This Giant Midwestern National Forest Features Nearly 380 Miles Of Idyllic Trails, Quiet Lush Spaces, And Camping

America's National Forest System manages a total of 193 million acres of public land across the country, including many natural wonders that rival those found in the country's more famous national parks. Among the Forest Service's gems are North Carolina's Blue Ridge Mountains in Pisgah National Forest, California's sky-high Sierra Nevada in Inyo National Forest, and even Puerto Rico's tropical rainforest in El Yunque National Forest. Yet the National Forest System extends to all corners of the country, not just the areas with the best-traveled views. The Midwest is home to some of the Forest Service's most impressive landscapes, including a large Great Plains beauty with underrated gems for hikers, campers, and sightseers alike: the extraordinary Nebraska National Forest.

As you may have guessed from its name, Nebraska National Forest is located in Nebraska, a state better known for corn and college football than outdoor escapes. Nebraska National Forest itself is part of a larger complex of U.S. Forest Service-administered lands across western Nebraska, which also includes the Buffalo Gap, Fort Pierre, and Oglala national grasslands. Nebraska National Forest, however, is particularly worthwhile for travelers looking to delve into the often-unseen side of the Cornhusker State. With nearly 400 miles of trails (according to the U.S. Forest Service) winding through wide-open landscapes and scenic campgrounds, Nebraska National Forest is perfect for getting reacquainted with the deep beauty of America's Great Plains. And with expansive yet quiet vistas across its distinct landscapes (including some natural and artificial wonders few even know about), Nebraska National Forest offers epic outdoor escapes into one of the country's under-the-radar corners.

Outside of Omaha and Lincoln, Nebraska's main tourism stops may be underrated small-town gems like the quirky city of Alliance. However, Nebraska's western side is awash in a massive complex of national forests and grasslands. Among these, Nebraska National Forest stands out for its distinctive blend of open prairie grasslands and deep pine groves. The national forest's history is not merely one of preserving a preexisting ecosystem, but also one of America's most ambitious (and overlooked) tree-planting projects.

That remarkable history is on display in the Bessey Ranger District near the town of Halsey, one of two districts that make up Nebraska National Forest. The Bessey District is notable for impressive pine forests that stretch across thousands of acres of the Nebraska plains. Incredible as it may sound, a significant chink of these expansive pine forests was hand-planted in the early 20th century under the guidance of University of Nebraska botanist Charles E. Bessey (the district's namesake). Today, Bessey's more than 90,000-acre forest is still the largest hand-planted forest in the Western Hemisphere, according to Nebraska Passport. Visitors can stop by the Charles E. Bessey Tree Nursery to see trees being cultivated more than a century later. The Bessey Ranger District is also a terrific gateway to Nebraska's rugged sandhills region (which includes magnificent dunes and the beautiful, windswept Sandhills Scenic Byway) and the not-actually-dismal Dismal River, which flows through the dunes.

Nebraska National Forest's other area is the Pine Ridge Ranger District near the town of Chadron. Though lacking the Bessey District's novelty hand-planted forest, Pine Ridge protects an astounding rocky escarpment on the forest's western side, where prominent white cliffs, buttes, and mini-canyons defy the popular stereotype of Nebraska, amid recreation-filled forests, grasslands, and meadows.

Both ranger districts have unique recreational opportunities, including an extensive network of scenic trails and diverse camping areas. The Pine Ridge District is particularly well-suited to hiking, with roughly 80 miles of trails for on-foot exploration, horseback riding, and off-roading. Pine Ridge's hiking opportunities include the picturesque Black Hills Overlook Trail, which winds through Chadron State Park and offers panoramic views of Nebraska's grasslands and hills, as well as the landscape of neighboring South Dakota. Other gorgeous Pine Ridge District hikes are found in the wildlife-rich Soldier Creek Wilderness, the large cliff face at Cliffs Trailhead, along the 40-mile-long Pine Ridge Trail for hiking, biking, and horseback riding.

The Bessey District's recreational opportunities (other than exploring the Charles E. Bessey Nursery and pine forest) include a prime birdwatching experience at the district's Grouse Viewing Blinds, where visitors can observe the intricate mating displays of Nebraska's prairie grouse. The Bessey District's fish pond has year-round fishing for bass, trout, catfish, and more.

Nebraska National Forest's camping opportunities are as worthwhile as its scenery. The Bessey Recreation Complex and Campground is the forest's most developed camping option, with basketball, volleyball, and river tubing available to campers, as per the U.S. National Forest Campground Guide. If the Bessey Recreation Complex's 46 developed campsites are booked, guests can also stay at the Bessey District's 10-site Whitetail Campground and equestrian Natick Campground, or Pine Ridge's 13-site Red Cloud Campground and 8-site Soldier Creek Campground. Dispersed camping is also available for more rugged types. The Pine Ridge-adjacent community of Chadron is a historic American frontier town rich in cowboy spirit, with plenty of modern lodging options close to Nebraska National Forest's outdoor wonders.