Scotts Bluff National Monument

Here's the road map of where we'll be going this summer!  So excited.  We left California at the end of March and now May 9th we're already at stop 9 in Rapid City, South Dakota where we will be for a month while Scott works...but more on Rapid City in another post.  It's so good to follow warm weather.  My body is thankful for every warm day we've enjoyed!

The second place we stopped on our journey on May 5th was Scotts Bluff National Monument in Gering, Nebraska.  Fort Laramie, Scotts Bluff and Agate Fossil Beds are all within a 2 hour drive so it was easy to get all three done in one day.  This post is all about Scotts Bluff.

Towering 800 feet above the North Platte River, Scotts Bluff has been a landmark for Native Americans as well as emigrants along the Oregon, California and Mormon Trails.  The bluff itself is loaded with geological and paleontological history and is about 3,000 acres in size.

Parking at the Visitors Center is easy but we could just barely turn the corner to get our 40 foot RV into the entrance.  There is parallel RV parking in the parking lot but only a few spaces.  There is lots of car parking and Class C motor coaches can pull around past the RV parking and there are 3-4 spaces for this type of vehicle provided cars don't take the space, which is a common occurrence.

The Visitor's Center has exhibits, an audiovisual program and a bookstore with a good deal is information on the emigrants who watched for the Scotts Bluff landmark in their journeyings.  Of interest most to me was the Mormon Trail information as a major way point for these faithful saints as they headed westward starting in 1847 led by Brigham Young and following for many years especially through 1858/1860 to Utah.  I enjoyed walking by the wagon trail along the main part of the road on the west side of the Visitor's Center.

Mormon Pioneer Trail Map - 1/2 Way Point from Winter Quarters, Iowa
where the Pioneers started their exodus after leaving Nauvoo, Illinois.

You can drive up to the top of Scotts Bluff however, note that an RV more than 12 feet cannot go through the tunnels.  There are also hiking trails around Scotts Bluff and the main Saddle Rock Loop takes about 1 hours to hike and about 30 minutes down the 1.6 mile trail.  Just like Fort Laramie, beware of rattlesnakes and keep your pets on leash at all times.  There is a great deal of snakes here, especially during the hot, summer months.  There is also the North Overlook and the South Overlook along the trail route.

Pets are welcome at Scotts Bluff as long as they are leashed.  I enjoyed reading about the habitat of this area also.

This is a great national monument.  It would probably allow 1.5 to 2 hours at this park.  It's interesting and has definitely been a true national monument for hundreds of years.