scotts bluff national monument

The bluffs national monument is a beautiful place to spend a few hours walking around and enjoying the scenery. A ride up to the top of the monument is a must - great views of the area and the topography!

This is a wonderful stop on your trip, full of history and with great views of the North Platte River valley area. You can see for 150 miles or more on a clear day. The hike at the top of the Monument is wonderful and for those with more energy, the hike from the base at the museum to the top and back is a great way to get out of the car and get some exercise and enjoy some great scenery. You'll also be able to see the actual tracks left by the hundreds of wagons that went through this area on the Oregon Trail.

In Western Nebraska for business and couldn't leave without driving to see the Bluffs poking above the area. It was President's Day and I was the only car/person in or near the location for the entire 45 minutes I spent there. It was humbling to stand beneath these bluffs as the NE wind howled as slight snowflakes dusted them. I will never forget the silence, the majesty and the color of the sky above this monument. It would have been a loss not to stop and see the area's namesake.There is an information/visitor's center; it was closed for the holiday.

While en route home from Mount Rushmore, Mrs. B and I stopped at Scotts Bluff on the spur of the moment, having seen the signs. We really didn't know much about the Monument but were pleasantly surprised, especially at its history and its views. Seeing wheel ruts from the 19th century caused by Conestoga wagons westward bound was eerie. This is the kind of place that can plug you into the past in a heartbeat and, with a little imagination, you can feel yourself transported to a very, very different time and place. It's well worth a quick detour off the highway and a couple of hours of your time to reflect on those who passed by on that trail before us.

An amazing sight, as Scotts Bluff juts out into the American Plains and follow in the footsteps of the Gold Rush with a quick walk along the Oregon Trail. The National Park offers rides to the top of the Bluff and there are some spectacular trails back down to the visitors centre. Well worth a vist and quick hike back to the visitors centre.

Yet another gem in our national parks system. Very well done museum and exhibits, and knowledgeable and friendly staff. Nice trails, including some that were good for mobility impaired. Spectacular vistas from the top of the bluff. Lots of great photo opportunities both along the trails and from the top. Highly recommend a stop here.

This place is so beautiful, full of history and has views that will take your breath away. From there you can see the great planes of that nebraska region. It also has a little museum, with things found there and pictures of how it was before, back then. Also they have souvenirs and sanitary services. The entrance is only 5 dollars for the parking. And there are different patas you can use, as well as the way to the top on car which goes through tunnels.

This journey was to cover the first half of the Oregon Trail, travelling westward, as nearly as one can by car. After several previous stops, the most recent being Chimney Rock, we arrived in the town of Scotts Bluff. Finding Scotts Bluff Monument was a little weird. We followed the signage and ended up going through some industrial, commercial, and then residential sections of town before finally arriving.Way cool. We did not go to the visitors center, but travelled on our own around the place. It was just as I had read about in history books on the old west. By the way, if you would like an excellent read, find a copy of "Across the Wide Missouri" by Bernard DeVoto. You won't be disappointed. It is THE BEST historical account of the 1830's mountain trade ever.Scotts Bluff. A really beautiful geological feature. I could not imagine having that to view out my window as so many do in the town of Scotts Bluff. I would just sit and meditate on it forever. Of course, folks probably say that about the Mississippi River where we hail from. Anyway, Scotts Bluff is worth the time to visit. I looked everywhere around the park, but I never did meet Scott.

The Scottsbluff Monument is a very beautiful place, worth the time to go to the top and see the marvelous views. The museum is very interesting. Worth the time to stop and see it.

Spent the night in the quaint great plains town of Scotts Bluff then decided to visit the bluff the next day. We enjoy the outdoors and exercise so decided to hike to the top. There is a trail from the visitor center to the top of the bluff that is approximately 1.5 miles one way that starts easy but becomes very steep for the last 3/4 of a mile. It passes through a short tunnel to get to the final part of the trail and the top. Once on top you have several trails that lead to overlooks. You can also drive to the top for a fee. Beautiful views of the plains below. The bluff sits on the Oregon Trail and you can take a short hike to see where it ran by the bluff. This is really quite a unique site, an 800 foot tall bluff rising above the flat landscape. Not far from this site is also Chimney Rock which was also important in guiding travelers along the Oregon Trail. Watch out for the rattlesnakes once you get to the top, they do inhabit the area.

The view is great. Take the time as 90,000 other do a year to stop in and see the movie in the viewing area as well as drive your car to the top and discover that not all of Neb is flat.

I loved this place! After visiting Chimney Rock, we came here, and weren’t disappointed. It is beautiful! After exploring the small museum, we drove up to the top and then hiked. (Not safe to let small children explore unattended). The museum was mediocre, but the drive and the hike were stunning. A must see if you are in the area! Allow at least two hours for the trip up the mountain via vehicle. You can explore the museum in 30 minutes.

I could pontificate for hours about the beauty of the bluffs and the enjoyable hike up the mountain but, lots of people have done that. I want to talk about the availability of educational materials at the ranger station/museum. There is a great little museum here but more importantly there is a binder full of educational subjects that you can request brochures on. The Mormon odometer was fascinating and I'm planning on making one myself just for fun. If you are anywhere within 200 miles of Scotts bluff and you have 4 to 8 hours to spare stop in.

We enjoyed our stop at Scotts Bluff National Monument. Our son likes to do the junior ranger programs, so our first stop was to the visitor's center to pick up a booklet and look around. The center has a movie playing and lots of neat displays. Next we drove our car up to the top of the rock formations. On the way up, we passed through 3 tunnels which our son especially liked. The views from the top are amazing! We walked around on some of the short paths taking pictures and enjoying the views. Back down at the bottom, our son finished up his junior ranger booklet and was sworn in as a junior ranger. We also walked on part of the path that went past some covered wagons, but we had to move on to our next stop, so we didn't walk that path all the way. Glad we stopped at Scotts Bluff!

We visited Scotts Bluff in a drive through western Nebraska and South Dakota. The Rangers were very friendly and the exhibits in the visitor center were interesting and informative. We were among the first visitors in mid-week and off-season, so the park was quiet and you could almost feel how the brave settlers must have felt seeing the expanse of the American West as they passed this beautiful cliff. Drive up the winding road to the top of the hill or hike the trail and you are rewarded with a glorious view of the Platte River valley and the plains. Make time to see the wagon tracks of the Oregon Trail.