Trails West Region, Nebraska


Tour some of the most spectacular terrain within the state as you relive the days of the pioneers along the Oregon and Mormon Trails. The North Platte River yields life-giving irrigation to keep fields green and fertile. The lush cropland contrasts sharply with the rugged buttes and table land that signal the beginning of mountainous terrain to the west.
Explore Trails West Region
Mitchell Pass
Following the opening or rediscovery of the Platte River route to the west by the fur traders and mountain men of the 1820's and 1830'
Gering, NE Pioneer LifeW.H. Jackson Collection
William Henry Jackson, frontier photographer and artist, was an early photographer of the American West, as well as an accomplished artist. He traveled the Oregon-California Trail in 1866 and 1867
Gering, NE ArtsWind Farm
Capturing the Prairie Wind Truly a site to see, the Kimball Wind Farm was operational in August of 2002. The Municipal Energy Agency of Nebraska (MEAN) owns and operates the 10.5 megawatt wind farm consisting of seven turbines. Each turbine stands nearly 350
Kimball, NE Structural LandmarksTri-State Corner Marker
The original marker designating the southwestern corner of nebraska and the southeastern corner of Wyoming where they meet the Colorado line was erected on august 17, 1869 by Oliver N. Chafee. The marker had only "Colorado" (then a territory)
Kimball, NE LandmarksKimball County Courthouse
Kimball County was created out of Cheyenne County in 1888. The centrally located city of Kimball has been the only county seat. County officials initially rented space for courthouse use. In 1893
Kimball, NE Historic CourthousesMick Evertson Arboretum
Nebraska is known as the Arbor State and Kimball has it's own arboretum which is unique to the area. The Mick Evertson arboretum has over 125
Kimball, NE AboretumsFarm and Ranch Museum
The Farm And Ranch Museum located by Scotts Bluff National Monument is a volunteer driven agricultural museum and the only one of its kind in the state, dedicated to the preservation of the story of the North Platte Valley's deep-seeded agricultural traditions. You'
Gering, NE MuseumsFive Rocks Amphitheater
The Five Rocks Amphitheater and pavilion houses bands and other open-air entertainment in the summer months, as well as Thursday night movies with a "drive-in"-like atmosphere. Tickets for Five Rocks Events are available at the City of Gering offices, 1025 "P" Street.
Gering, NE TheatresWheat Growers Hotel
Constructed in 1918 the Wheat Growers Hotel is located in Kimball. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places
Kimball, NE Historic HotelsTitan Missile
In 1962, Kimball marked its place in history when construction began on a vast complex of Minuteman Missile silos. Kimball is the center of the largest complex of Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles in the world, with about 200 Minuteman III ICBMs in silos in the tri-state area. In 1968
Kimball, NE MonumentsCresent Lake National Wildlife Refuge
Crescent Lake National Wildlife Refuge is part of a nationwide system established for the preservation of waterfowl. The 48,000-acre refuge is approximately 30
Oshkosh, NE Wildlife Refuges