Scotts Bluff National Monument Nebraska

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.

The Saddle Rock Trail runs from the Visitor Center to the summit of Scotts Bluff and includes a foot tunnel.

The Saddle Rock Trail.  Saddle Rock is seen in the background to the right.

The Saddle Rock Trail runs from the Visitor Center to the summit of Scotts Bluff and includes a foot tunnel.

Length: 1.6 miles (2.6 kilometers), one way

Surface: Asphalt

Difficulty: Strenuous, with an elevation change of 435 feet (133 meters).

Access: Trailhead is located to the east of the Visitor Center. The trail may be hiked one way by using the Summit Shuttle.

Imagine hiking on Scotts Bluff’s most popular trail and running into a regular who hikes the trail daily for exercise - or perhaps members of a local high school cross country team training for an upcoming meet.

Though hiking the paved trail could be considered a workout, a majority of the hikers simply do it to experience the environment – to see and count the geological layers of the bluff, or even to see the needle and thread grass or the mysterious spiderwort flower.

Others want to see the soaring raptors or the western box turtle slowly crawling on the prairie.

Still others use the trail to walk through the foot tunnel dug as a test prior to the Summit Road’s vehicular tunnels in 1933.

These are all possible by hiking the Saddle Rock Trail. Hike both ways, or use the Summit Shuttle and hike only one direction.

The first one-third of the trail from the visitor center is relatively level as you travel across the prairie to Scott’s Spring. The spring’s namesake is also the monument’s: fur trader Hiram Scott.

The Monument's shuttle service is available to visitors free of charge. This service allows visitors whose vehicle is too large to drive up the summit road to still visit the top. Maximum dimensions of vehicles allowed through the tunnels are: 25 feet long and 12 feet high. No trailers are allowed on the summit road. 

The shuttle also gives visitors the flexibility to be dropped off on the summit and walk down the Saddle Rock Trail to the Visitor Center. Visitors may also wish to ride up and down with a Park Ranger to the summit while enjoying the view while we do the driving.

The shuttle service is available upon request as staffing allows.

Let Rawhide Travel and Tours help you with all your reservation needs. Call us at (602) 843-5100 or visit our website: rawhidetravel.com.

Presented By:
Rawhide Travel and Tours Inc
6008 West Bell Rd # F105
Glendale, Arizona 85308-3793
(602) 843-5100
rawhidetravel.com