By Kerri Rempp, Discover Northwest Nebraska Director
CRAWFORD – Thirty-one years and 30 rides later, the Outriders will ride into the sunset June 18 with one final Ride the Ridge trail ride at historic Fort Robinson State Park.
Started in 1991 to promote awareness of Northwest Nebraska’s trails, Ride the Ridge spent the first several years traversing Nebraska National Forest trails but has called Fort Robinson State Park home for many years now. The trail ride was substituted with a Longhorn cattle drive through Chadron for its 125-year anniversary celebration in 2010 and was cancelled due to COVID in 2020. The group that organizes the event, the Outriders, have decided 2022 will be the final Ride the Ridge event unless another organization steps forward to take it over.
Don Huls and Marvin Liewer will serve as trail bosses for the final ride. Huls, a former Dawes County Extension Agent, and Liewer, a former Nebraska National Forest District Ranger, started Ride the Ridge to highlight the Forest Service’s work on trail development taking place at the time.
“We felt that since they started the ride, they should end the ride,” said Outrider Jan Storjohnn. All past trail bosses of the Ride the Ridge are invited to attend the 2022 event to be recognized prior to the ride. Commemorative Trails End: Ride the Ridge t-shirts can also be ordered through the event’s Facebook page, and a limited number will be available for sale on the day of the ride.
While a state park permit is required, the trail ride itself is free.
“Ride the Ridge has always been a great way for horse lovers to enjoy Northwest Nebraska, and we’re saddened to see it end. It attracts horse enthusiasts from across the country, and it is our hope that another group steps forward to take it on so it can continue,” said Discover Northwest Nebraska Director Kerri Rempp.
Registration for Ride the Ridge will be June 18, beginning at 8 a.m., with the morning trail ride scheduled to start at 9 a.m. Signs will be posted at the park to direct riders to the registration point. Riders will break for lunch on their own and can choose to take another trail ride in the afternoon at 1 p.m. or enjoy watching the Cowboy Mounted Shooters at the Fort Robinson arena. Pre-registration for riders overnighting at the park will be offered June 17 from 5-7 p.m. at the Mare Barns. For more information, follow Ride the Ridge on Facebook or contact Don at 308-432-3841 or Tom at 308-430-5333