Dawes County: Nature Trails, Pine Ridge and Museums

If you are planning a trip to Dawes County, you can shape your time around different interests: trails through varied landscapes, geological formations, history or museums. The options also differ depending on whether you want to hike, visit an exhibition or experience seasonal culture. When planning your hotel stay, it helps to first consider which of these themes you want to focus on during your trip.

Pine Ridge: Trails, Landscapes and Fort History

Established in 1921, Chadron State Park lies among the striking buttes and canyons of Pine Ridge. The park and the adjoining areas of Nebraska National Forest offer hikers and cyclists more than 100 miles of trails and old roads. This means both trails and older roads can be considered when planning days outdoors.

Fort Robinson State Park covers more than 22,000 acres of Pine Ridge landscape. The site is also associated with an important historical event: in 1879, it was the setting for the Cheyenne Breakout. The park offers 60 miles of trails for hiking. In the summer months, Jeep tours to the surrounding buttes and geological formations are also available. If you plan to take one of these tours, check the current operating dates. The Fort Robinson History Center and numerous restored or reconstructed exhibit buildings tell the story of the fort. This brings landscapes, outdoor activities and history together as distinct aspects of the same state park.

Geological Formations and Choosing a Route

Unusual clay and sandstone formations shape the landscape at Toadstool Geologic Park, which also has scientifically valuable fossil deposits. A one-mile interpretive loop trail leads to the eroded formations. The Bison Trail offers a different route: it connects Toadstool Geologic Park with the Hudson-Meng Education and Research Center over three miles one way. When planning, it is helpful to distinguish between a loop and a one-way connection, as well as to note the stated length of each route.

Box Butte Reservoir State Recreation Area offers another distinct experience. Located in southern Dawes County, it includes a 1,600-acre lake. The area offers birdwatching opportunities; species sighted there include Say’s Phoebe, Ferruginous Hawk, Eastern Bluebird, Eastern Wood-Pewee, Indigo Bunting and Wood Thrush. You can also fish at the reservoir for northern pike, channel catfish, walleye, smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, bluegill, yellow perch and rock bass. This gives you two different ways to enjoy your time at the lake: birdwatching and fishing.

Another fishing opportunity is available at Bordeaux Creek Wildlife Management Area, east of Chadron. The area covers approximately 1,800 acres, and fishing is available on Big Bordeaux Creek.

Museums, Theater and the Night Sky

The museums have different areas of focus. The Museum of the Fur Trade is located at the site of James Bordeaux’s trading post, built in 1837 for the American Fur Company and now listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Fort Robinson State Park is also home to the Trailside Museum of Natural History. A permanent exhibit at the Mari Sandoz Heritage Center tells the story of Mari Sandoz’s life and literary work; the C. F. Coffee Gallery there focuses on the history of cattle ranching in the High Plains.

The Eleanor Barbour Cook Museum combines traditional specimens in display cases with a room of fluorescent rocks and interactive activities. Most specimens were collected at sites in the Great Plains and Rocky Mountain region. The Dawes County Historical Museum complements these topics with a genealogical and historical research library, as well as a log cabin, barn, school, church, collection of antique toys and a caboose. The selection ranges from natural history and rocks to regional history and everyday objects.

For a look at the night sky, the Dr. Lois Veath Planetarium offers shows by reservation. These include a guided presentation about the night sky and a film experience. There are also public Free Friday shows that do not require reservations and last 30 to 45 minutes. Since dates and reservation requirements can change, check the current information before your visit; the schedule for Free Friday shows may also change.

The Post Playhouse stages several rotating musicals each season from May through August in a historic theater building at Fort Robinson State Park. If theater is one of your travel interests, checking the current season’s schedule can help you plan your dates.

Getting Around Chadron

Chadron City Transit provides on-demand, door-to-door service to the general public in Chadron, Monday through Friday from 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Travel times and service conditions are relevant to your planning; check the current schedule before your trip, as schedules can change.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Chadron, Blaine, Garfield County, Sheridan County, Jefferson County, Sherman County, Holt County, Valley County.

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