A Fall Retreat to Western Nebraska: Exploring Chadron, Fort Robinson and Toadstool Parks

G and I had been really wanting to go camping again, particularly in western Nebraska. On other trips, we had passed through Chadron State Park in Nebraska’s National Forest, and had made a mental note to explore it sometime. So, we chose it as our weekend getaway.

We rented the cutest cabin in the park that combined the perfect amount of “roughing it” and amenities. Arriving on Thursday night, we cooked some bratwursts on the fire and unpacked. We got to our cabin when it was dark, so we knew that next day would reveal a whole new world!

Indeed it did! We rose with the sun and were joined by wild turkeys for breakfast. Over the course of the trip, we probably saw over 100 turkeys! We packed a cooler for lunch, and were off to explore the area. We first hiked the Black Hills Overlook in Chadron.

After taking in the views at the overlook, we went 45 minutes to Fort Robinson State Park. This 22,000 acre state park was a fort in the Old West until after WWII. Many of the barracks still stand and offer a place to stay for visitors. Fort Robinson is also the site of the famed Sioux Chief Crazy Horse.

Our favorite part of the park was the variety of scenery and wonderful trails. We started off with the Mexican Canyon Trail. With some steep parts, we were out of breath a few times.

The views were completely worth it though. We were also able to spot some Bighorn Sheep. Can you spot them in the next picture?

I felt like a mountain goat at some parts, particularly during one steep ascent that was an 85 degree incline.

After our canyon hike, we had a picnic lunch and toured some of the buildings. We then headed to another trail that went up to the buttes. Climbing ever upwards, we were rewarded with some stunning views.

At this point, we had hiked about 5 miles and an equivalent of over 72 flights of stairs. Honestly, I was proud of how we were fairing. What I wasn’t proud of was an oversight of mine.

I had been sent a pair of hiking boots by Kuru Footwear, and was incredibly excited to wear them on this trip. Well, they and I were baptized by fire on those steep inclines and rugged trails. Honestly, I cannot say enough good about the shoes. They did what they were designed to—engineered to fight foot pain. They kept the sandy dirt out, provided me some amazing ankle support, and left me plenty of room for my toes to move (something I struggle with other shoes when hiking). Due to user error, they did give me blisters. If you are looking for a new pair of hiking boots, I definitely recommend the Kuru Quests. I also recommend making sure you tie them tight enough to ensure a proper fit and break them in before hiking intensely…common sense, but apparently not too common sense for all. So, to give an honest review in a nutshell—will keep your feet feeling like they are walking on a cloud despite the rough terrain, just maybe don’t go hiking extensively with them right out of the box. My bad. It is definitely the beginning of a wonderful friendship, though.

After both G and I were a bit tuckered out, we went on the scenic bison drive. No bison were sighted, but I did find plenty of horses and mules roaming the park. I just had to make friends, so I did. We also saw longhorn cattle on the property.

After getting our fill of Fort Robinson (let’s be honest, I could have spent a week there and not gotten my fill), we headed to Toadstool State Park. Similar to the Badlands, this park was not too far from Fort Robinson, but definitely off the beaten path. After more than 25 miles of dirt roads, and when I say dirt roads, I don’t mean your dirt road farm path. We arrived to our desolate location and were in awe of the landscape. The only way to describe it, is you feel like you are on another planet. It is truly incredible, and any little kid’s climbing dream. After walking the main trail and checking out a sod house, we were ready to head back to Chadron for dinner.

We ate kabobs with tzatziki sauce and sat by the fire and played some board games until bed.

The next morning, G came back in the cabin from checking on my car. I said “you ready?” To which he replied: “No! Go look at your car.”

There, my poor blueberry sat with a very flat tire. For the next hour, we (and by me, I mean mostly G) worked at getting the car jacked and tire changed. This was easier said than done. We were on a hill, the tire was stuck and G didn’t want to bang on it when we were already precarious jacked up. Eventually, we were able to get the car jacked up enough to fill the tire up with air. We would see if it could hold air. It didn’t take long for me to hear the hiss of air. I looked around and found the culprit—a nail. We jumped in the car and headed 20 miles to the closest city. We had already called every tire shop within 30 miles and AAA (AAA said there wasn’t much in our area and they’d get back to us in 1-2 hours). We made it to a tire shop to get the tire plugged within an hour of closing. Apparently, the day before had dislodged the nail with all the rough roads. I joked that both me and blue had bum feet.

It all worked out, though. After getting the car patched up, and patching my feet up, we headed out on another hike in Chadron. The wind was absolutely whipping, but oh, those views!

The fall colors were also stunning. Who knew you didn’t have to go to the mountains to see fall’s stunning golden glory.

After our hike, we went down to Chadron Creek to hammock and read. We were shocked to see folks fishing in this less than a foot wide creek. On further examination, the creek was deep and filled with trout! The day ended similar to other days with good food, a campfire, and the stars above.

Our time in western Nebraska was at an end. It was time to head home. We were confident in blueberry’s tire, so decided to make a 2 hour detour to Smith Falls. Just as you might be surprised that Nebraska has a fall display, you may also be surprised to learn that the state boasts some waterfalls. The Niobrara River provides some stunning scenery in Valentine, Nebraska.

After one final picnic lunch and hike, we set our noses east towards home, filling the 5 hours with long conversations, views of cattle, and many train sightings. Dominoes pizza and the cats greeted us upon arriving back in Lincoln.

This trip did my heart good. Life is uncertain and weird right now, but out there it’s steady and beautiful. Despite the (literal) bumps in the road of our trip, we had the most amazing time adventuring together. I’m reminded of the quote: “You keep me safe, and I’ll keep you wild.” So often, this is how it is with G and I. G repeatedly asked about my blistered feet, and I said let’s keep going. I want to see that view. He took charge of our flat tire and navigated us through the wilds. Meanwhile, I was the one who said “are you ready” and often took the dirt road due to a wrong turn. We may be opposite, but we balance one another, and we both share a heart for adventure.