The Saddle Rock Trail at Scotts Bluff National Monument is one of the most popular hiking trails in the State of Nebraska. Offering views of the Oregon Trail route, the local cities of Scottsbluff and Gering, and distant landmarks like Chimney Rock, it’s easy to see why it is so beloved. Unfortunately, time and erosion have taken their toll on the trail surface.
From Monday, June 24th through Friday, June 28th crews from the regional Maintenance Action Team (MAT), funded through the Legacy Restoration Fund, will be working to repair and rehabilitate the Saddle Rock Trail. Many MAT projects involve volunteers and Youth and Veteran Service Corps, exposing the next generation of public service workers to opportunities in the National Park Service. Not only are these MAT projects helping address maintenance and infrastructure needs, but they’re also bringing new professionals into the Service from the ground up. This multifaceted approach is taking care of our assets today while simultaneously building a workforce that will become National Park Service stewards well into the future. With this MAT model, the National Park Service dedicated over $57 million from the Legacy Restoration Fund in fiscal year 2023, to complete more than 180 maintenance projects at 140 park units throughout the country.
The MAT crew visiting Scotts Bluff National Monument will remove rockfall and other debris from the Saddle Rock Trail, improve trail drainage, and apply cold patch asphalt on the surface of damaged sections of the trail. To give the crew an opportunity to work in a safe and uninterrupted
environment, the Saddle Rock Trail will be closed from 7am until 3:30pm each day from 6/24 through 6/28. Other trails in the monument will remain open.
For more information about Scotts Bluff National Monument, please call 308-436-9700 or visit our website at http://www.nps.gov/scbl/index.htm or Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/scottsbluffnps.
