Walk to the Rock, a set of four intersecting trails at the base of Chimney Rock, opened to the public on Saturday, July 29, in 90-degree heat with cookies shaped like Chimney Rock from the Gering Bakery available for the first 200 visitors.
Chimney Rock was first recorded in a journal in 1827 by Joshua Pilcher, who was headed to the Great Salt Lake. One of the most famous landmarks in the AmericanWest, the towering spire was the most noted landmark along the Oregon, California, and MormonTrails. Most who noted passing it during their trek across the North Platte Valley indicated they were glad they were headed in the right direction.
Located south of Bayard in Morrill County, Chimney Rock and the surrounding 80 acres of land was gifted to the State of Nebraska for preservation in 1941 by the Durnal family. Fifteen years later, more land was deeded to the society by Norman and Donna Brown and that same year, on August 9, 1956, the site became a National Historic Landmark.
