A free backcountry tour of Scotts Bluff National Monument in western Nebraska is being offered on June 27, when Ranger Matt Salomon will lead visitors into the monument's badlands.
The tour is scheduled to leave the monument's visitor center at 6:30 p.m. on June 27. Salomon will lead the group through the one of the monument’s prairie dog towns and end with a tour of the badlands formations. Each of the stops will include a quarter-mile long off-trail hike on uneven surfaces. The tour will take approximately 90 minutes.
Anyone wishing to participate must make a reservation by contacting the monument staff at (308) 436-9700. Due to the rough nature of the roads travelled, a high clearance vehicle (SUV or truck) is required. No ATVs will be permitted. There are no restrooms along the tour route, so visitors should use the visitor center restroom facilities before the caravan leaves. Participants should also bring drinking water and wear sturdy shoes for the short hikes.
More Scotts Bluff National Monument from Traveler's archives:
Scotts Bluff National Monument: Portal To The West
Scotts Bluff And Fort Laramie: Is The Oregon Trail In Your Family History?
This Park Has Scenery, History and a Treasure Trove of Art and Photos