Celebrate 30 years of the Cowboy Recreation and Nature Trail with a bike ride, dinner and social on the bridge on Friday, Sept. 5 in Valentine.

Register to attend the bike ride and dinner portions at OutdoorNebraska.gov by searching “Cowboy 30.” Proceeds from the event will support trail improvements of the Valentine Trailhead area.

Registration is not required to attend the social.

Hit the trail

The Cowboy Trail signature event will kick off with a 9 a.m. bike ride along the trail. Ride either 16 miles from the Valentine Bike Share, 101 U.S. 83, Valentine, to Arabia Ranch, or 32 miles to Arabia Ranch and back. Shuttles will be available for those who choose the shorter distance.

Sign up by Aug. 8 to get a limited-edition Cowboy Trail T-shirt.

Celebrate with dinner

Join the celebration dinner, which will be served from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Valentine Trailhead Park picnic shelter. Celebrate the past 30 years of development along the trail, while also looking to the future of the trail system.

Limited spots are available, so reserve one by Aug. 15.

Be social

A free social will be hosted from 7 to 8:30 p.m. on the iconic, quarter-mile-long Cowboy Trail Bridge. Drinks are available for purchase along with shuttle options between Valentine and the bridge.

Your registration dollars at work

By registering to attend, guests will be directly supporting the improvement and investment in the Valentine Trailhead area. The Cowboy Trail 30th anniversary planning team, including the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission and Bike Walk Nebraska, set the goal to raise enough money to buy and install a bike fix-it station and an information kiosk.

Those who cannot attend can still donate to the cause at NebraskaTrailsFoundation.org/donate.

About the Trail

The Cowboy Trail is a scenic, 317-mile project that winds through the heart of Nebraska from Norfolk to Chadron. It is one of the largest Rails-to-Trails projects, which transformed abandoned railroad corridors into accessible pathways, in the United States.

Ride the trail and discover the rich history of Nebraska’s railroading roots, explore vibrant small towns, and take in breathtaking landscapes.

Learn more about the trail at OutdoorNebraska.gov by searching "Cowboy Trail.”

Tips to enjoy Lewis and Clark SRA during mayfly season

The annual emergence of mayflies at Lewis and Clark State Recreation Area near Crofton means the insects will be plentiful near and around the lake as they swarm to lights from the marina, cabins, facilities and campers.

Nebraska Game and Parks asks for patience during the aquatic insect’s short-lived emergence period, which occurs in July or August over a very short period — typically a few days or a week.

Mayflies are aquatic insects that live as nymphs under rocks, in sediment or in decaying matter in freshwater lakes and streams for up to one year. After that year is over, they emerge from the water as full adults, complete with wings. They live above water about one day — only long enough to mate and lay eggs.

During that 24-hour period, they will cover many available surfaces. For the past several years, a larger population of mayflies has emerged at the lake, an indication of clean, unpolluted water. As they die off, Game and Parks blows away or washes them off facilities.

For those visiting the park, Game and Parks offers these tips to improve your park stay:

  • Dim lights around your campsite or cabin.
  • Limit use of external lights, such as flashlights or lanterns.
  • Keep doors shut, when possible, to prevent mayflies from entering cabins, campers, tents or vehicles.
  • Remember, mayflies have no mouth at this stage in their life cycle and therefore cannot bite.
  • Remember the insects’ role in the aquatic food chain and take advantage: Fish with imitation nymphs to lure fish.
  • If you can, enjoy the natural phenomenon — a once-a-year natural event limited to rivers, streams and clean lakes.

For more information or to check on current mayfly conditions at the park, call Lewis and Clark at 402-388-4169.