Toadstool Trail In Nebraska Leads To A Geological Wonder With Unparalleled Views
By Liz Oliver|Published February 06, 2020
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Liz Oliver
Author
Liz is a Missouri native with a B.A. in English from Mizzou and a M.A. in Non-Profit Administration from Lindenwood University. She works for a STL metro-area community college and enjoys writing, traveling, and indoor cycling. Her true passion is forcing her encyclopedic knowledge of Missouri facts on uninterested strangers from across the globe!
Nebraska is home to many awe-inspiring parks full of lush vegetation and wildlife. However, surprisingly, one of the most unique places here in the Cornhusker State is an ancient geological wonder. Hike Toadstool Trail to explore all the natural, geological wonders and to take in the views at Toadstool Geologic Park in Nebraska.
Toadstool Trail is located inside the Oglala National Grasslands, which you'll find in the northwestern tip of Nebraska. The loop-trail clocks in at just under a mile and is a good hike for all skill levels.
Getting to Toadstool Trail can sometimes be a challenge. The park is located in a very rural area, about 14 miles down a gravel road. During periods of heavy rain, the road may be difficult to navigate without 4-wheel drive. Once you arrive, you'll realize that the effort to locate the park is well worth it.
At the trailhead, you will find a small sod home and spots for camping. There is a dropbox for the $3 self-pay fee and a few covered picnic tables for shade.
Most visitors are completely blown away by the landscape. These ancient rock formations look more like images you've seen of the moon than of Nebraska.
Feel free to explore every part of this park - just don't climb on the delicate rock structures! Although it's out of the way, Toadstool Geological Park is worth the detour. It's definitely a kid-approved destination.
Plan a trip out to Toadstool Geological Park in the Oglala National Grasslands for an out-of-this-world hike. It's nothing like the cornstalk-filled fields people typically associate with Nebraska.