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Tag Archives: Cowboy Trail

Commission will consider big game hunting recommendations

The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission will consider staff recommendations for 2023 deer, antelope and elk hunting seasons when it meets April 19 in Fremont. The meeting will begin at 8 a.m. at the Holiday Inn Express, 2415 N. Lincoln Ave. A public hearing is scheduled for proposed amendments to Commission orders pertaining to season dates, bag limits, permit quantities and areas open for deer, antelope and elk hunting. The changes will help the agency manage big game populations at …

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Guests at central Nebraska state parks will enjoy many improvements

Plenty of improvements in Nebraska’s state parks await visitors in central Nebraska this year. Projects completed in 2022 or to be finished in 2023 will appeal to an array of park users. The following is a roundup of those improvements and projects: Merritt Reservoir State Recreation Area At Merritt Reservoir State Recreation Area near Valentine, multiple campgrounds saw improvements. Cedar Bay Campground electrical was upgraded at a cost of $155,973 and the shower house for $19,750. The existing dump station …

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Section of Cowboy Trail closed east of Valentine

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LINCOLN, Neb. – The Cowboy Trail between the Niobrara River and the Hwy. 20 parking lot outside of Valentine is closed, due to user safety concerns, until further notice. Significant hillside erosion has occurred near the trail and will require repair. The bridge over the Niobrara River is accessible from any trail access point in Valentine but will no longer be accessible by the Hwy. 20 parking lot. Other trail closures caused by damage from 2019 flooding can be viewed …

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State parks are open, high-water levels impact at a few

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LINCOLN, Neb. – Most of the state’s 76 state park areas are open and full of opportunity for outdoor recreation. The most recent period of extended heavy rains has brought water levels back up in Nebraska, affecting some state parklands and trails. At Ponca State Park, Riverfront Campground is closed until further notice because of high Missouri River levels. The docks at the boat ramp have been removed until further notice, but the main boat ramp and the one at …

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Portions of Cowboy Trail reopened after flood

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LINCOLN, Neb. – Portions of the Cowboy Trail have reopened to public use following historic flooding that washed away surfacing and damaged bridges along the trail in March. The trail is now open from Valentine to O’Neill, with the exception of a small area near Long Pine. Additionally, several short stretches of the trail are open between O’Neill and Norfolk. Those who wish to use the trail can view specific information about open and closed portions at https://maps.outdoornebraska.gov/Trails/. The Nebraska …

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Stars, Strolls & S’mores event scheduled in Norfolk area this summer

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LINCOLN, Neb. – Participate in Stars, Strolls & S’mores and discover outdoor and nature opportunities in the Norfolk area. This series includes three Moon Walk events held on Wednesday evenings close to the full moon. Each Moon Walk begins at 7:30 p.m., requires a mile of walking, and lasts up to two hours. The Moon Walk includes an introduction, a hike to a designated area for presentations, and a snack of s’mores. “The purpose of the Moon Walk is to …

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Volunteers needed to plant milkweed seedlings for monarchs along Cowboy Trail

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LINCOLN – Volunteers in towns along the Cowboy Trail are invited to support monarch butterfly conservation by helping the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission plant milkweed seedlings on the trail right-of-way. Monarch butterflies have seen significant population declines in the past several years. One of the primary reasons for their decline is lack of milkweed plants, which are critical in the life cycle of the monarch. Eggs are laid only on milkweed plants, and caterpillars eat milkweed leaves exclusively. Game …

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Duane Westerholt Memorial Kiosk Dedication on Cowboy Trail Set for Nov. 6

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LINCOLN – The public is invited to join the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission for the Duane Westerholt Memorial Kiosk Dedication on the Cowboy Recreation and Nature Trail west of Norfolk on Nov. 6. The event honoring Westerholt’s contribution to the trail will take place at 11 a.m. at the kiosk located at a trail bridge over the Elkhorn River 3 miles west of TaHaZouka Park. Westerholt, during a 40-year career with the Commission, oversaw the Cowboy Trail and obtained …

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Join Cowboy Trail Tour May 17-23

LINCOLN – The public is invited to join two Nebraska Game and Parks Commission staffers on a Cowboy Trail bicycle tour May 17-23 from Norfolk to Valentine. Riders may join Jenny Nguyen and Jamie Bachmann for all or any segment of the 195-mile tour, which begins at Norfolk’s TaHaZouka Park at 8 a.m. All riders must arrange their transportation. A summary of the itinerary: May 17 – Norfolk to Neligh; May 18 – Neligh to O’Neill; May 19 – O’Neill …

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Supreme Court Ruling Won’t Affect Cowboy Trail

LINCOLN – A recent Supreme Court ruling on the ownership of abandoned railways won’t affect Nebraska’s Cowboy Trail. Earlier this month, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that after a railroad has abandoned a line, the land should revert to owners of the adjacent property instead of to the federal government. Some fear the ruling threatens Rails to Trails projects across the country built on abandoned railways. The Cowboy Trail, however, is built on land that has been railbanked, rather than …

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