Western Trails Byways - The Most Scenic Drives in America: 120 Spectacular Road Trips - page 630

8. Lake Minatare
A short side trip leads to Lake Minatare, one of Nebraska's most popular outdoor spots.
The 2,000-acre lake boasts superb fishing for walleye, crappie, and bass; good camping;
and one of Nebraska's two “lighthouses”—the other is at Ashland—a 55-foot-tall observa-
tion tower on a spit of land that juts out into the lake. Park at Lighthouse Point for a good
view of the shores of Lake Minatare. Nebraska State Park entry permit required.
9. Wildcat Hills Recreation Area
Whethertheycomeforhiking,camping,orscenery,visitorsatthisrecreationareawon'tbe
disappointed. Encompassing 935 acres of rocky buttes and forested canyons, Wildcat Hills
offers three miles of rugged hiking trails, stone shelters with fireplaces, and magnificent
views of the North Platte River valley. At the adjoining Big Game Reserve, elk, deer, and
bison sometimes venture close enough to the fence to be photographed.
The Wildcat Hills Nature Center is open Memorial Day to Labor Day. To learn about
the unique flora and fauna of the Wildcat Hills area, swing by the Wildcat Hills Nature
Center. There, visitors can view the spectacular wildlife—including whitetail and mule
deer, wild turkey, bobcats, coyotes, and elk—from observations decks that surround the
building.
10. Scotts Bluff National Monument
It first appears as a dot on the horizon. But the fact that it loomed in the distance for
days told approaching pioneers that—whatever it was—it had to be big. When they finally
reached this huge mound of clay, sandstone, and volcanic ash, they were awed by its di-
mensions: over 800 feet high and half a mile wide.
Fur traders had named the site Scotts Bluff, after a fellow trapper who had died there
mysteriously duringan1828expedition. ButitsIndianname,meaning“thehillthatishard
to go around,” was far more apt. Forced to detour around the badlands that lay between the
bluff and the North Platte, wagons moved in a single file through a narrow shortcut called
Mitchell Pass, which still displays ruts etched there more than a century ago. For a breath-
taking view, take Summit Road to the top of the bluff.