I'm just going to come out and say it: Nebraska is an incredibly beautiful state, and it never seems to get the love it deserves. All too often, folks have dismissed it as "flyover country" as if there's truly nothing here worth visiting—which couldn't be further from the truth if it tried to be.

Honestly, living in Nebraska is a much bigger privilege than even many of the born-and-bred Cornhusker State natives realize. Take, for example, our extensively impressive outdoors, filled top-to-bottom with amazing hiking trails, state parks, lakes, campgrounds, and more. And speaking of hiking trails, there's a new kid in town - a brand-new hiking adventure you'll want to experience for yourself.

Welcome to the Platte River Bridge Trail, an amazing hiking trail in Nebraska that's been more than 20 years in the making. That's not a typo: it's been planned for at least 20 years now.

And goodness, am I grateful for every moment of that effort, because this new trail is absolutely awesome. The hike extends across the Platte River on the eastern side of U.S. Highway 34/275, leading adventurers up and over a concrete bridge crossing the river and beyond. Adventurers are welcome both on bike and on foot, as the trail was designed with both groups in mind.

Getting this project done required two cities, two counties, two natural resources districts, and finally, local mountain biking hobbyists to work together—and they certainly did, finishing up this absolutely gorgeous example of why living in Nebraska is so beautiful for everyone to love for generations to come. It's definitely something to write home about, and there's an amazing sense of pride that comes with hiking it.

The Platte River provides some truly epic scenery along the entire hike. Its water is clear and blue, often reflecting the cerulean hues of the sky above to craft its own aqua color. Wildlife gathers here, and it becomes fun and easy to watch for hikers, especially in the mornings and early evenings. Come twilight, the entire place is abuzz with life. You just need to be here to see it.

This awesome hiking trail in Nebraska only just recently opened in early August 2024, and as far as I know, it's here to stay - cement your legacy as one of the first folks to ever hike it ASAP. You know, before the wonder wears off (spoiler: it really doesn't). For more information about the bridge connecting the two parts of the trail together (as well as the hike itself), be sure to visit its official AllTrails page. If you want to spice things up a bit and take your hiking to the next level, check out AllTrails Plus; I don't know how I ever hiked without it!

Do you have any favorite, relatively new hiking trails in Nebraska you'd like to see us cover sometime? Tell us about it in the comments - and include pictures! We love 'em!