Land & Water Trails of Harlan County

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Harlan County Tourism worked in partnership to build a new 470-acre ATV and dirtbike trail at the southeast corner of the dam, south of Republican City.  The trail was funded by the Federal Highway Administration's Recreational Trails Program through the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, along with many community supporters, listed here: 

The trail's conceptual design was created by Steve Uhles of Cloud Peak Trail Services; field design and construction were by the U.S. Forest Service Enterprise Program, Trails Unlimited.

The Cedar Run ATV Trail received the Best New Tourism Attraction award in 2010 from the Nebraska Division of Travel and Tourism.

Check trail conditions and opening/closing information at the "Call Before You Haul" Hotline: 308-799-2105.

Peckerneck Horse Trail

Located on the south side of Harlan County Lake, the Peckerneck Horse Trail stretches from Alma Vista to Sindt Point Loop and back and is well-marked.  There is no fee to use the trail. 

The trail is privately maintained by unpaid volunteers, and visitors are simply asked to leave the trail and its surrounding environment in as good a condition as when they arrived. 

The trailhead is at Alma Vista, which is just south of the Highway 183 bridge as you head south out of Alma (the first left turn immediately to the south of the bridge takes you into the parking lot for Alma Vista and the horse trail). 

More information about the horse trail is available from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers at 308-799-2105 or from horse trail volunteer Dave Wolf dbwolf@megavision.com or 308-920-3120. 

For a recent e-magazine story about the horse trail, including an explanation of the curious name, visit http://www.nebraskaruralliving.com/essays/peckerneck.asp

Republican River Canoe/Tubing Trail

The Republican River as it flows through Harlan County is slow-moving, braided, and beautiful, with a wide variety of birds and other forms of wildlife typically seen along the way. A rather unique site along the river above Naponee is an area where the bank was, long ago, reinforced with the bodies of antique automobiles. 

On the International Scale of River Difficulty, the Republican River in Nebraska is rated as Class I: Easy.  Thousands of tubers typically travel the section of river from the Harlan County Dam to Naponee during the summer months, especially on the summer holiday weekends.

Water levels in the river are significantly impacted by dry or wet weather conditions during the year, and flow below the Harlan County Dam depends on the amount of water being released from the dam.  The most current online data available regarding the cubic feet per second (cfs) of water being released from the dam is listed on the Bureau of Reclamation website , however, flow rates can change very quickly, and it is always a good idea to contact the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers at Harlan Lake, 308-799-2105, prior to your canoeing or tubing trip. 

A map of the river trail from Harlan County Dam to Superior --including parking, camping, and access sites--is available from the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission .

Estimated travel times for various segments of the river, as well as a complete guide for canoeing on Nebraska water trails, is also available by navigating from the NGPC website listed above.

Alma Motocross Track

The Alma Motocross Track is one of four on the circuit of the Cornhusker Motocross Association, with several races scheduled locally throughout the year. The first race is generally scheduled in very early spring. For a race schedule, visit Cornhusker Motocross online or contact the local sponsor, the Orleans Lions Club, at 308-928-2503.

The motocross track is open to the public for riding motorcycles or ATVs on days other than race days. The track is located 2.5 miles south and 2.5 miles west of Alma on Hwy. 89.

River's Edge Nature Trail

The River’s Edge Nature Trail is located along the Republican River within North Outlet Park. This trail winds through the river bottom forest and is well maintained with many trees identified by markers.

Pheasant Ridge Walking/Biking Trail

The Pheasant Ridge Trail is a concrete trail on the north side of Harlan County Lake. The west end of the trail is at the gazebo located just off Highway 183 on South Street in Alma. The trail winds through scenic tree-lined and open areas at the lake's edge. The east end of the trail is located at the parking lot for the Methodist Cove boat dock. The PDF brochure includes a trail map.