The Scotts Bluff National Monument close to the city with the same name is the third landmark of the Oregon Trail in this area. In the beginning this small range of hills from limestone was an insurmountable obstacle that had to be by-passed around a wide area, because in the north the insuperable Badlands adjoin. Already in the mid 19th century soldiers opened a passage through Scotts Bluff to make the onward journey easier for the set of wagons.
Our voyage goes further south. We turn our back on Nebraska and with a swerve via the south-eastern corner of Wyoming we are heading into Colorado. From Loveland we take Hwy #34 to Rocky Mountain National Park, a very attractive access road following Thompson River Canyon for many miles.