Are you a history buff or an avid outdoor adventurer? Then you’ll love this hike to a Nebraska landmark at Chimney Rock Trail. Located only four miles from the nearby town of Bayard, this outdoor excursion takes you up close to one of the state’s most spectacular rock formations. Clocking in at one and a half miles, Chimney Rock is also a kid-friendly option for hikers of all ages and experience levels.

A stunning sandstone and siltstone spire, at 350 feet, Chimney Rock towers over the North Platte River Valley. Although Cornhuskers routinely feature it on their rankings of Nebraska's most iconic natural landmarks, the trail is surprisingly quiet.
Jill B. Hart/Google Reviews
Visitors report encountering few other hikers along the out-and-back path. It's almost as if the route is a well-kept secret.
Stewart Carnes/AllTrails
Between the 1840s and 1860s, the austere landscape surrounding the spire was the stage of history's largest voluntary human migration. Over half a million people uprooted their lives and headed west. Along the grueling trek, the appearance of Chimney Rock on the horizon became a source of hope and motivation for weary migrants, and they mentioned the rock more than any other natural feature in documents of their travels.
Thomas Bajema/Google Reviews

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Not everyone who attempted the journey survived. The Chimney Rock Cemetery is a sobering reminder of the risk settlers accepted in their search for opportunity far from home.
Rich S/AllTrails
Approaching the spire is incredible, especially considering its enormous meaning for migratory families in the 1800s.
Stewart Carnes/AllTrails
In the quiet, it's easy to feel the distance of time collapse between you and those desperate, hopeful travelers who saw Chimney Rock as a sign that they were getting closer to the brighter future they dreamed of.
Karen Enriquez/AllTrails

Hike to a Nebraska landmark at Chimney Rock Trail. This remarkable formation stands out in a state packed with jaw-dropping and, frankly, underrated beauty. It’s captured the imaginations of passersby for hundreds of years, and its status as a historical landmark means it will continue to do so for generations. Few hikes offer such a payoff for so little pain, meaning this destination is well-suited for families, novice hikers, or seasoned adventurers looking for an easy trail to break in their new gear. Explore the outdoors and deepen your appreciation for Nebraska history on this beautiful, bite-sized trail.

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Chimney Rock Cemetery, Bayard, NE 69334, USA