NEBRASKA HIGHWAY 2 SELF-GUIDED TOUR
This 272-mile stretch of Nebraska Highway 2, from metropolitan Grand Island to the railroad community of Alliance, has been named one of the ten most scenic routes in the nation.
The View
Experience the dramatic grass-covered sand dunes called the Sandhills, which are unique in the Western Hemisphere. On the Sandhills Journey, you will also see farms, expansive cattle ranches, the most constant flowing rivers in the world, lakes, marshes, and wetlands (from the underground High Plains/Ogallala Aquifer), significant birding areas, and the largest hand-planted forest in the nation.
The Adventure
See the world-renowned annual sandhill crane, whooping crane, and spring waterfowl migration. Visit western heritage museums, see American Indian artifacts, or go canoeing, kayaking, boating, camping, or ATV'ing along the Byway. Don't forget to view the stars in one of the nation's least light-polluted (darkest) areas.
This driving tour will provide a good starting point for your journey and outline some of the attractions and opportunities available. Tours of specific areas of interest, such as natural, cultural, historical, art and artisans, are very popular.
If you want live accompaniment and commentary as you travel the Byway, please contact the SJNSB office at 308-546-0636. It is in the Mullen Art Center, in the center of our Byway. During the summer months, from Memorial Day to October 1st, the Sandhills Journey National Scenic Byway Visitor Center can answer your questions. That phone number is 308-872-8331, or you may write us via postal mail at 44106 NE Hwy 2, Broken Bow, NE 68822. Additionally, you may email us at info@sandhillsjourney.com. Visit the official Byway website at www.sandhillsjourney.com.
An Unforgettable Sandhills Journey in Four Days
The Sandhills Journey National Scenic Byway (SJNSB) is a Byway like none other anywhere in Nebraska, in the U.S., or on the planet, for that matter. The late Charles Kuralt (On the Road with Charles Kuralt, CBS Television) called it one of "the ten most beautiful highways in America." Nebraska Highway 2 is a mecca of enviable agriculture, arts, culture, golfing, history, nature/scenery, and recreation, including navigating rivers and attending rodeos. The primary focus of this self-guided tour will be the Byway's intrinsic, natural appeal. And remember—you'll be climbing from 1860 feet elevation at Grand Island to 3966 feet elevation at Alliance as you drive up toward the front range of the Rockies.
We present this tour as four separate days, although the number of possible customized itineraries is limitless – only limited by your imagination. The optimum days for viewing and participating in some of the events along the Byway, e.g., sandhill crane viewing and tanking rivers, are not necessarily at the same time of the year, so you may choose to drive Byway segments at different times. That said, no matter the time of the year, you are in for a treat!
Alternatively, you may want to check out "The Sandhills Journey, Nebraska's Highway 2 Audio Tour" as you begin your tour in Grand Island. If your car doesn't have a CD player, by all means, purchase a portable CD player before you start your trip. You'll not regret it! The CD provides color commentary about what you see as you travel along the Byway from Grand Island to Alliance. The audio tour is based on your arrival at various locations throughout your Sandhills journey. It also adds some side trips and trivia facts.