25 September 2017
Scotts Bluff, Nebraska
City Campground
Yep, we are in Nebraska, in the lower south west corner of the state. This is a one night stand, as we arrived at city campground of Scotts Bluff at 1300hrs. We unhooked the covered wagon from the horse so we could explore the Oregon Trail and the Morman Trail. Well, so what is this rock anyways?
Info from the web:
Scotts Bluff, rises over 800 feet above the plains at its highest point. The monument is composed of five rock formations named Crown Rock, Dome Rock, Eagle Rock, Saddle Rock, and Sentinel Rock.
Fur traders, missionaries, and military expeditions began regular trips past Scotts Bluff during the 1830s. Beginning in 1841, multitudes of settlers passed by Scotts Bluff on their way west on the Emigrant Trail to Oregon, and later California and Utah. Wagon trains used the bluff as a major landmark for navigation. The trail passed through Mitchell Pass, a gap in the bluffs flanked by two large cliffs. Although the route through Mitchell Pass was tortuous and hazardous, many emigrants preferred this route to following the North Platte river bottom on the north side of the bluff. Passage through Mitchell Pass became a significant milestone for many wagon trains on their way westward.
We got orientated at the visitor center, saw a film, and looked at some artifacts.
In the 1930s, a roadway leading to the top of Scotts Bluff was constructed by the CCC. The road goes through three tunnels on its way to the top and provides easy access to the summit. Thank you CCC!
Once at the top, we hiked about a mile over looking the plains and just imagining how tough it must have been to be in covered wagons, crossing the country with everything you own on wheels.. What a minute, that is our life!
This was a nice quick stop of America’s western expansion history. We rode our horse back to covered wagon for the night to leave for the Air Force Academy in the morning.
What a view from up there, amazing.