Scotts Bluff NM

A Landmark for Many Peoples

Towering 800 feet above the North Platte River, Scotts Bluff has served as a landmark for peoples from Native Americans to emigrants on the Oregon, California and Mormon Trails to modern travelers. Rich with geological and paleontological history as well as human history, there is much to discover while exploring the 3,000 acres of Scotts Bluff National Monument. 

2 July 2017

We started this visit with a stop at the Visitors Center for Chimney Rock, taking in the views. Then we headed out for Scotts Bluff. 

This was a return trip for us, that was in the making from 24 years ago. We stopped at the Visitors Center to take in what they had to offer. As this was a path for 3 trails and the Pony Express the VC gives a great overview of their section of the trails. We walked along the path outside the VC and talked to a few of the volunteers dressed in authentic period garb and took in the wagons and other exhibits along the walk. We then made our way ( by our truck ) to the top of Scotts Bluff to take in the views. There is a walking trail up but we had no intentions of taking that on this trip and as we found out today the trail is impassable due to a rock side. The views at the top were amazing but some what hazy. This is a great site to take in and can be done in 3 or 4 hours with the drive up to the top of the bluff.

May 1993 Unknown Date
Taking in this site ties in with Ft Laramie. Lots of history of the great migration West. We enjoyed our visit.

Click here for photos of our visit

NPS Website

Our 8th NPS Unit

Molly exploring the wagons in 2017.