Forested state parks, protected grasslands and wilderness reserves encircle the pastoral town of Crawford, making it an excellent base for a wilderness adventure in the Great Plains. Strolling down the town’s quiet streets today, it might be hard to imagine the wild and rowdy village that sprang up outside the U.S. Army barracks at Fort Robinson in 1886. Discover the town’s history and make the most of its proximity to some of the Nebraska Panhandle’s magnificent wilderness reserves.
Check out the Crawford History Museum to learn about the town’s beginnings as a tent village before it grew into an infamous entertainment destination for local soldiers. Learn more of Crawford’s fascinating history at the Fort Robinson State Park, an expansive reserve that surrounds the former army barracks, which are a National Historic Landmark. Within the park, you can visit the Trailside Museum of Natural History to learn about the landscape and check out the Fort Robinson Museum to discover the site’s bloody history during the Sioux Wars. Catch a theatrical performance at the site’s playhouse and consider staying a night in the barracks’ cabins.
Wander around the tree-lined grounds of Crawford City Park, which is situated along the banks of the White River in Northwest Crawford. Just south of the park are the sprawling grounds of the Legend Buttes Golf Course. The local rodeo grounds are also nearby. Go swimming in the pool or play baseball on the local diamonds at the Peabody Hale Memorial Park. Hiking and biking trails are located south of town in the Nebraska National Forest. To the north, you’ll find the seemingly endless plains of the Oglala National Grassland.
Take a short trip in the car to find more regional attractions, such as the Agate Fossil Beds and the Toadstool Geological Park, where fascinating natural relics can be seen amid the sandstone formations. The Pine Ridge National Recreation Area presents plenty of opportunities to fish, hunt and camp.
Crawford is situated near the South Dakota border of Northwest Nebraska. The nearest airport is the Chadron Municipal Airport, approximately 25-minutes’ drive northeast of the town. Include Crawford on your tour around the Panhandle and discover Oregon Trail heritage, geological wonders and pristine wilderness.
