A Week of Remote Byways and Backroads of the Nebraska Sandhills

[72Nova]

Awesome pics. I just got back from a 3 day trip in the sandhills. went to the forest by halsey for a few hours. I could explore there for days. Then i headed up to merritt reservoir to relax and do some fishing. Can't wait to head back out that way.

 

[McZippie]

Great area... Been there a few times, it's amazing how the scenery and remoteness, dramtically changes in the few short miles from US Hwy 18 just across the border in South Dokota and US Hwy 20 in Nebraska.

 

[roverrocks]

Awesome pics. I just got back from a 3 day trip in the sandhills. went to the forest by halsey for a few hours. I could explore there for days. Then i headed up to merritt reservoir to relax and do some fishing. Can't wait to head back out that way.

The Sandhills are an amazing and diverse area. Glad you and others are getting there. Merritt and Halsey are both fine places. Lots of fishable lakes all over. I can't wait to get there again either. Next early summer I hope when the birding is so interesting. So many backroads in the last great American mid/tall grass prairie. Love all the fascinating ranches and their signs along the byways.

 

[roverrocks]

My brother used to work at the Triangle Ranch near Arthur. Cant remember exactly where it is but I believe its north of Arthur. I spent a lot of time up there working with him as a kid and it was a true adventure. I want to say the ranch was 250,000 acres.

ETA: I looked it up, its called Haythorn ranch now. Its on Haythorn Dr. west and south of Arthur by Haythorn Lake. Its owned by the Triangle company I think.

That is really great that you and your brother got to work on the Triangle Ranch. Must of been a heck of an experience. I did not go in Haythorn Drive to Haythorn Lake but was all around it on other byways. I should have but there are so many places. I did take the scenic Triangle Road which is NE of Arthur and runs between Highways 61 and 92 and is about 15 miles in length. Go right pasts what might be the HQ of the Triangle Ranch. I'm envious that you and your brother got to work on a Sandhills ranch. Such an interesting area.

 

[bad luck]

Well you let the cat out of the bag with your pictures. I like to take HWY 2 as it cuts across Nebraska and through the sandhills. Also the Niobrara is beautiful river to float. Thanks for the pictures.

I have been in that area a few times, just passing through though. I would love to go back and float the Niobrara river. I saw that you can rent stock tanks and float down the river in them. Nice pictures btw.

 

[ClayH]

That is really great that you and your brother got to work on the Triangle Ranch. Must of been a heck of an experience. I did not go in Haythorn Drive to Haythorn Lake but was all around it on other byways. I should have but there are so many places. I did take the scenic Triangle Road which is NE of Arthur and runs between Highways 61 and 92 and is about 15 miles in length. Go right pasts what might be the HQ of the Triangle Ranch. I'm envious that you and your brother got to work on a Sandhills ranch. Such an interesting area.

Its a very unique ranch because they use only horse teams to move equipment and they have a huge haying operation where they build these huge hay stacks using horse teams. They have a couple of tractors but only use those when its wet in the bottoms and horses sink real bad in the soft soil. There is a documentary that was on TV several years ago documenting the entire operation. My brother was in that video too.
Great memories but sadly I was too young to really appreciate where I was and the history. I think I was maybe 14.
Heres a link to it. The pic at tha top shows a team pulling hay equiptment and hay stacks in the background http://www.haythorn.com/history.html
They give tours, you should consider doing one sometime. Step back in history.

 

[ClayH]

This thread is really bringing back memories and now after looking at google earth, it wasnt the haythorn ranch I spent time at (though that name sounds really familiar) it was the Triangle and if you drove up triangle rd. the headquarters you mentioned is where I was at. I recognise the configuration of the house, barns, sheds, etc. The road forks to the left off of triangle road. Maybe triangle owns haythorn and maybe not. I recall the Triangle company was comprised of 3 ranch locations.
Wow, a walk down memory lane for sure.

 

[roverrocks]

Its a very unique ranch because they use only horse teams to move quiptment and they have a huge haying operation where they build these huge hay stacks using horse teams. They have a couple of tractors but only use those when its wet in the bottoms and horses sink real bad in the soft soil. There is a documentary that was on TV several years ago documenting the entire operation. My brother was in that video too.
Great memories but sadly I was too young to really appreciate where I was and the history. I think I was maybe 14.
Heres a link to it. The pic at tha top shows a team pulling hay equiptment and hay stacks in the background http://www.haythorn.com/history.html
They give tours, you should consider doing one sometime. Step back in history.

What an amazing read that website is!!! I will get there next summer for sure and hopefully bring my wife along this time. Wow!! Thanks for posting it.

 

[roverrocks]

This thread is really bringing back memories and now after looking at google earth, it wasnt the haythorn ranch I spent time at (though that name sounds really familiar) it was the Triangle and if you drove up triangle rd. the headquarters you mentioned is where I was at. I recognise the configuration of the house, barns, sheds, etc. The road forks to the left off of triangle road. Maybe triangle owns haythorn and maybe not. I recall the Triangle company was comprised of 3 ranch locations.
Wow, a walk down memory lane for sure.

Yes, I drove that beautiful road and went by the Triangle Ranch HQ from what my Nebraska DeLorme Atlas and Gazeteer called on it's map. Wish I has slowed down more there. I remember what a scenic drive is was on the Triangle Road going north off Hy92 and then I took the scenic Kramer Road where it branched off from the Triangle Road back west to Hy 61. Here's what I believe are pictures I took in June along the Triangle Road and then the Kramer Road plus a picture from south of Arthur along Hy 61 where the Haythorn Drive/Ranch starts.

 

[roverrocks]

I have been in that area a few times, just passing through though. I would love to go back and float the Niobrara river. I saw that you can rent stock tanks and float down the river in them. Nice pictures btw.

I just got my September/October magazine issue of "Nebraska Life". This has a wonderful 8 page article and pictures about rafting the Niobrara River in the fall entitled "Niobrara in Autumn" from a river guide outfit named Graham Outfitters. The Dismal and Loup Rivers also have good rafting/canoeing/kayaking in the Sandhills too from what I have read. There are a number of outfitters in the Sandhills region.

 

[ClayH]

They are even on facebook...
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Nebraska-Sandhills/89538118892

 

[roverrocks]

They are even on facebook...
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Nebraska-Sandhills/89538118892

Some nice photos in there.

 

[Foy]

"Tanking" the rivers of Nebraska

The outfitter best known for putting folks in large steel livestock water tanks for a float is located in Mullen, NE, and I believe they "tank" the Middle Loup and/or the Dismal, in addition to canoeing, tubing, and kayaking.

A geology professor of mine told me of the "boiling sand springs" along the Dismal River, essentially large, high flow springs which cause the sand to appear to boil right at the river's edge.

The Double R Guest Ranch is north of Mullen and I've had a pleasant correspondence with the Lady of the Ranch who runs the guest operations there. They've got a sizable lake with a load of Northern pike in it.

Foy

 

[roverrocks]

Some photos of the Nebraska Sandhills creeks, streams and rivers I took this past summer on my Sandhills wanderings.

 

[roverrocks]

More Sandhills creeks, streams, and rivers.