Named Summits on Public Lands
The purpose of this section is to provide access information for named summits on public lands in western Nebraska. Named summits provide climbers identifiable objectives. These summits range from quite easy to very difficult. Please keep in mind there can be dangers in the forms of unstable dead trees in burn areas, crumbly rock hazards, weather-related hazards, rattlesnakes, ticks, getting lost, and even possibly a rare encounter with a mountain lion. Please check our Hiking & Safety Tips page for more information. Many of these summits require bushwhacking skills because there are trails to the tops of only a few. Some of the more difficult summits require excellent scrambling skills. Unfortunately, technical climbing is quite limited due to the soft nature of much of the rock composition, and a scarcity of good trees or boulders for other anchors.
Click on the climbing photo to access a YouTube video about the four classes of rock scrambling. (photo by Greg Pak)
Good topo maps and forest service maps, along with the ability to read and understand all details, are essential. Each of these pages has a link to a map or else a map image included on the page. In some cases, links to additional information are included. To learn more about each of the summits below, click on its photo. Each page will include as much information as we have about that summit. Unnamed Nebraska summits on public lands abound and can be accessed at least in part from many of the trails and old roads. Topo and terrain maps are available online at Lists of John and MappingSupport.com. These sites can give the hiker-climber an overhead view of potential climbing destinations and possible access routes. Brief information about named summits on private lands is at the bottom of this page.
Click on the climbing photo to access a YouTube video about the four classes of rock scrambling. (photo by Greg Pak)
Good topo maps and forest service maps, along with the ability to read and understand all details, are essential. Each of these pages has a link to a map or else a map image included on the page. In some cases, links to additional information are included. To learn more about each of the summits below, click on its photo. Each page will include as much information as we have about that summit. Unnamed Nebraska summits on public lands abound and can be accessed at least in part from many of the trails and old roads. Topo and terrain maps are available online at Lists of John and MappingSupport.com. These sites can give the hiker-climber an overhead view of potential climbing destinations and possible access routes. Brief information about named summits on private lands is at the bottom of this page.
Named Summits on Private Lands
Photo at left: Climbers reach the summit of Crow Butte in Dawes County.
(photo is courtesy of Greg Pak)
To view the Crow Butte page, click on the photo.
There are quite a few outstanding named summits on private lands. Because of the widely varying policies of individual owners there is no way to provide access information for this complex category. Hikers interested in any of these private summits will need to work out their own agreements with property owners.
The gallery below shows a variety of named summits on private lands in Nebraska's panhandle region:
(photo is courtesy of Greg Pak)
To view the Crow Butte page, click on the photo.
There are quite a few outstanding named summits on private lands. Because of the widely varying policies of individual owners there is no way to provide access information for this complex category. Hikers interested in any of these private summits will need to work out their own agreements with property owners.
The gallery below shows a variety of named summits on private lands in Nebraska's panhandle region:
