Homestead Trail

The 59-mile Union Pacific Railroad right-of-way from Lincoln to Marietta, Kansas was purchased by a coalition of groups interested in making it a recreational trail in 2002. Their goals were to provide quality outdoor recreation, preserve the corridor's natural resources for education and awareness, to connect rural and urban communities and provide linkage opportunities for future trails. The Lower Platte South NRD now holds title to the Lancaster County portion of the corridor (approximately 15 miles) and development is in the early planning stages. The Homestead Trail is so named because the main corridor will take users near the Homestead National Monument at Beatrice and connector trails to the Monument itself are included in the trail's Development Plan.

The Lower Platte South NRD is responsible for developing the Lancaster County segment of the trail. Late in 2004 the NRD was close to securing funding to develop the trail from the northern most end of the corridor, just south of Saltillo Road, to Cortland. The segment from Saltillo Road to Princeton would be developed utilizing federal Transportation Enhancement Program funds administered through the Nebraska Department of Roads. Federal Recreational Trails Program funds through the Nebraska Game & Parks Commission would help build the trail from Princeton to Cortland. Some formalities remained before funding was certain. The trail surface would be crushed limestone. Construction is anticipated in 2006 or 2007.

Development to Cortland is one of five main segments identified to complete the trail in a Master Plan, which is still being drafted:

  1. Lincoln to Cortland (approx. 15 miles)
  2. Cortland to Beatrice (approx. 20 miles)
  3. Beatrice to Barneston (approx 19 miles)
  4. Barneston to Marysville (approx. 12 miles)
  5. Beatrice to Homestead National Monument

Time frames for completing these segments are still unclear. Connecting Marysville, KS and Marietta, KS is included in the draft Master Plan, but such a connection is not currently part of the corridor. Development of an equestrian trail within the corridor is also anticipated. It would be similar to our Mopac East Trail, as the equestrian and main limestone-surfaced trail would occasionally be one and the same. Horses would not be allowed within the city limits of Beatrice.