Anytime is the perfect time to set out on a scenic drive through Nebraska. Whether you stick to your own neighborhood or embark on an epic journey across the whole state, there are always amazing things to see here. The Bridges to Buttes Scenic Byway is an especially fantastic journey to take, and you never even have to leave the car to see its treasures.
If you want to follow the route literally from bridges to buttes, you’ll start just east of Valentine. The byway officially starts at the intersection of Hwy 83 and Hwy 20 and extends west all the way to the Wyoming border.
Google Maps
The byway runs parallel to the Cowboy Trail, the 320-mile-long rails-to-trails route across northern Nebraska. If you’re a fan of traveling the Cowboy Trail itself, you’re going to love seeing the surroundings - and the trail itself - from this new perspective.
flickr/Ken Ratcliff
This is one journey that’s guaranteed to make you fall in love with Nebraska (if you weren’t already). As you travel its 200-mile length, you’ll get a feel for what Nebraska would have looked like to Native Americans and white settlers many generations ago.
Getty Images/Stephen Saks/Lonely Planet Images
The route takes travelers past such wonders as Merritt Reservoir State Recreation Area, Niobrara River, Arthur Bowring Sandhills Ranch State Historical Park, and Fort Robinson State Park.
Nebraska Tourism
You’ll also encounter the Agate Fossil Beds National Monument, Chadron State Park, and Hudson-Meng Bison Bonebed. As splendid as these places are up close, you can enjoy them from the comfort of your car as you drive through. The entire 200-mile journey takes 4-6 hours to drive, depending on how many times you stop and get out to explore.
Nebraska Tourism
If you only have the time or energy for one side trip, Toadstool Geologic Park near the Western Nebraska town of Crawford is a great place to get out and stretch your legs. There’s an easy one-mile walking path through the moon-like rock formations that will make you feel like you’re strolling on another world.
Nebraska Tourism
Whether you have a specific destination in mind or you’re simply up for seeing a part of the state that’s often missed by visitors, the Bridges to Buttes Scenic Byway is a classic sightseeing adventure that will take you right to the heart of Nebraska’s stunning beauty.
Nebraska Tourism
Find out more about the Bridges to Buttes Scenic Byway here. Have you ever traveled this route? Are you planning to drive any part of it on your next road trip? Tell us all about your plans in the comments!
Google Maps
flickr/Ken Ratcliff
Getty Images/Stephen Saks/Lonely Planet Images
Nebraska Tourism
There are lots of lovely scenic byways to experience in Nebraska! The Sandhills Journey Scenic Byway is another of our favorites – check it out here.
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Address: Bridges to Buttes Byway, Chadron, NE, USA
