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Celebrate 30 years of the Cowboy Recreation and Nature Trail with a bike ride, dinner and social on the bridge on Friday, Sept. 5 in Valentine.
Register to attend the bike ride and dinner portions at OutdoorNebraska.gov by searching “Cowboy 30.” Proceeds from the event will support trail improvements of the Valentine Trailhead area.
Registration is not required to attend the social.
The Cowboy Trail signature event will kick off with a 9 a.m. bike ride along the trail. Ride either 16 miles from the Valentine Bike Share, 101 U.S. 83, Valentine, to Arabia Ranch, or 32 miles to Arabia Ranch and back. Shuttles will be available for those who choose the shorter distance.
Sign up by Aug. 8 to get a limited-edition Cowboy Trail T-shirt.
Join the celebration dinner, which will be served from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Valentine Trailhead Park picnic shelter. Celebrate the past 30 years of development along the trail, while also looking to the future of the trail system.
Limited spots are available, so reserve one by Aug. 15.
A free social will be hosted from 7 to 8:30 p.m. on the iconic, quarter-mile-long Cowboy Trail Bridge. Drinks are available for purchase along with shuttle options between Valentine and the bridge.
By registering to attend, guests will be directly supporting the improvement and investment in the Valentine Trailhead area. The Cowboy Trail 30th anniversary planning team, including the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission and Bike Walk Nebraska, set the goal to raise enough money to buy and install a bike fix-it station and an information kiosk.
Those who cannot attend can still donate to the cause at NebraskaTrailsFoundation.org/donate.
The Cowboy Trail is a scenic, 317-mile project that winds through the heart of Nebraska from Norfolk to Chadron. It is one of the largest Rails-to-Trails projects, which transformed abandoned railroad corridors into accessible pathways, in the United States.
Ride the trail and discover the rich history of Nebraska’s railroading roots, explore vibrant small towns, and take in breathtaking landscapes.
Learn more about the trail at OutdoorNebraska.gov by searching “Cowboy Trail.”
