Sandhills

The Sandhills span a large area across north-central Nebraska, featuring grass-covered dunes that rise over flatter terrain with shallow lakes nestled between the hills. The landscape is used today mainly as grazing land for cattle, with the grass cover protecting the sandy soils beneath.

Pawnee, Omaha, and Sioux peoples hunted across these grasslands before settlers arrived in the 1870s and established cattle ranching. The area quickly became a major livestock region that remains known for ranching today.

The rolling landscape shaped how ranching communities established themselves here, with families building homes adapted to the sandy terrain and sparse water sources. This lifestyle remains visible in how the land is managed today for livestock and conservation.

The terrain is quite remote, so it helps to plan ahead and bring gas and supplies with you. Spring and fall are the best times to explore, when temperatures are pleasant and wildlife is more active.

The soil here contains very old sand deposits filled with underground water that forms one of the region's most important water sources. This hidden water system allows plants and animals to thrive in what would otherwise be a dry, sandy landscape.