-mile start point) Ainsworth (100-mile start point) | View details & registration |
You can support trail maintenance on the Cowboy Trail by ordering this specialty plate.
Those interested in making financial donations to help fund maintenance and development of the Cowboy Trail, along with several other recreational trails in Nebraska, can donate to the Nebraska Trails Foundation.
Share your adventures on the Cowboy Trail with us! Tag us @NEgameandparks on Facebook or Instagram, and/or geotag the Cowboy Trail, for a chance to be featured on our social channels.
Special thanks to our partners who help support and advocate for Nebraska’s Cowboy Trail!
