Three Monuments, No Waiting
Written: Nov 27 '99
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Drive to the top of the Bluffs!
Cons: You can't touch Chimney Rock, or dig up your own fossils.
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| ErgoPropterHoc's Full Review: Nebraska |
In a relatively small area in western Nebraska, you can find three national monuments (technically, two national monuments and one national historic site): Agate Fossil Beds, Scotts Bluff and Chimney Rock.
Chimney Rock is a single finger of rock, about 500 feet high, which stands along the famous Oregon Trail. It is a famous landmark, and an interesting sight to see, if you happen to be passing through the area. I would budget about 5 minutes to see this landmark. The best times to go are just after sunrise, or just before sunset. There's a visitor's center near the site, as well, operated by the Nebraska State Historical Society. Admission is $1 per person, to a small museum. When I visited, the visitor center was already closed, so I don't know exactly what was inside. The $1 admission charge does not, however, allow you to go anywhere near the rock. The view is just fine from the road, and there's plenty of opportunity for some interesting photos with a gigantic spire of rock.
Just down the road (about 20 miles) is Scotts Bluff National Monument. This site is geologically very similar to Chimney rock, except that the bluffs are actually still quite sizable, and you can drive up to the top. From the top, you can see for miles - all the way back to Chimney Rock (which stands out quite nicely on the horizon) and then some. People afraid of heights should probably skip this monument, as there are no railing at the top, and the drop is quite precipitous. The visitor's center at the base of the monument is mostly vestigial - if you don't need to stop in the bathroom, don't even bother going inside.
North of Scotts Bluff are the Agate Fossil Beds. Located in perhaps the most remote place of any national park service location, this site is at least twenty five miles from the nearest sign of civilization. There is literally nothing along the road leading there - not a single structure of any kind. (Make sure to gas up your car ahead of time.) When you arrive there, be sure to check out the visitor's center - it's exactly the opposite from Scotts Bluff: all the good stuff is indoors. You'll have the opportunity to learn about the history of the site, and examine some fossils close up. When you go venturing out into the countryside around the site, you'll see some nice scenery, and get some good exercise, but there's not too much in the way of fossils to see sticking out of the ground.
Overall, I'd recommend going somewhat out of your way to see Scotts Bluff, and Chimney Rock is pretty much right there, too. But unless you're going from there up towards Rapid City and Mt. Rushmore (Agate is right on the way), Agate probably isn't worth the trip out of the way.
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
ErgoPropterHoc
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Location: Evanston, IL
Reviews written: 71
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