Cowboy Trail Forum

Hello --

I'm hoping to ride Valentine to Norfolk in five days the second week of June, mostly camping along the way. I would have loved to join the Bubba's crew the preceding week, but schedule does not allow. So solo it is.

Here are my bike options, and I'd be very grateful for insight for my choice. #1 is a single speed mountain bike; previous owner adapted it with commuter friendly gearing and tires (26" x 1.75"). There is clearance for days so I could get wider MTB tires or go tubeless, I think. Downside here is that any rear flat would require tensioning and that is not something I am particularly adept at. Okay, that I'm scared of (I just basically left original tires on and pretend I could never get a flat, lol).

#2 is a quite nice hybrid with 700 x 38 tires currently, but I only have clearance for up to 42 width. Tubeless would not be possible with current rims.

As you can see, I am concerned about thorns and flats primarily, and trail surface secondarily. I have LOTS of experience with changing flats on my hybrid and for other folks I encounter in my travels, but I don't want to spend all day doing it.

Thanks very much -- looking forward to this adventure!

Liz, I have not ridden the Cowboy Trail yet, but plan to do so the first week of June. I’ve done a fair amount of bikepacking and touring and would never consider riding a bike with tires I couldn’t fix on the trail. That alone should rule out your single speed. I have a Surly Bridge Club that can handle either 700x2.2 or 27.5x2.8 tires and a Trek hybrid that can take 700x50 (2.0). I haven’t decided which to ride on the CT yet, but am sure either one would be fine. I’ll be riding tubeless if I ride the Surly. I’d recommend going with the widest tires you can fit on your hybrid. And make sure both the tires and tubes are puncture resistant. From the research I’ve done 700x42 should be OK for an experienced rider.

My regular ride partner said he’s interested in going, but hasn’t fully committed yet. If he bails, I might be able to change my schedule and ride the second week in June if you’re interested in having company.

Good luck!

I don't think a singlespeed will do you any favors. The west end getting to Valentine has some hills. If you use the hybrid I'd guess that the wider the tire the better, but someone more experienced with gravel bikes could weigh in with more knowledge than I. I ride a mtn bike w/2.25 tires. The trail is actually very clean the last few years and they're doing an excellent job keeping the dreaded goathead thorns out. One year I had 8 flats doing the trail out and back, but it's in good shape the last 3 or 4 years. You could always put sealant in your tubes or buy tubes with sealant in them. It's an awesome ride!

If your rims will not allow Tubeless tires. I would use tubes with green slime in them. You can order tubes already slimed in either presta or shrader valves. Or, if you have removable cores, you can add it yourself. It will seal most punctures, and it works great in goathead country.

For what it worth, we rode the trail in May 2024. Two bikes with 650x47B (~2") tires and one bike with 700x28C (1 5/8') tires. The skinnier tires had many problems when it hit sand pockets, the fatter tires managed the sand much easier!

I have been riding a stretch from Oakdale to Norfolk. Most if it is fine but a stretch from 3 miles west to 1 mile east of Tilden is very soft and deep gravel. Also, some horse tracks around Oakdale. Get as wide of tires as you can.

Looking at a ride around mid July. I'm pushing 88 and ride an e-trike. I do not camp. Ideally I'd like to arrange a shuttle West to East or East to West. Best I gather from the forum that is not an option. That said, I'm thinking hotels in Valentine, Ainsworth, Stuart, Ewing, and Norfolk. I'm thinking out and back rides of 30 to 60 miles round trip from those locations. Drive to next hotel location and do another out and back set.
Comments or suggestions would be appreciated. You could text me at 9186256715 or email schrdal@gmail.com

Sounds like a workable plan. From Valentine to Wood Lake there are no services available. Arabia is just a sign along the trail, so plan accordingly. You'll probably be going to Wood Lake for the turn around point, and there's a nice little park right along the trail with RR and elect to charge your bike. Also a cafe along the highway that I think is usually open. The only service in Johnston is the EL Bow (or something like that)Bar. Nice bar, nice people, and they serve food. There is a park along the highway in Bassett with water, I'm not sure about elect, but there are lots of services in town. The only spot in Newport is a little pool hall. No one there but it's always open and water there and snacks on the honor system. After that you're in good shape going east. What's your range on an e-trike? I'd guess 30 miles or so? I applaud your spirit of adventure to do this at 88 man! What kind of speed are you hoping to average? It's a great trail but you probably won't see many people on it. Tailwinds, brother!

Plan for extreme heat and absolutely no shade, too!

Thanks to DougT and Dave for info, comments, and suggestions. Doug asked about range and speed. I carry two batteries. Depending on trail conditions, wind, and elevation change I can do 60 to 90 miles between recharges. As for speed, probably a 10 to 12 mph average. Trail conditions influence speed. Still working on layovers and turn arounds.

As far as lodging, many choices in Valetine. The Comfort Inn is right at the Trailhead. In Ainsworth, I recommend Rodeway Inn. Stuart, I think there is only one choice. Many good options in Northfolk. Happy Trails.

Great to hear you're interested in coming out to ride the trail. Class 1,2, and 3 E-Bikes ARE permitted on the trail! Your plan sounds good but if you are not aware there is a vendor that offers a supported ride experience called Bubba's Pampered Pedals. They go in early June this year I believe. Just wanted to offer that as an option. https://www.bubbaspamperedpedalers.com/cowboy-trail-nebraska/

Is there air conditioning

Yes, it has a window ac unit according to one of the reviews on their Facebook page.

So here I am again asking for some more help. I’ve been trying to figure out the best mileage ride and places to stay. It sure seems to me the the mileage differs a lot when watching Cowboy Trail videos and other information I’ve been gathering. I certainly would welcome suggestions. So far the best seems to be longer rides and staying in Valentine, Ainsworth, O’Neill and Norfolk or what I just said and throwing in an overnight stop in Neigh.

My other concern is the Rails to Trails website says there’s about 5 trail closures. Doesn’t seem like to long for detours but they also say the Niobrara Bridge is closed. For you wonderful bikers that live in Nebraska I’d welcome your help in figuring this out.

It would be nice to ride the trail the last week of October. I notice on the web that Bubba’s Pampered Peddlers is doing a ride in June over 5 days but doing shuttles back and forward for lodging. Thanks in advance for help and advice. Paula ?????

Your overnights will work fine. I usually stay in Long Pine vs. Ainsworth, but there are a lot more amenities in Ainsworth.
Detours aren't a problem. 4 of them are right next to highway 20, there's a wide shoulder, and most drivers even move over more. Awesome drivers here! Detour on the east side of Long Pine can go either way. On the way to Valentine we usually go left on the gravel to avoid the sun in our and drivers eyes in the early eve, but it's usually both rough and soft(sandy soil). On the return we take the highway option and that's good. None of the detours have signs on the highway(apparently the DNR can't do that for liability reasons?) so you have to watch for the right gravel to turn on. The site can tell you the length of the detour.
Bring plenty of warm clothes. Last year we went in Oct. One morning was 28 degrees! Have a great ride! I always say that the Cowboy Trail is an adventure! Tailwinds!

Thank you Doug so much for all your help and info. We will be riding West to East Valentine to Ainsworth, Ainsworth to O’Neill, O’Neill to Neligh and Neligh to Norfolk We are getting pretty excited. Thanks for the info on the detours as well. We do have warm biking clothes. Looking forward to meeting the friendly folks of Nebraska along the way and riding the miles. We will be riding fat bikes with tubeless set up. Thanks again Paula

We are considering the same agenda this summer. What lodging did you use in Neileigh?

The City park in Neligh is a good place to camp -- if you are camping. It is right on the trail and close to downtown. The Neligh Mill is a state historical park, and is a good place to tour.

We haven’t ridden the trail yet but are planning on riding it in September 2026. Our plan is to stay at Deluxe Motel in Neligh. There is also another place to stay at called West View Motel if you are not camping while riding the Cowboy Trail.

Hi,
I saw the postings of the detours from 2024. Has any of the issues causing the detours been fixed? I hope to ride this trail in the fall.

I’m trying to tie down logistics for a ride from Valentine to Norfolk in either early June or any time in September. The segments and duration of several folks on this thread align with my general plan. I’d like to find a couple other riders to share a shuttle from Norfolk to Valentine or work out a way to handle shuttling vehicles ourselves. I’ll be driving a pickup and can take on 4 or 5 riders and bikes. I’m retired so pretty flexible on dates. Reply here or text me at 406-202-0003 if you’re interested in seeing what we can work out. Thanks!

I’m trying to tie down logistics for a ride from Valentine to Norfolk in either early June or any time in September. The segments and duration of several folks on this thread align with my general plan. I’d like to find a couple other riders to share a shuttle from Norfolk to Valentine or work out a way to handle shuttling vehicles ourselves. I’ll be driving a pickup and can take on 4 or 5 riders and bikes. I’m retired so pretty flexible on dates. Reply here or text me at 406-202-0003 if you’re interested in seeing what we can work out. Thanks!

Hi Chris,

I ride with three other female friends. We're considering 3 different states/routes to ride. If we ride the Cowboy Trail, it'll more likely be an out and back. You're welcome to join us for whichever direction you like. I'll send you a text so we don't bog down this thread.

I tried contacting the DeLuxe Motel in Neligh last summer before and during my ride on the trail. Their voice mail was always full. When I went through, I had already made other plans. I didn't look at the property, but you might contact them pretty far in advance to see if they are operating.

Cindy, what other trails are you considering? I ask because I have done the Katy Trail, Mickelson Trail and the Cowboy Trail, and the first two were MUCH better — like night and day. If you haven’t done either of those yet, you should consider them. I think you will have a lot more fun, and fewer thorns, detours or sections of trail that haven’t been maintained in years.

Hi Dave,

I have ridden the Mickelson Trail and the Katy Trail. The first trail was gorgeous and, at times, challenging. The Katy Trail was beautiful, flatter and longer. We're considering 4 connecting trails in Wisconsin, the Ohio to Erie Trail in Ohio and trails in the Des Moines, IO area. If you need other ideas of where to ride, we've ridden the Golden Spoke in Utah and parts of the Huckleberry Loop in Tucson, AZ.

Chris, I may ride the CT beginning July 1st, '26. I would begin in Chadron and ride 3 days to Norfolk. If I do the ride (50-50) I would be looking for a shuttle back to Chadron on July 4th. Probably not a good day for any shuttle service, most likely. But, I could move my start date to July 2nd. Gary

...I will be starting in Valentine, not Chadron. The mileage chart does not accurately show the distance between Chadron and Valentine. Google Maps showed me the actual distance and it was much longer than what is shown on the mileage chart.

Hi Gary:
The Trail should be surfaced from Chadron to Gordon (50 miles) sometime in the summer, but it is ballast at the moment from Chadron to Rushville. After Gordon, use Highway 20 to Valentine, then it is all good (couple short detours) to Norfolk. I am not sure about shuttles all the way back to Chadron. Hope things work out. Its a good ride.

Hey, Gary! Early July could be hot, but not out of the question. Rather than clog up the forum, shoot me a text to continue the conversation. 406-202-0003.

Which direction is best to travel, Norfolk to Valentine or Valentine to Norfolk. Is there a grade or wind direction?

We haven’t ridden the trail yet but plan to do so next September after a wedding in Omaha Nebraska at the end of August 2026. From all I have researched it’s great and exciting and adventurous either way but easier riding West to East. Some riders like the
East to West and some riders locally ride it each way. The big thing I get from whatever you do it will be an adventure. True bikers love it and don’t find it boring. Meeting the local people seems to be a great aspect of riding this wonderful flat windy trail.

You lose about 2000 feet of elevation riding west to east. The wind direction varies but west winds are a bit more common. I've ridden both ways, and like them both. First time ride, start in Valentine. Or start in Norfolk and ride out and back.

As to your question about which direction. Most riders travel from west to east because of our prevailing westerly winds. This way the wind will be at your back. I believe that there is only a 3% grade in the 187 mile trip from Valentine to Norfolk. Most towns or villages are located 10-20 miles apart and have small parks that you can use as rest stops along the way. Hope to see you out on the Trail. Enjoy !

I hiked the trail 2 years ago. I had headwind east that almost killed me! Planning on hiking the trail this year but starting in Norfolk.

The Cowboy Trail will always find a way to make you remember the trip! I tell myself west to east because it's technically downhill as Kurt mentioned. Either way is always an adventure.

We've been gone part of the summer hiking and traveling, so I was surprised to see the trail west and east of Tilden has been improved. Yes, there are still some loose gravel spots so a little vigilance around this area is warranted, but it has been very much upgraded. The ride from Norfolk to Oakdale and back makes a nice 60+ mile ride.

I should point out that at Oakdale the detour takes you on the road if you are continuing west. I, and several others, have bypassed the road closed sign and continued for another 1.5 miles to the site where the bridge has been washed out. DO NOT go all the way to the edge of the trail however as the river has washed away and undercut the trail and it is just hanging over the river for several feet. Make sure to turn around at the sign before the river. Some have carried their bikes across the river and continued on the trail on the other side. I don't think this is a good idea as the Elkhorn can be unpredictable and this doesn't seem safe to me. Still the 3 miles out and back from Oakdale to the bridge out is in fantastic shape if you are turning around and heading back east.

One issue for riders is always finding a place to sleep, eat, and shower on the cowboy trail. While going through Tilden, I was notified of a couple of things that might be of interest to riders in the future in Tilden. 1) There is a park on the east side of Tilden that has showers and a bathroom, which are free to use. Spending the night is $20, but for those who just want to pitch a tent the price might be negotiable (I know of two riders who were allowed to stay for free). 2) The current convenience store is going to be tore down and replaced with a new store across the street. 3) The plan is after the old station is demolished a small motel (6-12 rooms) will be built on the site of the existing store.......hopefully within the next year.

The spacing of Tilden might not be perfect for some riders as it is only 22 miles from Norfolk, but for some it might have some benefit.

What is the best type of bike to use for this trail?

In April 2024 I had two other riders with me, their bikes had hybrid tires and mine had road bike tires. While my partners had 1-3 scary incidents in softer gravel, I had about 9-10 with the skinnier tires. If I ride the Cowboy trail again it will be with minimally 2" tires. The softer surface while generally at road crossing pop up randomly along the trail!

A gravel or mountain bike is better suited. The trail can have inconsistent surfacing at times where having a wider tire can help. I'd recommend a minimum of 40c or 2.0 tire width. Air it down a bit for some cushion and enjoy the "party pace"! Hope you come ride the trail!

Can I rent a bike one way at Valentine and return it at Norfolk? What is the best season for doing this ride? TIA

Hello!

Unfortunately, a bike rental option like that doesn't exist in Valentine. This area is very rural and the only bike shop "nearby" is in Norfolk but they don't rent bikes. Tony with North Fork outfitting in Norfolk does rent bikes, I'd say they are more suited for a day trip on the trail vs a multi-day tour but it could probably be done. He also offers shuttle service. UNL outdoor adventures in Lincoln rents good touring bikes as another option. If you're handy, people have shipped their bike to Valentine, built it, ride the trail, and then ship it back home in Norfolk. It is somewhat a challenging trail to plan for logistically because it is so rural, but that's the beauty of it too!

My favorite times to ride it are late April/May where you get to experience spring wildflowers, farmers planting, and young calves trotting around, and cooler weather 60s - low 80s. In late September/early October harvest will be happening so lots of agriculture in action (combines, tractors, swathers) in the adjacent fields. Weather is always unpredictable year round, keep an eye on the forecast for thunderstorms, heat waves, crazy wind, frigid temps, tornadoes, etc.

Hope you come out and ride the trail!

Thank you Alex for your very helpful reply!

Please let me know if you have used Panda Transpotation for your self and bikes after doing the Cowboy Trail? I am thinking of putting a group together for April of 2026 to ride the trail.
Thanks so much,
Ellynn

Ellynn, I can’t tell you anything about Panda, but would be interested in hearing if the group you are putting together is open to other riders. I’ve thought about doing the Cowboy Trail for a while and would prefer to do it with a group of like minded riders. You can email me at Cldsmith@msn.com.

I don't think Panda Transporation exists anymore. Give Tony a call with North Fork outfitting in Norfolk. He does shuttles along the Cowboy Trail. The other option is U-Haul.