Search results
Toadstool Park in 1905. Toadstool Geologic Park is located in the Oglala National Grassland in far northwestern Nebraska. It is operated by the United States Forest Service. It contains a badlands landscape and a reconstructed sod house. [1]
- One Trail to Rule Them All
- A Few Hundred Yards Down The Path The Above Sign appears.
- The Interpretive Loop — Toadstool Geologic Park
- As You Climb Into The Buttes…
- The Bison Trail — Toadstool Geologic Park
- The Toadstool Cg Trail
- After Passing Through A Gate…
- Here Is Where We Break Away from The Designated Trail
- This Is My Confession
- A View Not For Sale — Toadstool Geologic Park
If you come all the way to Toadstool Geologic Park, you are going to want to hike. The park has three primary trails: The Interpretive Loop (1 mile), the Bison Trail (3 miles), and the Toadstool Park CG(4.8 miles). The way these trails intermingle is unclear, so I’ll draw a crude map (because I can’t find one anywhere), then take a few sentences to...
If you want to loop around the entire park turn here and head down the above shown path. It will appear as if you are leaving the park on this trail, but you are going around the end of it and up the northern side. The Toadstool Geologic Park CG (4.8 miles) will include all three trails. This is the best path to pick if you want to see everything t...
The Interpretive Loop is a short trail that gives a suitable feel for what Toadstool Geologic Park has to offer. You will see many of the toadstool-shaped features, walk along some elevated trails, and the excursion won’t wear you out. We would guess most folks do this trail. A five minute walk from the campground will place you in the “playground”...
You will see additional toadstools and interesting clay formations. Atop the first hill you will be treated to this spectacular view: Eventually you will walk down the ridges of the buttes toward the campground. The first time we visited the park we walked this trail and left. The children were happy with their experience. We got some nice photos. ...
The Bison Trail at Toadstool Geologic Park meanders between the buttes and hoodoos from one corner of the park to the other. As you trace along the washout you will observe many unusual formations and geologic processes. Along the way you will encounter this sign: You will not need a stamp for re-entry. Only the scenery changes when you pass the si...
The Toadstool Geologic Park CG Trail winds around the large butte-mountain that anchors the corner of the park. Within minutes you will find yourself isolated amidst some interesting terrain. As you examine your surroundings you might hear a coyote howl. Then another. Then several more. You might imagine yourself fighting a pack of coyotes, punchin...
Wait. A gate? You will find yourself wandering toward the hinterlands. The scenery is stark here, like the barren landscape of a distant planet. Eventually the interesting landscape will give way to what you see below. Looking across the yellow landscape toward the distant mountains you will notice the trail markers arc away from Toadstool Geologic...
We understand if you are uncomfortable with this. You can continue toward the Great Plains Trail by following the trail markers. It will be a long dusty walk, perhaps (probably) dull, but eventually it will connect with the Bison Trail on the far side of the park. However, if you want to stand at the very top of the park and look down over all of i...
I’ve taken to collecting rocks. I’m not painting them or anything ridiculous (yet), but they are collecting in a bowl that is growing heavy. They come from the trails we hike and the regions we visit. Judge me if you must. As you fill your hands with colorful rocks, you may consider a rock tumbler purchase. Just think of the beautiful gems you coul...
Why did they not run a path up here? The best vista in the park and they steer you far away from it. I wish the sky were a different color, and I wish the grass wasn’t yellow. It’s been hazy in these parts lately. This is a big, beautiful view and our photos don’t do it justice. At this point we’re probably two miles in. If you look down into the p...
The Toadstool trail takes you by all kinds of unique formations, and you truly get to climb your way around. Hiking boots are recommended! The trails are well marked and the descent back to the parking lot is so fun.
- (108)
- Attraction
Toadstool Geologic Park is an excellent place to stop at while in the area! It offers the opportunity to hike among and atop the toadstools either by following a designated trail or just freely. They also offer maps that you can follow, which provide markers for interesting features/history.
- (108)
- Attraction
What a fantastic place to hike and explore, easy to moderate for all of the trails, with beautiful panoramic vistas, unique geological formations, and abundant wildlife. . This is one of the best places I have gone for solo hiking in years.
- (108)
- Attraction
The Toadstool trail takes you by all kinds of unique formations, and you truly get to climb your way around. Hiking boots are recommended! The trails are well marked and the descent back to the parking lot is so fun.
Many wildflowers await the visitor to this unique geological feature. Species encountered in the spring are Missouri milk vetch (Astragalus missouriensis), shell-leaf penstemon (Penstemon grandiflorus), gumbo lily (Oenothera caespitosa), and death camas (Zigadenus spp.).
