Bayard, NE (Chimney Rock)

[Coyote]

Getting closer to an iconic Nebraska landmark



BAYARD, Neb. (KOLN) - A relatively new walking trail called “Walk to the Rock” is giving visitors to western Nebraska a chance to get closer to Chimney Rock. We caught up with Sandra Reddish with the Nebraska State Historical Society Foundation to talk more about this project. “The land was once privately owned by Gordon Howard and his family,” Reddish said. “When he passed away, his family contacted the foundation in 2019, and they started planning this. The family always wanted to give people a chance to get closer to Chimney Rock. Before, you could really only see Chimney Rock from the visitors center or from the highway. The foundation ended up purchasing the land, and they began work on April 1, 2023, and we opened to the public on July 29, 2023.” The work included putting in a parking lot, the trails, and two land bridges that fit in well with the landscape.

“If you keep going on the trail, you’ll see Chimney Rock from different angles,” Reddish said. “You’ll see more of the spire, like if you are coming in from the highway.” Informational materials are set up at the entrance to the hiking trail, and more information is going to be added. “This has been a delight for so many people,” Reddish said. “I’ve kept tabs over a two month period, and in August and September of 2023, we had people from 25 countries, and more than 3,000 people show up here during that time period. We’ve had many Nebraskans come here and say this is the closest they’ve ever been. And I say, yes, this is why the foundation set this up.” “Walk to the Rock” is basically open from dawn to dusk. If you would like more information, you can go to the. Nebraska State Historian Society Foundation website. If you would like to donate to this effort, you can get more information on the website about that as well.

[ChadJK]

We were just there last week. There's warning signs about rattlesnakes in the area. Interestingly, Chimney Rock keeps shrinking. There's wind and rain erosion, but apparently it also gets struck by lightening regularly and all of that keeps blasting away at its height.

Chimney Rock is a National Historic Site, but administered by the Nebraska State Historical Society. Compare that to Scottsbluff National Monument which is administered by the National Park Service.

[skinzfan23]

We stopped by on our way home from Colorado last summer. The guide stated that the trail just opened a few days prior, so that was nice that we were able to use it.

Actually, Sandra, in the video, is who we talked to. She was a nice lady and very well spoken.