Nebraska
The Least-Crowded Towns In Nebraska To Catch Fall Foliage
Though Nebraska might not be one of the most well-known fall foliage destinations in the US, scattered throughout the Cornhusker State’s rolling prairie lands are forested landscapes saturated with autumn colors. Set amid these festive seasonal backdrops are some of Nebraska’s most delightful destinations: cozy villages and charming communities where visitors can scope the season’s brightest hues. From High Plains locales like Chadron to Sandhill spots like Valentine, these are the least-crowded towns in Nebraska to catch autumn colors.
Nebraska City
Nebraska City is a small, picturesque town in Southeastern Nebraska. The oldest incorporated city in the state, Nebraska City honors its rich heritage with attractions like the Missouri River Basin Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center. Nebraska City is also the home of Arbor Day and commemorates the holiday at sites like Arbor Lodge State Historical Park at Arbor Day Farm.
The home of Arbor Day has plenty of tree-filled locations to enjoy the breathtaking Nebraska seasonal hues. Arbor Lodge State Historical Park encompasses over 65 acres of wooded land bordering Nebraska City and is a wonderful place to spot some of the season’s best hues, while destinations like the Steamboat Trace Trail offer hiking and biking on tree-lined paths awash with color. However, the best spot to indulge in Nebraska City’s brilliant colors is Arbor Day Farm. Comprising 260 acres of stunning natural beauty, the historic haven is home to Arbor Lodge State Historical Park and hosts many autumn activities like apple picking, cider tasting, Oktoberfest at Steinhart Lodge, and the famed Apple Jack Festival on the last two weekends in September.
Nebraska City is expected to reach its fall foliage peak during the last week of October. At this time, visitors can explore the region’s brightest reds, oranges, and yellows at Arbor Day Farm. Popular October activities include Arbor Lodge Mansion’s Living History Weekends, Apple House Market, and lovely walking trails like Doug’s Trail and the Conservation Trail. Union Orchard and Kimmel Orchard & Vineyard also have a festive line-up of fall activities throughout October.
While Arbor Day Farm is one of Nebraska City’s best locales for scoping colorful fall foliage, destinations like Riverview Park, River County Park, Kearney Hill Park, and Steinhart Park are walkable downtown spots to enjoy some of Nebraska City’s best panoramic vistas without the seasonal crowds.
Chadron
Chadron is a darling Nebraska small town known for its abundant heritage and picturesque High Plains landscapes. Once a fur-trading outpost, Chadron is awash with history, which is evident throughout its Commercial Historic District, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Signature attractions like the Museum of the Fur Trade and the Mari Sandoz High Plains Heritage Center also offer an in-depth glimpse into the Dawes County town’s rich cultural tapestry.
However, there is more to this High Plains community than its history. Home to Nebraska’s first state park—the eponymous Chadron State Park—Chadron is an off-the-beaten-track autumn scenery destination worthy of the most devoted leaf peepers. Additionally, Chadron’s northwest Nebraska location means a slightly earlier peak season beginning in mid-October.
Explore Chadron’s most vibrant peak season hues with a visit to Chadron State Park. Surrounded by lush trees and bordered by Forest Service lands, the state park is also home to miles of hiking and biking trails, wildlife watching, and spectacular scenic vistas of the Pine Ridge region. Chadron State College’s campus is another Chadron locale where visitors can enjoy beautiful tree-lined paths amid the site’s cultural and educational institutions.
A Great Plains community like Chadron may not be famed for its colorful, leafy backdrops. And yet, it is still one of Nebraska’s least crowded fall foliage destinations because of lovely places like Chadron State Park and the surrounding Nebraska National Forest. Here, visitors can bask in the beautiful small town’s wooded areas scattered throughout its signature pine landscapes. To enjoy more fall fun in the Chadron region, visit its Harvest Moon Festival in October or travel to nearby Crawford for Haunted Halloween at Fort Robinson State Park (another great area location for fall foliage).
Harrison
Harrison is a pretty Northwestern Nebraska town in Sioux County. Designated “Nebraska’s Top Town,” Harrison is one of the highest towns in Nebraska at 4,876 feet above sea level. Harrison’s small-town charm creates the ideal backdrop for any fall escape, whether it is walking the town’s historic streets with a Sole to Soul Walking Tour or exploring the enchanting regional landscapes.
Harrison’s Sioux County locale is close to two Nebraska Scenic Byways that are great ways to explore the area’s burgeoning autumn landscapes during peak color season, from early to mid-October. The Bridges to Buttes Scenic Byway on US 20 begins in Harrison and winds through some of the state’s most diverse landscapes—from forests to bluffs, towering buttes to rolling hills. Picturesque stops along this route include lovely small towns like Chadron and Valentine and a leaf-peeper’s paradise at the Pine Ridge Region of the Nebraska National Forest, Fort Robinson State Park, and Chadron State Park.
Road-trippers can also combine a drive on the Bridge to Buttes Scenic Byway with a breathtaking exploration of the Gold Rush Byway. Beginning in Chadron, this stretch of Highway 385 is known as one of America’s most scenic and historic roads. It also includes some of Nebraska’s most spectacular natural settings—perfect for viewing the state’s richest autumn hues. Gurley is another epic day trip just two hours from Harrison. A charming Cheyenne County gem, Gurley is home to Fanny’s Fruit Farm & Pumpkin Patch, a quaint destination for autumn activities and family fun.
Valentine
Valentine is located in Nebraska’s Sandhills region in lovely Cherry County. And while the area may be known for its history—think Cherry County institutions like the Centennial Hall Museum and the Cherry County Historical Society Museum—Valentine itself is famed for some of the Cornhusker State’s most scenic backdrops.
Set amid a breathtaking Niobrara River setting, Valentine’s leafy landscapes are even prettier in autumn. Additionally, there are many opportunities for outdoor recreation set amid Valentine’s multi-hued backdrop, such as hiking at Niobrara National Scenic River, bison watching at Fort Niobrara National Wildlife Refuge, and hunting, camping, and stargazing at Merritt Reservoir State Recreation Area. Destinations like Smith Falls State Park and Snake River Falls are also home to picturesque waterfalls that are even more beautiful to behold when viewed against October’s bright fall colors.
Like many parts of Nebraska, Valentine is expected to reach its peak autumn colors in mid-October. To take advantage of the season’s best and most vivid colors, consider visiting popular locales in and around the Niobrara River. Scenic vantage points like the Cowboy Trail, an almost 200-mile trail with wooden decked bridges, offer some of the area’s best panoramic views and are ideal for autumn hiking and biking. To celebrate more Valentine-style fall festivities, attend the town’s Pumpkin Patch Craft Fair.
Ponca
Named for the area’s Ponca Indian Tribe, Ponca is located in and is the county seat of Dixon County. It is known for its storied culture, heritage, and cozy, hometown atmosphere.
However, there is more to this Northeastern Nebraska town than its rich history. Throughout the fall, the area is home to many spectacular spots where visitors can bask in the vibrant autumn scenery, including one of Nebraska’s most visited state parks: Ponca State Park. The eastern gateway to stretches of the Missouri National Recreational River, Ponca State Park’s forested landscapes and stunning panoramic vistas are ideal for admiring the state’s prettiest fall foliage. The park is also great for fall hiking and biking experiences and hosts an annual HallowFest each October.
Scenic drives are another wonderful way to experience Ponca and the surrounding area throughout peak fall foliage during mid to late October. One of the region’s most popular road trips is the Highway 12 Outlaw Trail Scenic Byway from Ponca to Valentine, a meandering route from the Sandhills to the forest, hilly landscapes of Northeastern Nebraska. Additionally, the town of Blair—less than two hours south of Ponca—hosts its Skinny Pumpkin Patch festivities throughout October. Both drives are idyllic adventures for reveling in the Cornhusker State’s autumn splendor.
Seward
The county seat of historic Seward County, Seward is one of its most populous communities. Seward’s Southeastern Nebraska location—intersected by Interstate 80 and Highways 34 and 15—provides convenient access to some of Seward County’s most scenic natural landscapes. Seward is also just 30 minutes from Lincoln, making it easy for fall adventurers to enjoy the state capital’s peak colors at destinations like Holmes Lake Park, Pioneers Park Nature Center, and Mahoney Park.
Seward County’s autumn colors are expected to peak around mid to late October, offering travelers the perfect opportunity to explore some of the area’s most brilliant reds, yellows, and oranges. Destinations like Smith Creek Wildlife Area and Meadowlark Lake are home to picture-perfect waterways nestled amid wooded landscapes and offer outdoor activities like fishing, camping, and hiking. Visitors can also enjoy Seward’s scenic sights while hiking and biking on the town’s pretty Plum Creek Trail & Garden Area.
Visitors can also soak up the town’s autumn atmosphere with some local flavor. Explore popular spots like Bottle Rocket Brewing Company, home to seasonal brews and an annual Oktoberfest; Red Path Gallery and Tasting Room, featuring local art, beverages, and events; and Junto Wine and its relaxed, picturesque setting and live music.
McCook
Also known as “The Capital of the Buffalo Commons,” McCook’s High Plains locale may not seem like a must-visit fall destination—but the cozy Western Nebraska town has more to offer than its vast, uninterrupted prairie lands. Signature cultural attractions lend the small-town character and charm, with places like Senator George W. Norris State Historical Site and Sutton House (the only Frank Lloyd Wright house in Nebraska) offering visitors a window into history.
With its Red Willow County location, McCook is filled with pristine landscapes perfect for enjoying autumn. Rolling prairie lands give way to beautiful, tree-dotted vistas awash with color at destinations like Red Willow State Recreation Area and Barnett Park. Visitors can also soak up the area’s loveliest fall vistas with a scenic drive to Swanson Reservoir State Recreation Area and Medicine Creek State Recreation Area, each less than 30 minutes from McCook.
McCook’s peak fall foliage is expected to last from mid to late October, an ideal time for exploring Red Willow County. Popular autumn activities include the Night at the Museum Spooktakular at McCook’s Museum of the High Plains and scenic road trips to fall attractions like the Homestead Pumpkin Patch in nearby North Platte.
Final Thoughts on Nebraska’s Fall Foliage Destinations
Starting in October, Nebraska’s lovely forested landscapes become awash with color. Everywhere from state parks to iconic scenic byways boasts the season’s most vivid autumn hues: vibrant yellows, reds, and oranges ideal for any leaf peeper. And the best way to enjoy peak foliage is by visiting one of Nebraska’s least-crowded towns. Home to some of the state’s most dazzling backdrops, these delightful destinations offer visitors the best experiences for viewing fall foliage without the crowds.
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Key stats of the game in Nebraska’s win over Boston College
NEW YORK — Nebraska held on and got the job done on Saturday.
The Huskers traveled to New York City to play in the Bad Boy Mowers Pinstripe Bowl against Boston College and will fly home with a 20-15 win.
It wasn’t pretty — is it ever with this program? — as NU led 20-2 with three minutes left in the third quarter but allowed BC to score two touchdowns in the final 6:11 of the game.
NU ends its 2024 season with a record of 7-6 (3-6 in Big Ten). That’s the most wins since the 2016 team went 9-4. It’s also the first bowl victory for the Huskers since the 2015 team beat UCLA 37-29 in the Foster Farms Bowl.
Here are three key statistics that stood out from NU’s win over the Eagles.
A good showing in the red zone from Nebraska’s offense
One of the top stats that usually equals winning football involves making the most of your trips to the red zone. On Saturday, the Husker offense was good enough once it entered BC’s 20-yard line.
NU finished the game by scoring points on three of its four red zone opportunities, and all of them were touchdowns. All three of NU’s scoring drives that entered the red area lasted at least seven plays, too, so the Huskers were going on some drives in Yankee Stadium.
The only red-zone appearance that didn’t end in a score was a fake field goal that had punter/holder Brian Buschini attempting to run the ball on a fourth-and-goal from the BC 8-yard line. That didn’t work as Buschini got 1 yard to seal a turnover on downs.
Nebraska turned the ball over twice, but John Butler’s defense put out the fires
NU’s offense turned the ball over twice in the game, both of which came in the first half thanks to a Dylan Raiola interception and an Emmett Johnson lost fumble.
Those could have been back-breaking mistakes, but they weren’t because defensive coordinator John Butler’s defense, which featured several young players getting opportunities, stood tall after each turnover.
The Huskers did not allow BC to score points off those turnovers. NU may have bent — the Huskers allowed BC to convert 5-of-10 third downs in the first half — but it never really broke until late in the game when the Eagles scored their first touchdown at the 6:11 mark of the fourth quarter.
On a wet and slippery field, yes, there were missed tackles and sloppy play at times. But the Huskers flew around like a team who had fun in the city for a week before flipping a switch and winning a football game, just like Matt Rhule wanted.
If BC was going to win this game, it needed to run the ball — that didn’t happen
Nothing against BC quarterback Grayson James. He played as well as he could and made some good throws while being pressured by NU’s defense all day.
But if BC was going to win this game, it needed to have an effective run game. That didn’t happen — BC would have liked to have its first-team All-ACC right tackle Ozzy Trapilo, who opted out — as the Husker defense limited the Eagles’ rushing attack to just 47 yards overall and 40 in the first half. That rushing total rises to 64 yards if you take away the 17 sack yards NU’s defense had.
BC entered the game with a top-50 rush offense nationally at 176 yards per game, good for 46th in the country.
The defensive front that played for NU today — guys like Ty Robinson, Nash Hutmacher, Cam Lenhardt, Elijah Jeudy, Keona Davis, MJ Sherman, Willis McGahee and Co. — held up well against BC’s offensive line and tight ends and allowed the linebackers behind them, like Javin Wright, Vincent Shavers Jr. and John Bullock, to clean up, which they did.
The Wright-Shavers-Bullock trio combined for 18 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss and two sacks.
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Nebraska
Effort revived to preserve access to iconic rapids on scenic Niobrara River • Nebraska Examiner
LINCOLN — An on-again, off-again effort to ensure public access to the Niobrara River is back on.
If the purchase of the Rocky Ford rapids area happens this time – it was blocked more than once a decade ago – it would maintain the public use of an important take-out point for those floating and kayaking the nationally designated scenic river.
A National Park Service representative and the private owner of the Rocky Ford rapids separately confirmed that discussions are underway to have the federal agency purchase the 26-acre site around the rapids, which is the ending point for many float trips down the Niobrara and a popular spot for camping and picnicking in north-central Nebraska.
About 75,000 people each year visit the 76-mile-long, federally designated scenic stretch of the Niobrara River, making it one of the state’s most popular tourist attractions. Because Rocky Ford is in private hands, there’s always a worry that public access to the scenic spot will be shut off, or that access fees will become too expensive.
“There is no better deck in the state of Nebraska,” said Rocky Ford owner Brad Arrowsmith of the view from a cabin on the property.
“That place is therapeutic,” he said.
Arrowsmith, a rancher from Mills, purchased Rocky Ford eight years ago after a canoe outfitter’s effort to sell the property to the Park Service, and later to the Niobrara Scenic River Council, both fell through.
Members of the state’s congressional delegation, as well as local ranchers and representatives on the Niobrara Council, were among those who opposed federal ownership of the property.
In 2018, Arrowsmith said he purchased the rapids to retain local control and to avoid a new private owner from shutting off access to Rocky Ford. The river there has one of the state’s few Class III rapids – rapids with high waves and rocks that require an experienced paddler.
But when the $2.5 million sale to the Niobrara Council fell through, Arrowsmith retained ownership and a canoe outfitting business continued. He eventually took over the business.
But the semi-retired rancher, 58, said he’s more interested now in enjoying the “retired” side of his life and ditching the “semi” portion.
“I never bought it to get into the outfitting business in the first place,” Arrowsmith said. “My hair’s a little whiter than yours. I’m tired.”
So talks began a few months ago to sell the property to the Park Service.
Susan Cook, superintendent of the Niobrara National Scenic River office in Valentine, confirmed that she’s discussed a purchase with Arrowsmith.
“We’re just starting to look at it,” Cook said.
She declined to say whether the Park Service had money allocated for the purchase – as it did a decade ago – or where the money to purchase the site could come from.
Arrowsmith said that he’d also offered, again about a year ago, to sell Rocky Ford to the Niobrara Council, but was again rebuffed.
He said he’s also been approached by a private party to purchase the site and continue the outfitting business.
“At the end of the day I’d love to keep it in local hands … but I’m not sure they can come up with the change to do it,” he said.
Just how quickly, or how long, a purchase might take is unclear. Arrowsmith said he has made improvements to the property that make Rocky Ford more attractive for a buyer.
“It’s not the old ratty wood walkway up to the office,” he said, adding that he also replaced a “monstrosity of a retaining wall” on the land.
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The college football bowl season heads to New York and iconic Yankee Stadium for the Bad Boy Mowers Pinstripe Bowl that features the Boston College Eagles taking on the Nebraska Cornhuskers.
Boston College’s first year under head coach Bill O’Brien did not go as planned, as the Eagles finished with a 7-5 record. But the team is now aiming for a much-needed bowl victory to conclude the season on a positive note. Junior Grayson James took over the offense after starting quarterback Thomas Castellanos was benched and subsequently left the program. Since becoming the starting quarterback, James has achieved a 64% completion rate, throwing for 901 yards, with six touchdowns and two interceptions.
The Nebraska Cornhuskers are set to make a triumphant return to the bowl game scene, their first appearance since 2016. Despite a challenging season that saw them finish with a 6-6 record, the team has shown significant growth and potential. Freshman quarterback Dylan Raiola ran the offense and showed some raw talent, completing 66.6% of his passes and throwing for 2,595 yards, 12 touchdowns and 10 interceptions.
Here is everything to know ahead of kickoff for the Pinstripe Bowl:
Pinstripe Bowl predictions: Boston College vs. Nebraska
USA TODAY: Picks are split
- Scooby Axson: Boston College
- Jordan Mendoza: Nebraska
- Paul Myerberg: Boston College
- Erick Smith: Boston College
- Eddie Timanus: Nebraska
- Dan Wolken: Nebraska
ESPN: Boston College 27, Nebraska 21
Adam Rittenberg writes: “Nebraska is back in a bowl game for the first time since the 2016 Music City Bowl, which means Yankee Stadium will turn red. But the Huskers barely got here, dropping five of their final six games, and recently lost defensive coordinator Tony White and defensive line coach Terrance Knighton to Florida State. Boston College has had a better overall season under first-year coach Bill O’Brien, whose quarterback switch to Grayson Grames sparked a solid finish. The Eagles go from a bowl win at Fenway Park in 2023 to one at Yankee Stadium.”
Clutch Points: Boston College
Bryan Logan writes: “One of the biggest issues in the stretch run for Nebraska was turnovers. They are 68th in the nation in turnover margin this year. Meanwhile, Boston College is 22nd in the nation. further, Nebraska will have little ground game in this one with Dante Dowdell gone. They are missing two staring defensive players, and three others that played major time. Take Boston College in this one.”
Tickets to the Pinstripe Bowl with StubHub
Pinstripe Bowl predictions: Boston College vs. Nebraska
The Nebraska Cornhuskers are favorites to defeat the Boston College Eagles, according to the BetMGM college football odds.
Odds as of afternoon of Friday, Dec. 25.
- Spread: Nebraska (-4)
- Moneylines: Nebraska (-190); Boston College (+160)
- Over/under: 46.5
How to watch Boston College vs. Nebraska in the Pinstripe Bowl
- Date: Saturday, Dec. 28
- Time: 12 p.m. ET
- TV: ABC
- Stream: Fubo
- Where: Yankee Stadium (New York)
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