42 Nebraskaland • June 2021
Backpacking
the Pine
Ridge Trail
Traversing scenic terrain in the
Panhandle, the Pine Ridge Trail serves
as a rewarding weekend adventure.
Story and Photos by Justin Haag
An Adventure Story
hrough work and play, I have been no stranger to the
Pine Ridge Trail. Portions of the route that transects
the heart of public lands in the Pine Ridge escarpment
between Chadron and Crawford have served me well as
a way to access scenic landscapes and wildlife, or just enjoy a
short hike or bike ride.
Though I had been on many parts of the trail, which
measures about 40 miles, I had never connected the dots in
one attempt. That changed in June 2020 when my 17-year-
old son, Sawyer, and I decided to backpack the entire trail in
a weekend. It is something I had been considering for years
and, with COVID-19 restrictions in full swing, it seemed to
be the perfect time for such an adventure. To boot, it would
serve as a suitable way to celebrate National Trails Day, an
annual occurrence the fi rst Saturday in June.
Even though covering the distance in three days did not
sound too diffi cult, I knew it was important to be prepared
— especially considering I had never been on an overnight
backpacking trip before. I pored over websites to gain
information from experienced backpackers and received
guidance from U.S. Forest Service staff .
Overnight hiking has more considerations than day treks,
and I was thankful backpacking has advanced. Provisions
such as tents, sleeping bags, stoves and freeze-dried food
have become optimized for weight and convenience. In the
weeks leading up to our journey, Sawyer and I collected the
necessary gear and knowledge.
While the Pine Ridge Trail may not qualify as a true "thru-
hike" — serious backpackers consider those to be 300 miles
or longer — it does provide a substantial challenge of three or
four days. You will be hard-pressed to fi nd another wilderness
trail hiking opportunity this long in Nebraska.
Just because it is in Nebraska and not the mountains, the
trail should not be mistaken as easy. After inserting the
mileage, elevation gains and time into an online calculator
T
