Driving from Fort Collins to Rapid City, my family was fortunate to add this Oregon Trail stop on…read morethe way. The park rangers at this monument are awesome and truly care about its history. If you can add this in with your travels, you won't be upset. I wouldn't go way out of my way to visit, but if you can add it to your itinerary with a less than annoying drive deviation, it is fantastic. Side note, it was raining the day I went. I drove up to the top but couldn't see the view due to the weather. But, I could tell, on a nice day, it would be amazing. Lots of history here. Enjoy!

Call Your Bluff…read more Protected National Monument site that's over 3k-acres and is situated west of Gering, Nebraska. We visited here almost eight years ago on our epic road trip across the US, and I can't believe I forgot to review this place. The Good: *The bluff is an important landmark on the Oregon Trail and there's an Oregon Trail Museum at the base of the bluff. *There's a windy 1.6-mile drive up the Summit Rd to get to the top of Scotts Bluff. There were quite a few cars (the park draws in 100k visitors a year) in front of us, if I remember correctly. But I don't think it took that long to get to the top, because even if it did there some superb views along the way up. *Leashed pets are OK on trails *Free! The Meh: *Only four miles of hikable trails The Ugly: *I wish we had more time to explore and hike the trails, but we had a schedule to keep. Next time, Gadget! Conclusion: Great park that's worth a 1hr detour if you're headed along on this stretch of 80.

We made the drive out to this remote corner of Nebraska to see the fossil exhibit, and it was well…read moreworth the trip. Just be aware that the final stretch involves driving on dirt roads, so plan accordingly. The museum itself is small but packed with fascinating exhibits. While the fossils are certainly the main attraction, we were especially impressed by the collection of Native American artifacts, which was both extensive and beautifully displayed. If you find yourself in the area and don't mind venturing off the beaten path, this museum is definitely worth the visit. Just be prepared for the drive, as it's not the easiest place to reach.

Fossils in the hills of Nebraska [Harrison NE]…read more This national monument is located in Western Nebraska. Let me tell you now... it is out in the middle of nowhere! One lone building... the Visitor Center! You have to drive to the open prairie where the fossils can be found on quarries where the digs were conducted. Unfortunately, we were on a tight schedule and was not able to do the hike. Inside the Visitor Center is full of interesting exhibits Including a life-size display of ancient mammals (giant creature that looks like a pig). There are no dinosaur fossils here. We also saw some cool collection of Northern Plains Indian artifacts given as gifts to James Cook by Lakota Chief Red Cloud. The short film was educational. Tip: Make sure to gas up your car and bring snacks or pack a lunch before heading out to the monument. The closest gas station is over 30 miles out on Highway 29 heading either north or south. There are no vending machines at the Visitor Center but they have free WiFi available ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ Review #3503

We came here to see the Big Boy and it was so great. It's a nice exhibit with good information and…read morebeing able to see this monster in person and walk around it and appreciate it was a cool experience. The rest of the park was very nice too. There were basketball courts which were being taken full advantage of. There is lots of green space and water. I saw multiple sculptures and children playing on the playground equipment. It's obviously a popular spot for walking, jogging and biking as well. They have an artists area with some play equipment and they have some of the infamous boots in this park as well. I only wish we'd had more time to enjoy it.

Coffee and service here is great, they have a selected food menu/Pastry. And they have seasonal…read morecoffees which are great. Stop by if you want a great cup of coffee

Great place for kids to come and explore the fossils on the playground. Also the6 have a field for…read morethem to run and play on. Also I know they also have a covered area to have a picnic or wedding reception. They even have a dinosaur that the kids can climb and play on great place for kiddos to play.

Cute park. Looks fairly new given the trees are fairly small. My boys played on the playground and…read morewe used the picnic tables in the pavilion. If you have kids who like trains--bonus it's right along the train tracks. We watched the trains go back and forth while we ate. Outdoor public restrooms with flush toilets were neat and clean.

Visually, this is an incredibly beautiful place. And it was once a very quiet/peaceful/relatively…read morenatural one too. That's until the geniuses at Nebraska Game & Parks decide to install an ugly, noisy, multi-station "shooting range" in this once-beautiful park. Now, most times it's pleasant enough for visitors to want to find a little peace and quiet and enjoy some nature, you'll be treated instead to loud volleys of gunfire echoing through the the Wildcat Hills (including nearby public land parcels Buffalo Creek and Montz Ranch). The Nature Center was expanded at the same time as the "shooting complex" was installed, which is fortunate, since that is likely the only place you'll see much "nature" amidst the noise. The "shooting range" is only several hundred *feet* from the Nature Center, so have fun enjoying the "natural" noise as you take in the views. Big ugly berms now block views to the south from the park road...presumably to prevent stray gunfire from hitting vehicles. Thinking of enjoying some nice peaceful camping? The prevailing winds and sound-amplifying effects of the Hills means you'll be "enjoying" the gunfire from any of the park's designated camping areas. So put on some noise-canceling headphones, maybe with an app that plays some "natural" sounds, and enjoy your visit. Or keep driving and spend your tourist dollars on a place where the interests of a few (but very noisy) "shooters" don't outweigh those of the many.

Love this place, a little piece of the forest in a plains arearead more

Just under a mile with a path along Sloan Lake. Definitely worth walking through the botanical…read moregarden. There is also a playground. I saw someone fishing and from his shouting I swore he got a big one, only to find he got a small perch.

8 dedicated pickleball courts. Botanical gardens, picnic areas. Miniature golf. Aquatic center.read more

When we look to parks, we like things like open bathrooms, which this one does have. We also like…read moresome shade, check. Easy access, check. Good equipment, in good repair and with good variety, check. This one also supposedly has a pool or something there as well, but this was a stopover point for the kid to play on the equipment and for us to have lunch. Unfortunately, neither the town nor the kid cooperated much in the lunch endeavor, so we had to take it on the road, but this seems like a pretty good park with a very solid range. It also was pretty well maintained, so good on them with that note. Not that I ever will be again by choice, but if you happen to Kimball and need a place to rest for a hot minute and/or let the kid(s) play, this is a pretty good choice.

It's a nice park, but beware that homeless people like to set up camp in the area often.read more

Traveling cross country & stopped here to let the kids play. Bathrooms are locked shut at noon on a…read moresat in June. Trash littering the entire park. Grass has not been mowed in at least 2 weeks. Playground is new and the kids enjoyed it, for 2 min until we left to find a bathroom. You (city) do not get to blame Covid for this. Cheyenne claimed $millions from the federal government to help recover. I would hope that the capitol city would take pride In Their public spaces. Very disappointed.

Lewis Park is a nice city park located in Wheatland, Wyoming. So...you would think for a city park…read morethey'd offer a playground, picnic canopies, soccer fields...etc. Well yes, Lewis Park offers all that...AND MORE! And the reason I'm saying MORE than your average typical park is because they allowed camping on the grounds. Camping? Really? Wow...cool for me. That's exactly what I was looking for! Here I was, in this random town of Wheatland...just off the main road of Interstate 25 running through the heart of Wyoming. This Lewis Park was an absolutely suitable place for me to pull over along my travels and rest up for the night. I discovered Lewis Park through the app on my phone called Campendium. I can't recommend Campendium enough for locating random campground and RV Parks on the fly. Along my cross country road trip...this Lewis Park was the only city park where they actually offered camping. Ya know...most of the places I visited were specific campgrounds and or RV/Trailer Parks...yet this place was a park for anyone and everyone to use. They permitted tent camping right on the outskirts of the main soccer field! Here were some great aspects to Lewis Park... When I read the entrance sign...it said it was free to camp! Hmmm...even better. I think they could have easily charged $10 for the night and no one would have taken an issue with that...yet it was free! You don't have to sign up or reserve a site...just first come, first served. There were specific rules mentioning that you could only camp for 3 nights within a 30 day period. The camping area was situated in a little designated area good for about 10 sites. When I came here back over the summertime...it was myself and two other families camping. So...it wasn't busy at all and overall...it was extremely quiet which was great for me to enjoy the fresh outdoor setting. Unfortunately they didn't feature showers or restrooms, but for free camping in a city park...I wasn't even expecting those types of amenities, lol. At least there was a vault toilet located next to the mini golf section. Yeah, nice...they offered mini golf here, though with this 2020 pandemic going on...I wasn't exactly sure if the course area was closed. Well, I didn't see anyone playing. My only issue to get to this vault toilet and the mini golf area from the camping grounds was having to walk around the entire soccer field. So, it was a bit of trek...but no big deal ultimately. I would also mention that this section for camping didn't have the most comfortable ground for making up my tent. I was sort of forced to set up on hard, dirt soil while meanwhile the camping area faced the soccer field where there was fresh fluffy grass much more suitable for pitching a tent. Yeah, it would have been a perfect night's rest if I could have moved my tent onto the soccer field, lol. Oh well...I was satisfied with just being here and having some time to rest and relax before heading to Casper, WY. What I very much appreciated were the picnics tables set underneath canopies. I noticed a family having an afternoon birthday party. This Lewis Park was perfect for something like that. Since there were multiple tables and canopy areas set up around the park...I was able to locate a few electrical outlets underneath these canopies good recharging my phone and portable generator. And...there was good cell phone reception here for browsing the Internet and checking my social media posts, lol. Btw, right beside this park was any necessities you may need from the town of Wheatland including food, gas and supplies. Overall, this Lewis Park was a great stopping point to pull over while driving. Taking in a pleasant summer night's evening here was worthwhile. Granted the town of Wheatland is very small...but I'm really surprised for a city park like this with so many great attributes for local residents to hang out here during the day...that no one has yet to write a review about this place. Regardless, I'm happy to give it some recognition. And for any adventurers or road trippers out there needing a practical spot to set up a tent and camp for free for the night, I recommend this Lewis Park.

Stayed at Yurt 4. Amazing view! Yurt was clean and well maintained. Great for my family of 5. Two…read moresets of bunk beds with full mattresses on the bottom. Sturdy wooden furniture. Solar powered lights and fan. Great deck with table. Yurt 4 is a bit away from the parking lot, so next time I'd get #3. Clean area. Beautiful. Yurt was huge! Easy to check in and out. Was expensive for 2 nights but was with it. Guernsey is a great little town. Will come again.

I made another trip to Guernsey State Park, this time remembering to wear good shoes and to remove…read moremy keys from the car. Love the views! Great place to stop and take in a little nature. I also got to visit the outhouse and the castle this time around! Woohoo. They are pretty cool to check out.