Beauty and History in the Panhandle of Nebraska

Fort Robinson is Nebraska’s largest state park and is located in the northwest part of the state. Ft. Robinson served as a military post from 1874 to 1948, and is the site of the tragic death of Crazy Horse and the horrific Cheyenne Breakout battle. We were in the Black Hills of South Dakota last September and and learned more of the heartbreaking history of Native Americans. It was really a sobering experience to visit the landmarks, buildings and memorials here. Thankfully, there is also positive history at this state park; agricultural research, equestrian Olympic training center, military dog training center, etc. along with spectacular scenery.

There are tons of things to do in Fort Robinson: horseback riding, swimming, tubing, fishing, biking, hiking, stagecoach and jeep rides. museums, theater and even a restaurant. When we arrived we took a bike ride around the park to get our bearings and just enjoyed the natural beauty all around us. The next day we really took our time going to all the restored buildings throughout the park and reading all the historical markers. We drove the scenic route(Smiley Canyon Trail), and hiked further for even better views. The Mexican Canyon Trail was probably our favorite, as it gave us the best view of the buttes. Road Biking on Highway 20 was a treat, with it’s wide shoulders, minimal traffic, lots of climbing and fun descents. I absolutely loved running on the paved and unpaved roads around this park, as the landscape surrounding me was always gorgeous.

It was great to be in a state park setting again, as we had been mostly in larger cities for the past month or so. We only left the park once during our week stay, and it was just for a bike ride into town on the White River Trail to get some ice cream. We would highly recommend this park for the beauty, history, accommodations, and activities.

We have one more stop in Nebraska and then will be on our way to Colorado.