| Cowboy Trail | |
|---|---|
 Flooding in June 2010 collapsed this former railroad bridge carrying the Cowboy Trail across the Elkhorn River near Norfolk.[1] | |
| Length | 195 miles (314 km)[2] |
| Location | northern Nebraska[2] |
| Established | 1996[3] |
| Designation | National Recreational Trail |
| Trailheads | Norfolk, Nebraska Valentine, Nebraska[4] |
| Use | Hiking, Cycling, and Horseback Riding[4] |
| Grade | 2% or less[4] |
| Surface | finely crushed gravel, short sections have concrete[3] |
| Right of way | Chicago and North Western Railway[2] |
The Cowboy Trail is a rail trail in northern Nebraska. It is a multi-use recreational trail suitable for bicycling, walking and horseback riding. It occupies an abandoned Chicago and North Western Railway corridor. When complete, the trail will run from Chadron to Norfolk, a length of 321 miles (517 km), making it the longest rails-to-trails conversion in the United States. It is Nebraska's first state recreational trail. The trail runs across the Outback area of Nebraska.[5]
- ^ Duggan, Joe. "Elkhorn River bucks the Cowboy Trail". Lincoln Journal Star. 2010-08-30. Retrieved 2012-04-18.
- ^ a b c "Cowboy Trail Guide: Maps, Businesses, Mileage, and More". BikeCowboyTrail. Retrieved April 17, 2012.
- ^ a b "Construction". Cowboy Recreation and Nature Trail. Nebraska Game and Parks Commission. Archived from the original on January 27, 2012. Retrieved April 17, 2012.
- ^ a b c "General Information". Cowboy Recreation and Nature Trail. Nebraska Game and Parks Commission. Archived from the original on January 27, 2012. Retrieved April 17, 2012.
- ^ "About". North Central RC&D. Archived from the original on November 27, 2007. Retrieved September 17, 2007.