June 14th, 2011 Nice trail....but bridge is still out appx 4 miles from Ta-Ha Zouka park

My wife and I drove up from Columbus to ride this trail and found it to an excellent ride. The recent flooding however has blocked off sections of the trail about 2.5 miles from the trailhead. Caution: check ahead to see if the trail has been cleared.

Cleveland Bike in Norfolk, NE is a an excellent source to check on the condition of the trail and if you need a bike, repairs or parts, then check them out [only an endorsement, I'm not associated with the store in any way].

We are new bikers and were returning from Montana and Canada with the motorhome and bikes. It was late and we stopped at Wood Lake looking for a city park to camp in. We made a donation to park the motorhome by the trail at their nice little park, usually it's free. There is a bathroom facility with flush toilets and sinks. It would be a great place to start a trip. They have a diner on rt20, the people are fantastic, friendly, and see the potential in having the trail go through their small community. I will come back to bike this trail, hats off to Nebraska, lovely scenery, wonderful people.

To answer Pat's question in the May 2009 review below: you'll find fewer B&B/hotel options along the Cowboy Trail as compared to the Katy Trail. However, there are more camping options, if that works for you. Bike rentals are few and far between. Try this website for a list of Cowboy Trail businesses and trip planning tools: www.bikeCowboyTrail.com

Started riding the Cowboy Trail for 13 days, Sep 14’09 late evening from Ta Ha Zouka Park, on Concrete for 1.7 Miles, then Chet surface to Black Bridge where I met a rider who said Johnny Carson played on this Bridge when he was growing up. Trail in good shape to Emmet then it rained and trail was soft for several days. The Trail east of Bassett was the poorest section that I rode, soft & rough from horses. The new section from Ainsworth past Johnstown is in the best shape. I did not ride all of that section, there were signs up “THIS SECTION OF THE TRAIL NOT OPEN TO PUBLIC” .Checked with District II, Bassett Office & was told trail was still under construction. However the trail parallels Hwy 20 to Johnstown and looked complete.
South out of Valentine is a great scenic ride across the 0.25 mile long RR Bridge with a parking area south of the Bridge.N42.83443 W100.51797
The trail is over grown N42.80412 W100.48942 and not good for 3 wheel cycles 2.7 south of Bridge parking.
Parked at Arabia N42.83443 W100.51797 then rode 3 miles north into the sand hills.
Trail parking also available at Johnstown, N42.57060 W100.05776 site of O’ Pioneers CBS Movie, visit the “L-Bow Room Saloon” for local History.
The bad part of the Trail is, that at least 3 places the Bollards are to close together to get a 36” wide cycle through, does not meet “ADA” Standards. I was able to by pass most except for the 3 post one, on the east side of the Pine Creek Bridge at Long Pine. One flat tire at Valentine.
Great Camping facilities in many of the towns. Completed 292.5 miles round trip.
Many Turkeys, Deer, Squirrels and Birds. Noel Keller 14 -29 Sep, 09

I'm looking for walking info of this trail. Miles between accomodations etc. Walked the Katy last year and stayed in B&B and small hotels. Found it easy to rent a bike to cover longer distances between accomodations also, easy to get transportation to get my pack transfered ahead. Is this all possible on the Cowboy Trail? Any info would be appreciated. Thanks Pat

"Living in Norfolk at the eastern end of the Cowboy Trail gives me the opportunity to ride it a lot. No two trips are ever quite the same. The scenery between Norfolk and Meadow Grove (about 18 miles) is really nice. Posssible wildlife sightings include deer,bald eagles,red-tailed hawks,coyotes,blue herons,and many types of waterfowl.I've biked the trail in all four seasons and it is truly enjoyable year-round. I ride it quite often in late fall and winter and often seem to have it almost all to myself,which is why I call it ""my trail"". It's open to anyone,though,and there's no fee to use it,so come see for yourself. I think you'll be pleasantly surprised."