Soapstone Prairie Natural Area: Cheyenne Rim Trail

This government shutdown keeps dragging on. Today, I decided to get out of town for a longer hike at Soapstone Prairie Natural Area. Today I would be hiking the Cheyenne Rim Trail. I had hiked a portion of the northern section of the trail during a hike I had started at nearby Red Mountain Open Space. This hike would take me on the southern 7.8-mile-long section of the trail.

I arrived at the trailhead just after sunrise and immediately headed out. 

The sun felt good as it rose above the horizon and warmed me up a bit. The beginning portion of the hike would take me through rolling prairie 

along the edge of the bison enclosure. Unfortunately, I could only see bison way off in the distance. 

The last of the colorful sumac leaves still clung to their shrubs. 

The trail steadily continued towards the foothills, climbing gradually. 

Eventually, I started to climb a bit to reach the top of the Cheyenne Rim. The views from the rim were quite spectacular. 

You could look out over the Red Mountain Open Space and even see the snowcapped peaks to the west. At one particular rocky outcrop, I stopped to eat a snack and enjoy the view. 

Eventually, I started to make my way back to the trailhead, following the same route I had taken on the way in. 

The distant Rawhide Energy Station was a major landmark for the hike back to the trailhead. 

I was quite tired and footsore by the time I made it back to the trailhead for the drive home. 

Duncan Ranch

There was a good weather forecast for today. That, along with a chance to see some fall color before the leaves are gone convinced me to head into Wyoming to check out Duncan Ranch. It was a pretty long drive through Guernsey and Douglas to Glenrock. At Glenrock I headed up into the foothills of the Laramie Range to the start of my hike.

As I set off on the trail, I noticed that there was still fall color in some of the clumps of aspen trees.

I could tell this was going to be a great hike as I found evidence that people lose their soles out here. This one was right out on the trail. 

I headed into a wooded area and found a couple of grouse.

The trail continued on, making a loop and winding into areas of forest and meadow. The scenery was superb.

The trail made a loop of just over five miles. 

While I had hoped to maybe see some elk out on the trail, I didn't really see any wildlife other than the grouse and some prairie dogs in a dog town near the trailhead.

Still, the beautiful scenery and fall colors made the long drive worth it. 

I would return to the area to hike again with Noelle. 

Chadron State College Thompson Preserve

From the Pine Ridge Trail, Rosie and I headed north into Chadron and the Chadron State College campus to hike in the Thompson Preserve. I had never been on campus before, but found it to be pleasant, if deserted, due to it being a weekend. We parked in a commuter lot at the edge of campus and then hit the trail.

Our trail climbed to the top of a ridge. We followed this ridgetop trail to an interesting labyrinth.

Then, we retraced our steps a bit and headed up to the top of the C.

There was a nice view of campus and Don Beebe Stadium below from near the C.

From the top of the C we followed trails along the edge of the campus and back to where we had parked the car. 

Pine Ridge Trail: Outrider Trailhead to Black Hills Overlook

 With a forecast of beautiful weather, Rosie and I headed north up to the Nebraska National Forest just south of Chadron for a hike on a section of the Pine Ridge Trail that I had not yet completed. There is a new sign off of US Highway 385 marking the Outrider Trailhead. That's where we would be starting our hike. 

We hit the trail which is marked with wooden posts. 

We ascended gradually up towards the top of the ridge. Rosie seemed to enjoy the freedom of hiking off leash.

We could see trees with fall foliage in the valley down below.

When we reached the top of the ridge, Rosie excitedly climbed up to the top of a rock outcropping and posed for a photo.

We continued along the ridge 

with views down into canyons below.

Surprisingly quickly, we reached the Black Hills Overlook and turned around to make our way back to the start of the hike.

As we headed back huge flocks of sandhill cranes flew overhead making their way south for their fall migration.

The hiking back to the trailhead went pretty fast.

I was still in the mood for more miles and so I opted to head into Chadron and over to the CSC campus to hike up to the C on the hill on the edge of campus.