Valentine, Nebraska

Driving from North Platte north through the central portion of Nebraska, we noticed a dramatic change in the topography with the appearance of undulating, grass-covered sand dunes. The Sandhills, covering over 19,000 sq miles, is the largest grass-stabilized dune region in the Western Hemisphere. Sitting atop the Ogallala Aquifer, the area is dotted with spring-fed lakes, marshes and winding rivers - providing outstanding wildlife habitat and prime rangeland. The miles of undulating hills dotted with large cattle herds made for a very enjoyable drive.

Valentine is the center of a diverse region of quiet lakes, grassy sand hills, secluded waterfalls, a national forest, two national wildlife refuges, big ranches with real cowboys and one of the top 10 canoeing rivers in the US. With 2,800 residents, Valentine is the "big city" of Cherry County.

Though larger than the state of Connecticut, Cherry County is home to only 6,000 people. Traditionally, "frontier" was defined as a place with fewer than six people per square mile. Even with all those folks living in Valentine, Cherry County averages only one person per square mile!

While in Valentine, we visited 3 waterfalls, a national wildlife refuge and a State Park. Pictures will be posted on Facebook.

Two notes. 1. In the picture of the Sandhills, notice the sandy spot. These are areas where the wind has managed to strip the grass off the sand, and are known as blowouts. 2. The Niobrara falls - Smith & Fort - are unique because of their convex faces. A very interesting look.