Catching our ‘White Whale’: Hiking Nebraska’s Toadstool Park
Exploring Toadstool Geological Park in northwest Nebraska seemingly became our white whale. Lisa and I have tried for a few years to visit Nebraska’s Badlands, but weather or road conditions blocked our efforts.
The first attempt in 2013 was thwarted after being advised that a rainstorm and a flash flood wiped out a bridge on the gravel road to the park’s entrance. Additional visits didn’t materialize because of the storms. I’m not a fan of driving on muddy roads.
This year, the stars aligned for us. During a short visit to Scottsbluff, we decided to head north to the park. Toadstool is about a 90-minute drive from Scottsbluff, so we left early in the morning, as we wanted to spend a few hours hiking the park’s trails.
Driving about 15 miles on gravel roads provides interesting views of the area’s landscape. From grazing land – you may see pronghorn antelopes in the fields – to the start of the Badlands with small buttes and gullies, the drive tends to be a quick one.
Approaching the main parking lot, the scenery was beyond our imagination – large rock formations climbing up from the surface, offering a majestic view on the prairie.
Part of prehistoric sea
Millions of years in the making, dating back to the days of Nebraska being part of a prehistoric sea, Toadstool Geologic Park is aptly named as some rocks resemble mushrooms. Standing up among prairie grass, Toadstool’s formations are the result of water and wind erosion among siltstone, sandstone and clay.
Look for signs of marine life among the fossils in the rock. Fossil collection is prohibited. Always leave no sign of visitation during your hike.
With trails taking hikers to a historic bison skull site and campgrounds, as well as a shorter loop that takes you along the rocks and crevices, it’s easy to spend a full day soaking in the nature and history of Toadstool.
We opted for the shorter loop trail, which runs about a mile long. Taking us up and over rocks and through ravines, trails prove challenging for some people. With uneven surfaces, you’ll find climbing rocks to include steep inclines.
Toadstool Geologic Park’s three trails vary by difficulty. While none is easy, the one-mile interpretive loop offers the easiest level. You’ll hike among the stones and formations.
The Bison Trail splits midway through the interpretive trail, following a canyon three miles to the Hudson-Meng Education and Research Center. Here you can view fossils from extinct bison.
A five-mile loop begins at the park’s campground and takes hikers to the Bison Trail and Toadstool Campground. You can also follow the trail in reverse order, ending in the parking lot.
If you want to make a weekend adventure of Toadstool, but don’t want to camp, consider reserving a room at High Plains Homestead. With four themed rooms and a main cabin, the campground also has four RV spots and room for tents. Bring your own linen or sleeping bag for the stay. Open May 1-Oct. 31, High Plains Homestead requires a two-night minimum stay. It also has a small western town on its grounds.
Whether you spend a few days or a few hours, a visit to Toadstool is an experience you’ll long remember. For us, it was an experience long in the making.
