[2024 Summer Trip] Scotts Bluff National Monument, CO

2024/06/07 Scotts Bluff National Monument, NE https://www.nps.gov/scbl/index.htm https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scotts_Bluff_National_Monument The Five Rocks of Scotts Bluff https://www.nps.gov/scbl/learn/historyculture/five-rocks.htm Hiking Scotts Bluff https://www.nps.gov/thingstodo/hiking.htm Oregon Trail https://www.nps.gov/oreg/index.htm https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oregon_Trail https://www.seevid.ir/fa/w/N8HqGjo_0BI Visitor Center https://www.seevid.ir/fa/w/N8HqGjo_0BI Old Oregon Trail https://www.seevid.ir/fa/w/N8HqGjo_0BI Summit Road https://www.seevid.ir/fa/w/N8HqGjo_0BI North Overlook Trail https://www.seevid.ir/fa/w/N8HqGjo_0BI South Overlook Trail It's a long drive from Denver to South Dakota, so we decided to break the drive with few stops. We took the route through Nebraska when going north, and through Wyoming when going south. Kids had fun experiencing going through multi-states in one day. After visiting Jackson Lake, google map lead us through some unpaved road to get back on to the main highway. It may be the same or even shorter distance, but it may end up taking longer to reach the destination. During the trip i feel the google map is not reliable at all in the remote county. Do pay extra attention when the google map shows the routes with names (whatever road) instead of numbered highway system. The bluff on the north side of the monument is called "Scotts bluff", and the south bluff "South Bluff" The Scotts Bluff is named after Hiram Scott, a clerk for the fur company, who may be abandoned by his companions when falling sick, was dead near this area. We stopped by the visitor center first, watching the movie and checked out the displays. Kids got their junior ranger badge. We then hiked a short distance of the old Oregon trail, which starts across the summit road on the other side of the visitor center. It offers the nice bluffs view on both side of the main road. The Oregon trail is a 2170-mile wagon route from Missouri River to Oregon. Before 1851, pioneers used Robidoux Pass when traveled west. It's nine miles south of Scotts Bluff, and offered a spring and a trading post In 1851, Mitchell Pass was opened and became the main route for the emigrants heading west. By early 1860s, emigrants, mail and freight carriers, stagecoaches, military expeditions, and the Pony Express all used the Oregon Trail. The trail fell into disuse after 1869 when the Union Pacific and Central Pacific railroads linked up at Promontory Utah. The trail is 1mile round trip. It goes up to Mitchell Pass but we return after the covered wagons display The summit road is 1.6-mile long. Built in 1930's, it's the oldest concrete road of Nebraska. The road goes through 3 tunnels, which are the only 3 vehicular tunnels in Nebraska. At the summit we hiked to both the North and South overlook. The North overlook offers an expand view of North Platte Valley. The South overlook offers the view of the Mitchell Pass and the 4 of the 5 rock formation of Scotts Bluff. We spent 2 hours in the park. Eagle Rock https://www.seevid.ir/fa/w/N8HqGjo_0BI Dome Rock https://www.seevid.ir/fa/w/N8HqGjo_0BI Sddle Rock https://www.seevid.ir/fa/w/N8HqGjo_0BI Chimney Rock https://www.seevid.ir/fa/w/N8HqGjo_0BI Common Dandelion https://www.seevid.ir/fa/w/N8HqGjo_0BI Plains Pricklypear https://www.seevid.ir/fa/w/N8HqGjo_0BI North Platte River https://www.seevid.ir/fa/w/N8HqGjo_0BI Breadroot Scurpea? https://www.seevid.ir/fa/w/N8HqGjo_0BI Scarlet Globe Mallow https://www.seevid.ir/fa/w/N8HqGjo_0BI American Robin https://www.seevid.ir/fa/w/N8HqGjo_0BI Spotted Towhee https://www.seevid.ir/fa/w/N8HqGjo_0BI