Some help please, I will be driving back to PA through Nebraska, will have spent about 3 weeks seeing mesas, arches, canyons in Utah and the Rockies in Colorado. Just wondering if Scott's Bluff and Chimney Rock are worth about 100 to 125 miles out of the way to make a stop.
Thank you for your comments
Scott's Bluff and Chimney Rock
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If you're a history buff, then you'll probably want to see Chimney Rock because of its importance on the Oregon Trail. However, if you are looking for something like the Utah and Colorado landscape, you will be greatly disappointed. The monument is soft sandstone and eroding away. To be honest, I would say skip it.
I've been to both and am absolutely fascinated by the settlers moving along the Oregon Trail. But even if you had my interest, I can't recommend going that far out of your way for such a visit. Next time you're on I-80 or I-76, take a slightly shorter detour and take a quick look at both or neither.
I live in Nebraska and the drive through it is just one of those things you have to live through. It is a tedious drive and there is really nothing to see, anywhere. This may sound harsh but it is true. You might want to just "marvel" at how far you can see. You can see for miles. You don't get that in PA!
A hundred or so miles is nothing when you are that far from home. Stop, it is well worth the extra time it will take.
I went through there about 20 years ago. Do you have kids with you? If they play The Oregon Trail, they will like seeing these historic sites. True they are nothing like all the mesas, canyons and mountains but they are so historic.
I think it was at Scottsbluff, a section of the prairie has been undisturbed and you can still see the wagon ruts from the Oregon Trail. I found that pretty amazing. There was a small museum, had interesting items that were found along the trail, personal items, journals.
We saw Chimney Rock by covered wagon. We road around the area for an hour or so and then the outfit prepared us dinner on the campfire. It was kind of fun.
Unless you plan on going out there again, I would drive the 2 hours out of the way to go see it.
I would say if you want to make more worthwhile adding a few more miles on wouldn't be too bad. A short distance from those two are Ft Robinson and Chadron State Parks and Toadstool State Park is right in that area. You have to get off I80 to see Nebraska however if you decide not to go that way you can still stop in Paxton for something to eat at Ollie's Big Restaurant.
I see that the original post was in February but maybe this can help someone else...
I live in Scottsbluff and will say that an overnight stop in the area is definitely worth it if you're a history buff. The Oregon Trail Wagon Train by Chimney Rock is a fun evening activity--steaks cooked and eaten outdoors, with a wagon train ride next to ruts left by the original covered wagons, followed by a singalong under the stars.
You could easily spend part of a day hiking up Scotts Bluff National Monument and going through the visitors' center.
For something campy and fun, drive to Carhenge in Alliance (60 miles from Scottsbluff)--it's often on Travel Channel-type shows just because it's weird and kind of fun. It's on the way to Ft. Robinson (mentioned by an earlier poster).
Don't be misled by people telling you that western Nebraska is flat and boring. As a matter of fact, Scottsbluff is over 3800 ft. above sea level and is surrounded by rolling prairie and hills. We are not the Midwest--we're the West and full of Old West history.