GAWR Segment 4 (Plains)

When to go

• Late spring to early fall – severe weather with tornadoes is always a threat with spring being the highest risk

Logistics

• Transport to Edgemont, SD can be tricky due to the remoteness of the town. Rapid City, SD is probably the closest airport to Edgemont and using the Mickelson Trail from the Black Hills is probably the best option.  
• Gaining access to Perry, IA is relatively easy by flying into Des Moines, IA and riding one of the many bike paths that intersect in Perry. The Des Moines airport is a modern airport with rental cars available.
• Omaha, NE is a major city along the route with a modern airport, rental cars and U-hauls available throughout the city. There are also shuttle services available in Norfolk, Nebraska for the Cowboy Trail portion of this segment.

Dangers and Annoyances

• Dogs – dogs may be encountered anywhere along the route especially in rural areas where owners don’t properly contain them. It is recommended that you carry pepper spray, an air horn, etc. to help deter them. Dogs have been encountered in rural Washington, Montana, Ohio and West Virginia but can be found anywhere.
• Ad-hoc route deviations – The ability and skill to reroute due to flooding, fires, weather, construction, etc. will enhance your ride and improve your odds of completing the adventure. 

Travel basics

• Rapid City, SD, Omaha, NE and Des Moines, IA airports are options. 
• U.S. Visa requirements – U.S. Tourism & Visit Visa

What bike?

• Any comfortable endurance, gravel, adventure, touring type bike that can carry your gear and is durable. You will most likely experience mechanicals due to the length and gravel conditions of the route. Know basic skills and be able to find a bike shop when necessary. You may have to rig a solution until you get to the shop.
• Tire size – 40 mm to 2.2 inches with durable compounds and less aggressive tread patterns are recommended.
• Gearing – at least a 1:1 gear ratio between the crank and cassette for the lowest gear. Lower is better.
• Suspension – many riders have completed the route without any suspension components. Stem and seat suspensions may provide additional comfort depending on riders’ preferences. Knowing how to and when to adjust your tire pressure for different riding conditions is probably more important than having suspension components. 

• Campgrounds and established campsites are readily available along this segment of the route including state park campgrounds in Nebraska. Many of the small towns in the Midwest allow camping in their town parks but check with local officials before camping. Many prominent options are noted in the downloadable GPX file and the available services spreadsheet, but there are more. 
• In the western section of this segment, there are ample opportunities to camp on public lands that include National Forest, Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and National Grass Lands. You will also legally ride through private land areas on public accessible roads and paths. Understanding whether you are on public or private lands is imperative especially while camping. Private land ownership is taken very seriously in the United States so it is of most importance that you understand when you will or won’t trespass on private lands along the entire route. The Gaia GPS app is a good app for determining potential public lands where camping is legal.
• If wild camping is a must, we recommend setting up after dusk and leaving at dawn. Churches, parks, and other public places are usually safe options, but use your own judgment and leave no trace.
• There are hotels/motels/lodging in Crawford, Chadron, Rushville, Gordon, Valintine, Ainsworth, Bassett, Stuart, Neligh, Norfolk, Wisner, West Point, Omaha, NE, Avoca, Audubon and Perry, IA.

• Filtering water is not necessary on this segment of the route except potentially in the western section between Edgemont, South Dakota and Hay Springs, Nebraska. Water and resupply are available in Crawford and Chadron but even filterable water outside of these towns can be difficult to find especially in the approximately 60 miles between Edgemont South Dakota and Crawford, Nebraska. Water is available in most towns along the route and riders have also asked local residents for water and most are more than happy to accommodate. Ask before using private water sources. There are a fair number of resupply options on this route, as noted in the POIs of the downloadable GPX file and the available services spreadsheet. 
• Churches are a good source of drinking water as there are usually spigots available. Make sure to ask if there is someone on site.
• The main resupply points with significant options are Crawford, Chadron, Hay Springs, Rushville, Gordon, Cody, Valentine, Woodlake, Ainsworth, Long Pine, Bassett, Newport, Stuart, Atkinson, O’Neill, Ewing, Clearwater, Neligh, Norfolk, Stanton, Wisner, West Point, Fort Calhoun, Omaha, Nebraska, Neola, Minden, Avoca, Walnut, Exira, Audubon, and Perry, IA.

There are a few recommended places for food and drink. West to East include: 

• Grab an Ice Cream at the Dairy Sweet in Crawford, NE
• Have a Twisted Turtle Pub custom pizza in Rushville, NE
• Sample the beer at the Bolo Beer Company, Valentine, NE
• Meet the matriarchs of Wood Lake, NE at Grandma’s Playhouse and Ice Cream and enjoy some complimentary baked goods with your ice cream while have fascinating conversations.
• Have a fresh and juicy hamburger at the D&B Café in Ainsworth, NE
• Order a hearty meal at the Cast Iron Bar & Grille in Stuart, NE
• Indulge in the best BLT you will ever have at the Neligh Deli in Neligh, NE.
• Have a stack of their enormous pancakes at The Rustic in Fort Calhoun, NE  
• Try Dorothy Lynch salad dressing in most restaurants in Nebraska. It’s a Nebraska staple and you won’t regret it. 
• Just order the special. It will be good and filling at The Feed Mill Restaurant in Audubon, IA

Here’s an example itinerary based on 60 to 100-mile days. Some riders might prefer shorter days, while others may average longer distances, but this is a solid baseline that a thru-rider might consider for a reasonable bikepacking itinerary. This assumes you’re a fairly seasoned rider carrying a medium load.

location Edgemont, SD to Chadron, NE

Day 1 (69 mi +2,100 ft)

Say goodbye to South Dakota and hello to Nebraska as the route leaves the Black Hills and enters the Great Plains. Views in the Oglala National Grasslands are expansive, with seemingly endless plains flowing over gently rolling hills.

The route passes Toadstool Geological Park, where camping is available, though water is not. Camping with water and services can be found at Fort Robinson State Park just outside of Crawford. Continuing on to Chadron provides full services, including lodging.

location Chadron, NE to Gordon, NE

Day 2 (55 mi +2,250 ft)

Leaving Chadron, the route heads south into the Nebraska National Forest, where dispersed camping is an option. It then loops back to Highway 20, weaving between the highway and the Cowboy Rail Trail.
Highway 20 offers a generous shoulder, but the expansion cracks every 20 yards create a jolt that can become wearing over time. The route passes through the small town of Hay Springs, where camping is allowed in Sunset Park. Gordon offers many necessary services, including lodging.

location Gordon, NE to Valentine, NE

Day 3 (92 mi +1,900 ft)

After leaving Gordon, the route continues on Highway 20 and enters the unique northwest Nebraska landscape known as the Sandhills. This region is defined by stabilized sand dunes and mixed-grass prairie. Covering more than 19,000 square miles, it is one of the largest intact native grassland ecosystems in the United States, featuring shallow lakes, wetlands, and abundant wildlife.

The small town of Cody provides the only major resupply opportunity along this stretch, with services and camping available in the town park. Valentine is a decently sized town with most services, including lodging and camping in the city park.

location Valentine, NE to Stuart, NE

Day 4 (88 mi +700 ft)

Valentine serves as the western terminus of the Cowboy Rail Trail. From here, the route follows the Cowboy Trail, which is mostly flat and continuous all the way to Norfolk, nearly 200 miles away.

Shortly after leaving Valentine, the trail crosses the Niobrara River via the Niobrara Bridge, offering stunning views of the river valley some 150 feet below. The Cowboy Trail passes through many small towns spaced roughly 10 miles apart, originally established as water stops for steam locomotives. These towns offer a variety of services, with many allowing camping in town parks.

Be sure to stop at Grandma’s Fun House and Ice Cream Shop in Wood Lake and visit with the town’s matriarchs. The conversation, ice cream, baked goods, and jams are often a cherished memory. Newport is home to a well-known pool hall that has long supported touring cyclists and is worth a visit.

location Stuart, NE to Norfolk, NE

Day 5 (103 mi +360 ft)

This is a long day, but with flat surfaces and peak fitness, the miles tend to come easily. The Cowboy Trail remains in good condition, aside from a few minor soft spots with excessive crushed limestone.

Stop at the Neligh Deli in downtown Neligh for an excellent meal and break. Numerous small towns along the trail offer camping, lodging, and resupply. Water towers and grain elevators are often visible from afar, signaling that services are close at hand.

Norfolk is a large town with full services and marks the eastern terminus of the Cowboy Trail.

location Norfolk, NE to West Point, NE

Day 6 (48 mi +380 ft)

A short day on quality gravel roads, with a couple of resupply opportunities and camping near Wisner at River Park Campground. Riders will need to detour slightly off route and cross the Elkhorn River to reach services in West Point.

This abbreviated day sets up a longer ride into Omaha.

location West Point, NE to Omaha, NE

Day 7 (83 mi +3,400 ft)

A longer day of riding leads into the metropolitan area of Omaha. The route leaves the Elkhorn River Valley, crosses a series of ridges, and drops into the Missouri River Valley. Expect plentiful gravel roads and constant climbing, with terrain resembling a rolling roller coaster.

This section offers a preview of the riding found in western Iowa. Fort Calhoun is an excellent resupply stop, and the Rustic Restaurant serves an outstanding menu for hungry riders.

The route follows the Missouri River into downtown Omaha, where plentiful lodging is available. After encountering many Lewis and Clark historical sites earlier in the route, Omaha provides an excellent deep dive into their expedition at the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail Headquarters and Visitor Center along the downtown riverfront.

location Omaha, NE to Avoca, IA

Day 8 (52 mi +1,200 ft)

Leaving Omaha, the route immediately crosses the Missouri River on the Bob Kerrey Pedestrian Bridge (often referred to as “The Bob”), entering Iowa roughly halfway across. This is arguably one of the best Missouri river crossings in the United States for cyclists.

In Council Bluffs, the route passes several casinos that may be worth a stop if luck is on your side. The remainder of the day winds through suburbs on bike paths and eventually makes its way to quiet backcountry roads surrounded by picturesque farmland.

location Avoca, IA to Audubon, IA

Day 9 (63 mi +2,500 ft)

Iowa’s hills and gravel roads make their presence known immediately, with near-constant climbing and coasting. The state’s grid layout means roads run straight but rarely flat.

Stop in the quaint town of Walnut, known for its antique shops. The final miles of the day follow the T-Bone Rail Trail, which provides a noticeably flatter ride compared to the previous 40 miles.

location Audubon, IA to Perry, IA

Day 10 (58 mi +2,600 ft)

After leaving Audubon, home of Albert the Bull, the world’s largest bull, the route delivers another healthy dose of Iowa gravel and climbing. The first 25 miles are particularly demanding, with most grades ranging from 6% to 9%.

Eventually, the route joins the flat, paved Raccoon River Valley Trail and follows it all the way to Perry. A stay at the historic Hotel Pattee, especially in the RAGBRAI-themed bicycle room can be a memorable treat for the long distances previously ridden.

• Here is a comprehensive list of lodging and resupply locations along the entire route. There is also a tab for specific information on individual rail trail segments.
• Visit the Great American Wheel Adventure Facebook page to connect to other riders and racers.