May 30, 2025
Drought takes toll on eastern Nebraska oaks
State parks along Nebraska’s eastern edge are seeing dead or declining trees due to stressors.
Read More
Starting Aug. 7, the Cowboy Recreation and Nature Trail will close temporarily for approximately 1.5 miles starting at Long Pine to repair damage caused by the 2019 flood.
The project will involve repairing the existing embankment and installing new culverts along the trail. The trail segment, from Main Street in Long Pine to 440th Avenue east of the city, is anticipated to re-open this November.
Eastbound through traffic may take Main Street in Long Pine north to U.S. Highway 20, use the shoulder to detour 1.5 miles east to 440th Avenue, then ride south approximately a quarter mile to find the trail again.
The trail closure is available online on our Nebraska State Park Trails map; find it at OutdoorNebraska.gov/guides-maps/maps/.
Beginning in Norfolk and spanning 321 miles west to Chadron, the Cowboy Trail is one of the largest Rails-to-Trails projects in the United States. The trail is developed between Norfolk and Valentine, consisting of 187 miles of crushed limestone surfacing. Recently, an additional 15 miles of trail has been developed between Gordon and Rushville, which is now open. See more about the Cowboy Trail at OutdoorNebraska.gov.
