Scott’s Bluff National Monument was our primary destination for today. Scott’s Bluff should not be confused with Scottsbluff, a small city on the eastern slope of Scott’s Bluff which is a massive projection of sandstone, siltstone and volcanic ash that has endured longer than the surrounding plains. Back when extraordinarily durable people driving wooden wagons pulled by oxen were traveling west for free stuff, like land and gold, they would see Scott’s Bluff as the first visible landmark since they left the Missouri River frontier town of St. Joseph. It is a long walk.
The Bluff sticks up 800 feet above the Platte River which meanders along the north Monument border. There is a saddle where the current Oregon Trail Road passes through the Bluff and that’s where the wagons went because going around the bluffs meant getting into the boggy sections and deep sand along the Platte. Oregon Trail is also the road we took to get to the only entrance into the Monument.
We used our geezer pass to enter the park, saving five bucks. We took the very serpentine road through three curved tunnels and along some truly impressive drop-offs on our way up to the top of Scott’s Bluff. Scottsbluff was visible right at the foot of the Bluff but not much else because the air is clogged with dense smoke emanating from some horrible fires occurring in the adjacent state of Colorado. However, even with reduced air quality, the views are breathtaking and maybe some day we will get back to enjoy them when visibility isn’t so crummy.
Peggy raided the Visitor Center and Bookstore but we escaped without getting impoverished. She is very good that way.
We got a few pictures of the Bluff. See them by clicking the asterisk *