Wildcat Hills State Recreation Area: Turkey Run Trailhead to Monument View (Blog Hike #858)

Trails: Turkey Run, Muley, and Monument View Trails
Hike Location: Wildcat Hills State Recreation Area
Geographic Location: south of Scottsbluff, NE (41.70666, -103.67124)
Length: 2.1 miles
Difficulty: 4/10 (Moderate)
Date Hiked: July 2021
Overview: A rolling semiloop with fantastic views from the Wildcat Hills.
Area Information: https://outdoornebraska.gov/location/wildcat-hills/
Hike Route Map: https://www.mappedometer.com/?maproute=943692
Photo Highlight:

Hike Video: 

Directions to the trailhead: From Scottsbluff, take SR 71 south 12 miles to the signed recreation area entrance on the left.  From I-80, reach the recreation area entrance by taking exit 22 and driving SR 71 north for 35 miles.  Enter the recreation area, pay the entrance fee, and drive the main gravel recreation area road 0.6 miles to the small Turkey Run Trailhead parking area on the left.  There is room for 2 or 3 cars here.  If this parking area is full, you can park at the nearby group campground or at the Monument View Trailhead, both of which will be passed on this hike.

The hike: The Wildcat Hills in the arid and remote Nebraska Panhandle form a low escarpment that separates the Pumpkin Creek drainage to the south from the North Platte River drainage to the north.  Chimney Rock and Scotts Bluff are the most famous sites in the Wildcat Hills, but the entire region contains interesting rock spires and fantastic views.  These rock formations were landmarks on the Emigrant Trail, an overland migration route used in the mid 1800's.

            The 1094-acre Wildcat Hills State Recreation Area came to be as the State of Nebraska bought up available pieces of land between 1929 and 1980.  True to its remote location, the area features minimal amenities, which include only a small primitive campground, a Nature Center that features exhibits about the area's flora and fauna, and a system of hiking trails.  When I came here on a hot sunny afternoon in mid-July, I wanted to keep my hike short but still sample what the Wildcat Hills had to offer.  The route suggested here accomplishes that feat, as it traverses both the area's ravines and ridges while passing several nice views.

Turkey Run Trailhead

            From the signed Turkey Run Trailhead, head down the narrow dirt trail as it descends a couple of steep switchbacks and enters Turkey Run's ravine.  Some large ponderosa pines shade the trail here, and soon the grade eases as you reach the bottom of the ravine.  This section of trail is somewhat eroded, and pine cones filled the trail's washed out grooves on my visit.

Descending on pine cone-covered trail

            At 0.2 miles, you reach an unsigned trail intersection.  The Turkey Run Trail continues straight to descend the left wall of the ravine, but to reach Monument View, you need to turn right and begin the Muley Trail.  The Muley Trail descends gradually down the right wall of Turkey Run's ravine.  Most of this trail is exposed to western Nebraska's high elevation sun, so you will need to wear a hat and maybe sunscreen if you come here during the summer months.

Dubious-looking footbridge

            The Turkey Run ravine keeps dropping to the left, and after rounding a low finger ridge, you cross a small side stream on a dubious-looking footbridge.  A couple of loose planks sent my heartrate soaring while I crossed this bridge, but the bridge got me across without incident.  At 0.7 miles, you reach another unsigned trail intersection.  Continuing straight on the Muley Trail leads downhill and out of the recreation area, so you need to turn right to begin climbing on the connector trail that leads to Monument View.

Climbing the connector trail

            The eroded and rocky connector trail is short but steep: it gains nearly 100 vertical feet of elevation in only 0.1 miles.  The trail's width and grading indicate that it may be an old dirt road.  At the top of the connector trail, you reach a T-intersection with the Monument View Trail, which goes right and left.  We will eventually go right to continue our loop, but first turn left to hike out to Monument View.

Yucca on the finger ridge

            For the next 0.4 miles the Monument View Trail heads out a finger ridge that drops off steeply on either side.  This ridge is much more arid than the ravine you hiked in earlier: ponderosa pines are few and yuccas are numerous up here.  At 1.2 miles, you reach the end of the finger ridge and Monument View, the Wildcat Hills' best viewpoint.  The view extends northward for miles over the North Platte River drainage, which includes Scotts Bluff National Monument, hence the view's name.  The view of the surrounding Wildcat Hills is not bad either, so take some time to see what you can see.

View north from Monument View

View of Wildcat Hills at Monument View

            The trail ends at the viewpoint, so after taking in the view, retrace your steps up the finger ridge and past the connector trail to the Monument View Trailhead and its dirt/gravel parking area.  The rest of this hike is a walk on the park's dirt road, but you can avoid a little of the road walk by looping through the picnic area to the right.  The picnic area also provides more nice views of Turkey Run's ravine.  Walk up the dirt road, then turn right at the T-intersection to walk past the group campground and return to the trailhead to complete the hike.  While you are here, be sure to check out the Recreation Area's Nature Center, which contains interesting and informative exhibits on the Wildcat Hills' flora and fauna.