The Cowboy Trail is a bicycling, walking and equestrian trail built on right-of-way formerly occupied by the Chicago and North Western Railway in northern Nebraska. When fully complete, the trail will run from Chadron to Norfolk, a length of 321 miles (516 km); it is the longest rails to trails conversion in the United States and is Nebraska's first state recreational trail. Cycling is a recreation, a sport, and a means of transport across land. ... A junior horse riding event at the Melbourne Show Equestrianism relates to the riding of horses. ... Right-of-way is a legal term which may have any of several meanings: priority at a crossing, or in traffic. ... The Chicago and North Western Railway (AAR reporting marks: CNW, CNWS, CNWZ; unofficial abbreviation: C&NW) was a Class I railroad in the United States. ... State nickname: Cornhusker State Official languages English Capital Lincoln Largest city Omaha Governor Dave Heineman (R) Senators Chuck Hagel (R) Ben Nelson (D) Area  - Total  - % water Ranked 16th 200,520 km² 0. ... Chadron is a city located in Dawes County, Nebraska. ... Norfolk is a city located in Madison County, Nebraska. ... Rail trails are created when abandoned railway rights-of-way are converted to paths designed for foot, bicycle, equestrian or light motorized traffic. ...

History

The Cowboy Trail corridor was abandoned by the C&NW in 1992. The following year, the Rail-to-Trails Conservancy purchased the railroad's right-of-way for $6.2 milllion and donated it to the state of Nebraska. The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission is responsible for the development and maintenance of the trail. USD redirects here. ... The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission (NGPC) is a public agency of the government of the State of Nebraska in the United States. ...

Development of the trail has occured at a rate of about 10 to 20 miles (16 to 32 km) each year; as of 2005, over 158 miles (254 km) of trail have been opened, in 2 major continuous sections: 2005 is a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

• 18 miles (29 km) from Valentine east, all in Cherry County.
• 140 miles (225 km) from Ainsworth to Norfolk.

A short-line railroad (the Nebkota Railway) operates on the westernmost 74 miles (119 km) of the Cowboy Trail (from Chadron to Merriman). The Cowboy Trail in that section will be built on an easement parallel to the railroad. Valentine is a city located in Cherry County, Nebraska. ... Cherry County is a county located in the state of Nebraska. ... Ainsworth is a city located in Brown County, Nebraska. ... Norfolk is a city located in Madison County, Nebraska. ... A short line is an independent railroad company that operates over a relatively short distance. ... Merriman is a village located in Cherry County, Nebraska. ... An easement is the right of use over the real property of another. ...

Trail guide

There are 29 communities along the length of the Cowboy Trail. Major cities on the trail include (from west to east):

• Chadron
• Gordon
• Valentine
• Ainsworth
• O'Neill
• Neligh
• Norfolk

Trailheads are located in Valentine, O'Neill and Norfolk. Completed sections of the trail are crushed limestone. There are 221 bridges on on the trail; all bridges have been converted for recreational use. Two major bridges on the trail are a 1,300-foot (396 m) span over the Niobrara River and a 595-foot (181 m) bridge across Long Pine Creek. Chadron is a city located in Dawes County, Nebraska. ... Gordon is a city located in Sheridan County, Nebraska. ... Valentine is a city located in Cherry County, Nebraska. ... Ainsworth is a city located in Brown County, Nebraska. ... ONeill is a city located in Holt County, Nebraska. ... Neligh is a city located in Antelope County, Nebraska. ... Norfolk is a city located in Madison County, Nebraska. ... Limey shale overlaid by limestone. ... The Niobrara River The Niobrara River is a tributary of the Missouri River, approximately 430 mi (692 km) long, the U.S. states of Wyoming and Nebraska. ...

The trail parallels US 20 and US 275 for its entire length. A variety of landscapes are found along the trail: the Pine Ridge, the Sand Hills, and the valleys of the Niobrara River, Long Pine Creek and the Elkhorn River. U.S. Highway 20 is an east-west United States highway. ... US 275 is a north-south United States highway. ... The Pine Ridge is an escarpment between the Niobrara River and the White River in far northwestern Nebraska (a small section extends into South Dakota). ... The Sand Hills of Nebraska is a 25,000 mi² (65,000 km²) region of plant-anchored sand dunes in the north-central part of the state. ...

External links

• Nebraska Game and Parks Commission - Cowboy Trail
  • Cowboy Trail brochure (PDF)
• American Trails – An overview of Nebraska's Cowboy Trail