Nebraska--Pine Ridge Country
Date: 2004-11-23
U.S. 20 from Gordon to Crawford takes you through Nebraska's Pine Ridge
Country. The 67-mile trip takes about 1-1/2 hours without stops. The scenery
of the Great Plains on a Nebraska drive is some of the best anywhere in
the United States.
Start driving in the town of Gordon. Drive west on Rte. 20 toward the towns of Rushville and Hay Springs. Both have historical museums and oasis-like parks. A side trip north from Crawford will land you at Toadstool Park where you'll find some of the wildest formations anywhere across the Great Plains. To the southwest you can visit the 974-acre Chadron State Park, which offers swimming, horseback riding, and hiking. The Museum of the Fur Trade, three miles east of Chadron, gives the history of North American fur trading. Continue west along the White River to the town of Crawford, home of Fort Robinson State Park, Nebraska's largest state park. The Fort Robinson Museum and Trailside Museum also are within the park. You can end the trip by visiting the 95,000-acre Ogallala National Grassland.
Starting Point:
Gordon, NE
Distance of Drive:
67 miles
Must Eat:
Hacienda
605 West Hwy. 20, Gordon, NE 69343
Phone:308-282-0075
Call ahead to confirm hours of operation.
Best Time of Year for Drive:
Spring to fall
Points of Interest on Drive:
The Mari Sandoz Room
The Museum of the Fur Trade
Toadstool Park
The Fort Robinson Museum and Trailside Museum
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