The best camping near Scotts Bluff National Monument

Rising 800 feet above the North Platte River in Nebraska is Scotts Bluff. The natural rock formation was a landmark for travelers migrating through the area. Migratory Native American tribes, traders, fur trappers, and westward-moving pioneers used Scotts Bluff as a rest stop and mile marker.

Take a drive to the top of the bluff to be on top of the world, or at least the surrounding countryside. On a clear day, you can see Chimney Rock or maybe even Laramie Peak (at 90 miles) in the distance. Don't forget the binoculars!

The visitor center explains the natural and cultural history of the area. It shows how the bluff came to be and why it was an important natural feature. Covered wagons on the site showcase how settlers moved west along the Oregon, Mormon, and California Trails. Some geological artifacts in the museum include some fossils found on the 3,000-acre site.

Four miles of hiking trails let you wander over and around the bluff. The North Overlook Trail gives you a 360-degree panorama of the landscape below. Part of the walking trail includes the original Oregon Trail. This was the path taken by covered wagons as people headed west. Trail ruts through Mitchell Pass run the same path as pioneers did 200 years ago.

Campsites in and around the town of Scottsbluff provide a headquarters for your Midwestern adventure. Lake Minatare, northeast of town, offers boating, fishing, and swimming activities. Golf lovers can try their handicap at Monument Shadows Golf Course just east of the bluff.