Indian Cave State Park - Rock Bluff Run

Indian Cave State Park - Rock Bluff Run

Page Type Page Type: Route
Location Lat/Lon: 40.25018°N / 95.55634°W
Additional Information GPX File: Download GPX » View Route on Map
Additional Information Route Type: Hiking
Seasons Season: Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Additional Information Time Required: Less than two hours
Additional Information Grade: II
Sign the Climber's Log

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Overview

Rock Bluff Run is located in Indian Cave State Park in Nebraska, 94,400-acre State Park in southeast Nebraska. Although it does not offer a chance to see the caves for which the park is named it does offer some of the best views in the park. Rock Bluff Run is a 3.43 mile (by GPS) looping trail that starts and ends at the same trail head. There are campsites along the trail with shelters.

The park is open year round so this trail is available even in winter.

Getting There

Take exit 110 Rockport exit onto US 136 West

Go 6.7 Miles and turn left on 67W

Go 9.2 Miles and turn left on 720 rd

This road runs right into the park.

Trail maps are available at the park entrance and can direct
you to the Rock Bluff Run trail head

Route Description

Hiking in Indian Cave State Park is as close as one can come to hiking in an eastern forest in the state of Nebraska. The Rock Bluff trail is fairly well marked and begins at the #7 trail head marker. Markers along the trail can be lost in a few spots and you have to pay attention as there are some intersections and additional trail heads along the way. It begins with a short .5 mile hike to a looping trail that runs around a 1200 foot ridge along the Mighty Missouri (#8a). There are multiple lookouts from which you get very good views of the river. Sunsets on this trail are beautiful as the forest glows orange from the low sun. The trail has three or four fairly steep elevation changes of 200-300ft and has a few sections of trail that edge right along the top of the river side of the bluff. In some spots the trail has even eroded off and down the side of the bluff. A misstep could mean a fairly ugly 75ft or so fall. This is a great conditioning trail. Essential Gear: Typical Day hike. Light pack, water, snack, appropriate clothing for the weather. Conditions can be muddy and there is loose sand in many places so I recommend proper hiking shoes/boots.