Travel

A fog rising through the Salt Creek valley led me quietly out the door and down the driveway, past a series of dirt road intersections and directly to the gate of the Little Salt Fork Marsh Preserve near Raymond, just in time to greet the dawn. It was the barbed-wire spun in silk that first made me stop to consider the hidden creatures residing here that revealed a soft touch in sharp contrast to the tamed highway cutting through the creek. As I crossed …

There’s something special about cooking over an open flame. Which is why I don’t understand the ads that start in the spring telling me it’s grilling season. I’ll fire mine up and melt snow off the top if I have to in the winter. But being cheap/frugal, I guess it does make more sense to grill in the summer, when you don’t want to heat up the house with the stove. There is also something special about grilled food wrapped …

Grab a life jacket and hop aboard, we’re gonna canoe the spring-fed waters of the gorgeous Niobrara River east of  Valentine, NE this week on my WOWT 6 News Weekly Outdoor Report. I’ll talk about and show you why a summer float trip on this Nebraska water trail through an outfitter should be on everyone’s bucket list! I’ll also address how to avoid a lot of other water traffic on this scenic river. The ecologically unique Niobrara River valley is also home to …

I sincerely enjoy traveling, especially throughout our beautiful state of Nebraska. I can say that I have been to all 93 Nebraska counties for work purposes or outdoor pursuits. Another one of my ‘claims to fame’ is that I have driven every highway in the Cornhusker State. I have also floated all of Nebraska’s water trails. However, as an avid outdoor enthusiast, I think what’s important to do is to get out of your comfort zone and even consider venturing to another state. Enter into a different environment, a different …

Nebraska’s massive, scenic outdoor playground, the Lake McConaughy/Lake Ogallala complex in Keith County, will be highlighted on my Saturday morning Great Outdoor Radio Show. My special guest will be Scott Eveland who is a boating safety officer for us at the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission. He works the Lake McConaughy/Lake Ogallala area along with the western portion of the state. Scott thoroughly knows the waters and landscape of Keith County. Scott will also talk about the impressive trout fishery at Lake Ogallala. Don’t miss an opportunity to chat …

The following is an essay submitted to NEBRASKAland by freelance writer Michael P. Gutzmer of Lincoln. Having the opportunity to grow up going to a cabin on the Platte River can open your eyes to a whole new world of outdoor appreciation…more than anyone can imagine Someone once said the PlatteRiver was a wilderness treasure. Many of us with the opportunity to visit the Platte on a regular basis think it is priceless. During my childhood my father would often …

Those looking to ride horses in a scenic area with wide open spaces will be hard-pressed to find better territory than the Panhandle of western Nebraska. Two state parks in Nebraska’s scenic Pine Ridge offer trail rides and riding is allowed on an abundance of other public land in this region of rugged buttes, sweeping grasslands and ponderosa pine forests. Visitors to Fort Robinson State Park near Crawford soon realize they’re in horse country. A sign at the entrance of …

From a humble beginning with a handful of riders to the largest gathering of the Lakota horse nation, the Crazy Horse Memorial Ride is a growing tribute to Oglala Lakota war chief Crazy Horse, as well as warriors of yesterday and today. “The ride is in honor of all veterans,” said Bamm Brewer, ride organizer from Pine Ridge, South Dakota. From Fort Robinson State Park near Crawford, participants of the 17th annual event traveled to Chadron on Monday to camp at the Dawes County Fairgrounds. On Tuesday morning, …

It’s Tuesday and I think my butt has decided to forgive me. Besides some odd tan lines and bug bites, I’m feeling pretty good. I think my head and body is still in the process of digesting the whole thing, of trying to come up with some grand conclusion of what it meant. I know it’ll mean more to me later, but for right now,  I’ll admire the numbers: 195 miles on two wheels, with only my legs to pedal …

Perhaps you have already read about and seen photos of livestock tank floating on Nebraska rivers in the June Issue of NEBRASKAland Magazine. If not, you can read Eric Fowler’s cool article about it here.  However, if you want to view video of what we refer to as “tankin’,” then you’ll wanna tune in to my Weekly Outdoor Report airing on Omaha’s WOWT 6 News LIVE this Thursday evening at 6 p.m. CST during the station’s sportscast. Yup, we’re goin’ tankin’! We’ll …