Find the top rated cross country skiing trails in Nebraska, whether you're looking for an easy short cross country skiing trail or a long cross country skiing trail, you'll find what you're looking for. Click on a cross country skiing trail below to find trail descriptions, trail maps, photos, and reviews.
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The trail is great—if you can find it. Signage is all but nonexistent and you end up in some pretty isolated (unsafe?) industrial areas if you’re brave enough to go looking for the southernmost section. Markings for the middle section, even for shared lanes around Heartland of America Park, are also either nonexistent or poorly located. Even the northern section, which is fantastic, is extremely easy to miss—and first-time riders are more likely to end up at the airport terminals or on another sketchy industrial detour than on the trail through Carter Lake. City planners need to get it together. It’s too good a resource to push people away because of laziness/negligence. For continuity’s sake, it’s best to stay on the east side of the river.
Enjoyed the three different views. River, farm and wooded parts of the trail. If only the sun had been out! Only two minor washouts necessitated our dismounting from our tandem. Ten years ago we would have ridden over them, but with age comes wisdom. Do not miss this trail if you are in the area!! We rode it out and back and enjoyed it very much. Pa. Tandem Team (72 & 69 yrs. old)
Trail from Norfolk to the west was well maintained. I stayed in Neligh to ride both east and west. The bridge 6 miles west of Neligh looks to be permanently gone. Much of the trail parallels the main roads, but a small portion doesn't. The experience away from the main roads was great.
The 3 mile section north of Springfield, the gravel is too deep, and it might be a little big. You can ride it with bigger mountain bike tires, but it's a hard pedal. Walking or running it would be fine though. The trail south of Springfield is in great shape, just the right amount of gravel, and the right size.
Great walk...for being in an urban setting be prepared to see lots of wildlife. Many places to get on the trail and walk or ride a bike. Not many facilities from archway to Fort Kearney but great easy walk. Cranes are available for viewing during migration in spring. You will like the experience.
Last spring they put new gravel down on the trail. They used the wrong size and put it WAY to deep. The gravel is too big even for a gravel bike. If you rode it on a fat bike you could maybe enjoy it. I lost count of how many times my wheels fishtailed out from under me on our latest ride. We were lucky no one in our group crashed. We won;t be on that trail again until it is fixed. Luckily we have the Wabash.
I have cycled from one end of the trail to the other many times, Beatrice to Marysville and it is just the best trail! There are bathrooms, water and shelters at Holmesville, Blue Springs and Barnston and mileage markers every 1/2 mile. The Chief Standing Bear Trail turns into the Blue River Trail at the NE state line and continues into Marysville.
The Pheasant Ridge Trail is a short 3 mile trail lining the north shore of Harlan County Reservoir in Harlan NE. I had the opportunity to ride it while passing through on the way from our Iowa home to visit family in Arizona. It provided a nice break along the way.
The surface is mostly concrete and it was smooth and relatively fast. It's a little hilly, but the hills are easily manageable and offer some nice vistas of the lake.
If you're coming from out of town, the best place to park is in the city park on the east side of US Highway 183 just to the north of the causeway over the reservoir. Parking is free and the trail starts just steps from the lot.
If you want to go a little longer, you might be able to cruise through the campground at the east end of the trail. There's a guard house there but it was closed for the season when I rode here last week so I was able to easily get in. On the way back, I detoured through town. Round trip was a little under 8 miles.
I wouldn't make a special trip here, but if you find yourself in the area, the Pheasant Ridge Trail is a nice resource and pleasant way to spend a little time exploring this beautiful, rural part of America.
We walked path today. Beautiful day for a walk. His path is not “one mile” as advertised. That’s a little misleading. Loved all the benches for resting if necessary. We will be back! ¿¿
I love the empty beauty of the Sandhills and you feel you're out in the middle of nowhere riding east from Valentine, on a stretch where the trail veers away from the road.
I rode my hybrid 16 miles out and then back (to the big cell tower where the trail rejoins the road). There's been some ATV travel on the trail, but generally the surface was good. I met a cyclist or two close to Valentine, but that was it.
On warm days, take plenty of water - there's little shade to be had.
This trail is a gem. It crosses the Platte River twice on beautiful bridges. There are shelters with seating along the trail. We even saw a couple of deer running beside us. The trail leaves from the Ft. Kearney Campground and the campground hosts lend campers bicycles for free.
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