Pine Tree Express: A Historic Route in Nebraska's Sandhills Region
The Pine Tree Express is a scenic route that spans across the Sandhills region of central Nebraska. The route, covering over 300 miles, winds its way through rolling hills of loblolly and jack pines that characterize this unique geographic area. From Valentine in Cherry County to Burwell in Garfield County, the Pine Tree Express traverses this extensive and ecologically significant region, straddling four federal and several state-managed districts.
The Nebraska Department of Economic Development and the Association for the Conservation of Great Plains Ancestral Lands co-established this route, recognizing both the area's status as an ecologically sensitive home to vital wildlife habitats and the remnants of the Overland Trail's Kethaun Trail section that traverse it. Because of this rich mix of diverse ecosystems and historical undertones, the journey attracts recreationists, campers, paddlers, nature enthusiasts, as well as environmentally centered research projects.
Although relatively off the beaten path compared to some of the more explored geographic landscapes within Nebraska, the presence of wetland sites provides ideal feeding zones for sandhill cranes migrating annually to the near vicinity. A brief side trip to the Windmill Point Canoe Access that accesses Lake Ansley state and Wet Prairie Reserves across Lake McConaughy can add a more leisure, experiential angle, embracing the region's role as crucial migrational juncture; by continuing our tour down the White Pelican Wildlife area region located along Platte River can expose insights on conservation works further executed.
Travel along this road is relatively smooth through rolling terrain of bluffs by the region of the high plains ecosystem. However, short interludes traversing smaller wet-prairie natural area reserves can often be tumultuous for drivers after significant recent rain. Alternatively those sections may add opportunities paddling, especially closer to lakes on north areas of route such water sports abound and are available close by with each smaller nature-filled parks.
The presence of Fort Niobrade Fruntier Village near the part of state-managed national natural Area the Forts Niobrade national wildlife reserve along route shares glimpses of cultural heritages among existing wildlife study. Those could add an interesting interlude worth considering incorporating during the excursions.
While certainly available, amenities at some places in this particular sub-section, are relatively limited; as the immediate surrounding rural heart of this district lies and can well not assist unseasoned travelers much, keeping it high on their sight-searh agendas without diligent route plan. The very rustic nature of journey could be significantly rewarding under right set of planning for several day getaways.
While crossing central sections of designated Sandhills water route would put drivers with a multitude unsearchable lakes like Cline or Soudan, the whole route however, on a dry season it looks best for roaming across, this part of upper wetland stretches need an elevated approach to spot these lakes.
The Nebraska Department of Economic Development and the Association for the Conservation of Great Plains Ancestral Lands co-established this route, recognizing both the area's status as an ecologically sensitive home to vital wildlife habitats and the remnants of the Overland Trail's Kethaun Trail section that traverse it. Because of this rich mix of diverse ecosystems and historical undertones, the journey attracts recreationists, campers, paddlers, nature enthusiasts, as well as environmentally centered research projects.
Although relatively off the beaten path compared to some of the more explored geographic landscapes within Nebraska, the presence of wetland sites provides ideal feeding zones for sandhill cranes migrating annually to the near vicinity. A brief side trip to the Windmill Point Canoe Access that accesses Lake Ansley state and Wet Prairie Reserves across Lake McConaughy can add a more leisure, experiential angle, embracing the region's role as crucial migrational juncture; by continuing our tour down the White Pelican Wildlife area region located along Platte River can expose insights on conservation works further executed.
Travel along this road is relatively smooth through rolling terrain of bluffs by the region of the high plains ecosystem. However, short interludes traversing smaller wet-prairie natural area reserves can often be tumultuous for drivers after significant recent rain. Alternatively those sections may add opportunities paddling, especially closer to lakes on north areas of route such water sports abound and are available close by with each smaller nature-filled parks.
The presence of Fort Niobrade Fruntier Village near the part of state-managed national natural Area the Forts Niobrade national wildlife reserve along route shares glimpses of cultural heritages among existing wildlife study. Those could add an interesting interlude worth considering incorporating during the excursions.
While certainly available, amenities at some places in this particular sub-section, are relatively limited; as the immediate surrounding rural heart of this district lies and can well not assist unseasoned travelers much, keeping it high on their sight-searh agendas without diligent route plan. The very rustic nature of journey could be significantly rewarding under right set of planning for several day getaways.
While crossing central sections of designated Sandhills water route would put drivers with a multitude unsearchable lakes like Cline or Soudan, the whole route however, on a dry season it looks best for roaming across, this part of upper wetland stretches need an elevated approach to spot these lakes.
