Scotts Bluff National Monument is the perfect place for your family to experience the beauty of the vast plains that stretch across the central U.S. and to learn a little about the history of westward expansion!
Towering 800 feet above the North Platte River in Nebraska, Scotts Bluff has served as an important landmark for Native Americans as well as for pioneers on the Oregon, Morman & California Trails. Even the famous Pony Express passed right by Scotts Bluff!
This landmark was significant for travelers not only to let them know that they were on the right path, but it also signaled that the terrain would become more challenging as the travelers approached the rugged mountains ahead.
It’s amazing to think that by the time the pioneers reached this bluff, they had only traveled one third of the 2,170 mile trip to Oregon. I can only imagine how hard this journey must have been.
Visiting with Your Family
First, visiting Scotts Bluff National Monument is free! Yes, Free!
At Scotts Bluff, you’ll want to plan on spending approximately 2 hours here to enjoy the museum, the 15 minute video on the Oregon Trail and to drive to the top of the Bluff and hike a little.
*Please note that RVs and trailers are not allowed to drive up Scott’s Bluff, but that a shuttle service is available on request during the summer if staffing allows it.
What to Expect at Scotts Bluff National Monument
To get to Scotts Bluff National Monument you will find yourself driving through miles upon miles of the flat plains of Nebraska. The monument itself is located on the SW side of the city of Scottsbluff and it rises pretty high above the plains so there’s no need to worry about missing it.
Once you arrive, stop at the visitor center to take a look at their museum and watch the 15 minute video to orient yourself to this landmark’s history.
Can you imagine walking for 600 miles across the flat prairie and then suddenly you see Scott’s Bluff towering 800 feet in the air!
After seeing the museum, it is the perfect time to take a walk outside where you can actually walk on part of the Oregon Trail itself and see some of the original wagon ruts!
This is a great time to talk to your kids about what life must have been like for so many that traveled across the country using this path.
Travel Tip: It can be very sunny and hot here so make sure your family has plenty of water and maybe sun hats if you plan on hiking much here.
Fun for Kids
Have your kids, ages 5-13, work to get a Scotts Bluff Junior Ranger Badge. Just pick up a free packet at the visitor center and have them complete the age appropriate pages/ activities and they can earn their very own badge! These badges make great souvenirs and you’ll be amazed at how much they’ll learn about this site. We love the Junior Ranger program and our children love to collect badges from every National Park we go to.
Drive Summit Road to the Top
After walking along the Oregon Trail for a little, we decided to hop in our car and drive the ~10 minute drive to the top of Scott’s Bluff.
Summit Road is a 1.6 mile drive to the top of Scott’s Bluff. On this road you will encounter several sharp turns and 3 tunnels (which are the only vehicular tunnels in the entire state of Nebraska!)
Travel Tip: Please see the park’s website for car restrictions to travel to the top and for shuttle availability.
Once you reach the top you can park in the parking lot and enjoy some of the hiking trails here.
Hiking at Scotts Bluff
There are 3 main trails at Scotts Bluff that you can take while on the top of Scotts Bluff.
North Overlook Trail – a paved 0.5 mile loop that is moderate in difficulty (but easy enough for our 5 year old)
South Overlook Trail – a paved 0.4 mile loop that is easy in difficulty
Saddle Rock Trail – a 1.6 mile one way hike from the summit area to the visitor center. This trail is rated as difficult and includes steep grades and sharp turns
Our family chose to hike both the North and South Overlook Trails and loved them!
Eating at Scotts Bluff
We decided to bring a picnic lunch to eat at the top of the Scotts Bluff so that we could eat with an incredible view!
I highly recommend doing this at National Parks. It not only saves time and money but it also allows you to stop and take more time to enjoy the beautiful scenery of where you’re at. (And if you have kids, you can actually have a moment to enjoy your surroundings while they sit and eat, an added bonus!)
For our picnic lunch we simply found a bench on the North Overlook Trail, got out our Subway sandwiches that we had purchased in town, and had a fun lunch here!
Traveler Tip: Please note that there are no picnic tables or restrooms at the top of Scotts Bluff. There are picnic tables near the visitor center with restrooms, a vending machine and a water fountain/ water bottle filler. This monument does not offer food service.
What a beautiful view!
Our family really enjoyed visiting Scotts Bluff National Monument! We loved learning a little about this monument’s incredible history and how it played a role in westward expansion in the U.S!
Please let me know in the comments section below if you have any questions about visiting Scotts Bluff National Monument.
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