Nebraska's Cowboy Trail

The Chicago & Northwestern railroad’s “Cowboy Line” was active for more than one hundred years—delivering gold from the Black Hills, transporting livestock from the ranches in the West, and carrying passengers through northern Nebraska. Now the 321-mile-long rail line is being remade into Nebraska’s first state recreational trail which, when completed, will become the nation’s longest rail-to-trail conversion.  Nebraska’s Cowboy Trail: A User’s Guide is the essential companion for anyone planning to hike, bike, or ride horseback on the Cowboy Recreation and Nature Trail, which currently extends from Norfolk to Valentine and will eventually stretch all the way to Chadron. The trail runs through numerous communities, accommodates multiple uses, and provides an up-close look at the ecology of the Great Plains—a view too easily missed when speeding by in a car. Keith Terry’s guidebook enhances appreciation of the trail’s natural advantages with descriptions of the region’s flora and fauna and with pointers for food, lodging, and camping. He also provides brief narratives about historical events that occurred along the route. This guide illuminates a historical corridor of the Great Plains and will heighten the trail user’s experience.

“The Cowboy Recreation and Nature Trail is a 321-mile thread that runs through some of the most unique ecosystems in the United States. . . . This book is not just about a trail; it’s about our environment, our friends, our families, and our neighbors. The trail just ties them all together.”—Duane Westerholt, Nebraska State Trails coordinator, Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, “Nebraska’s Cowboy Trail will introduce you to a piece of Nebraska the right way—it takes you back as it guides you ahead along the trail.”—David Harding, history columnist, Omaha World-Herald, “For anyone seeking a true Great Plains adventure, the Cowboy Trail is a must!”—Helen Boosalis, former mayor of Lincoln, Nebraska, “Should prove an invaluable resource for Nebraskans and visitors to the state. . . . The reader will benefit from Terry’s vivid descriptions of the trail’s various segments. . . . Kudos to the University of Nebraska Press and Keith Terry for highlighting some of Nebraska’s most remarkable scenery.”—Omaha World-Herald, “Terry’s book is ideal for anyone ambitious enough to want to walk, run or ride along the trail. . . . The book is broken down into sections, much like the Cowboy Trail is. It not only makes it easier for readers to find information about one particular part of the trail, but it also makes it more inviting for those who might be tempted to try to traverse the whole thing.”—Jerry Guenther, Norfolk Daily News

Keith Terry is a professor in the Department of Communication at the University of Nebraska at Kearney.