Lots of little stops that don’t warrant their own photo album.
Chimney Rock, Nebraska – one of the most documented waypoints on the Oregon Trail, and easy to see how it got it’s name.
Courthouse and Jail Rocks, Nebraska – also famous Oregon Trail waypoints, and, well, not very imaginative naming once again.
Chadron State Park, Nebraska – flat, flat, flat – crest a hill, and suddenly you’re in dense pine forest with deep craggy hills. If you wandered 10 miles north or south, you would never know.
Devils Gulch, South Dakota – Jesse James jumped his horse across the river to escape a posse. Or at least the (probably wildly-exaggerated) story goes.
We were amazed to see how many pocket of green, lush, rocky, or wooded spots there are in Nebraska and South Dakota. I had always envisioned flat, yellow prairie grass waving in the baking Midwestern heat, but this is not the case everywhere.
Chimney Rock
Chimney Rock, Nebraska is one of the most notable landmarks along the Oregon Trail. Pretty obvious why!
Courthouse and Jail Rocks
Flat, Flat, Flat, Rock, Rock. The Courthouse and Jail Rocks stick up out of nowhere and are the first prominent landmarks travelers would see heading west on the Oregon Trail. Car and Pod included for perspective.
Chadron State Park
We had almost the entire campground to ourselves due to repaving the roads. Existing reservations were honored, but they stopped any new reservations from being accepted.
Valentine City Park
A beautiful spot dry camping spot for five bucks a night in the city park in Valentine, Nebraska
Split Rock Park
Other than the noisy campers and tourists, life must be pretty good to have this massive house overlooking the Split Rock Creek.
Devil’s Gulch
It doesn’t look like much, until you realize it’s a little oasis of green in the middle of flat dry nothing.
Ver-y Cave-y
Pretty amazing cave-like overhanging complete with hanging vines.
Where Am I
You’d never guess where you’re at from this shot!
