Middle Loup River Valley Sandhills Trail

The Middle Loup cuts a wandering path through some of Nebraska’s most pristine sandhills country, and this backcountry route follows old ranch roads and section lines through terrain that’s barely changed since the 1800s. You’ll cross the river at several unmarked fords, pass crumbling homestead foundations, and navigate grass-covered dunes that rise 200 feet above the valley floor. The route connects Dunning to Halsey through a maze of unmarked ranch roads that require constant navigation.

This is moderate difficulty purely due to navigation challenges and soft sand pockets that’ll bog down anything without momentum. Stock 4WD with good ground clearance handles it fine, but bring recovery gear and expect to air down in the deeper sand. Summer’s your best bet when the river runs low, though spring can be spectacular if you don’t mind mud. No permits needed, but respect private land markers. It’s a genuine taste of the old West that most Nebraskans never see.