National Monuments · Nebraska
Scotts Bluff National Monument
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Check the official park website for current access, conditions and visitor information.
Introduction
Background: 1
Towering 800 feet above the North Platte River, Scotts Bluff has served as a landmark for peoples from Native Americans to emigrants on the Oregon, California and Mormon Trails to modern travelers. Rich with geological and paleontological history as well as human history, there is much to discover while exploring the 3,000 acres of Scotts Bluff National Monument.
Geography
Designation: 2
National Monument
State or territory: 3
Nebraska
Park Map - Scotts Bluff National Monument: 4
Map scope: Scotts Bluff National Monument
Map of Scott Bluff National Monument in Nebraska. The park is shown in tan and the surrounding area outside the park is a lighter shade. Traveling northwest, the Old Oregon Trail spans the map and cuts through the park.
History and culture
History & Culture: 5
From various tribes of Native Americans living and travelling through the area, to our modern towns with populations made of many different cultures, Scotts Bluff has served as a landmark for a huge diversity of peoples. Visit the pages below to learn about some of the people, places, and stories associated with Scotts Bluff National Monument.
Nature
Ecology: 6
Scotts Bluff National Monument was established in 1919 by Presidential Proclamation primarily for its historical significance and unique geological features. While human history is the dominant theme today at Scotts Bluff, the area's natural history provides the setting in which a multitude of significant human events has transpired. Its principal natural value is the topographically diverse landscape in which the main geologic features of the historic landscape are still preserved. The monument lies within the western Great Plains in an area that was once almost continuous mixed and short grass prairie and that is now largely utilized for farming and ranching. The monument lands encompass two large, cliff-rimmed, bluffs: Scotts Bluff and South Bluff. Most of the land within the boundary is in native mixed-grass prairie with some previously disturbed areas harboring a variety of non-native vegetation. There is also an area of mostly barren badlands at the northern base of Scotts Bluff and an area of riparian vegatation along the North Platte River. While the region's landscape and that of the monument are very different than they were 150 years ago, the monument remains a home for many species of plants and animals. Read more about the plants, animals and geology of Scotts Bluff National Monument by using the links below.
Four hundred fifty-two species, subspecies, and varieties of vascular plants have been identified at Scotts Bluff National Monument.
Twenty-one fish, 6 amphibian, 7 reptile, 126 bird, and 29 mammal species have been identified at Scotts Bluff National Monument.
Geologic interest in Scotts Bluff dates to the U.S. Geological Survey of the area in the late 1800s.
Learn about how the Northern Great Plains Inventory and Monitoring Network helps to inventory and protect resources at Scotts Bluff NM.
Wildlife: 7
Scotts Bluff National Monument is one of the few places in the Panhandle of Nebraska where wildlife is protected in a natural environment. There are resident populations of various species of reptiles, amphibians, birds, mammals and invertebrates, although an inventory of invertebrates has not been done. Migrating bird species also utilize the monument for rest and feeding. The monument is surrounded by private land, approximately half of which is used for agriculture. This somewhat restricts the movement of animal populations in and out of the monument. The larger prairie animals encountered by the pioneers, such as grizzly bears, bison, and elk are gone from the monument, and will probably never return. Currently 21 fish, 6 amphibian, 7 reptile, 126 bird, and 29 mammal species have been identified within the monument.
Coyotes are adaptable animals that live throughout North America, including the western Great Plains.
Plants: 8
Four hundred fifty-two species, subspecies, and varieties of vascular plants have been identified at Scotts Bluff National Monument. The vegetation is divided into three major plant associations:
Within these plant associations can be further found seven major habitat types: riverine woodland, coniferous woodland, mixed-grass prairie, riparian habitat associated with irrigation canals, pine-studded bluffs, shrub-dominated slopes, and badlands.
In 1995 twenty vegetation "mapping classes" were identified within the boundaries of the Monument in accordance with the Federal Geographic Data Committee's National Vegetation Classification Standard. A vegetation map was produced from this research. The mixed-grass prairie is the predominant vegetative cover of the Monument. Learn about plant community monitoring at Scotts Bluff National Monument .
Rocky Mountain juniper is an important source of food and shelter for many Scotts Bluff wildlife species.
Learn about some of the approximately 85 grasses and sedges that are found on the prairie of Scotts Bluff National Monument.
Visitor information
Visitation
Sources & field notes
Source records (12)
Select a numbered reference to open a source card. Retrieval dates describe this edition’s source capture, rather than an independent verification or the date of the underlying information.
Background · Official park structured information. Open source ↗
- Information date
- Not supplied by the source
- Retrieved
- 2026-10-30
- Evidence
- Single source; not independently corroborated.
- Reuse
- NPS-supplied text; NPS-authored government work generally public domain, subject to third-party rights.
Designation · National Park System directory. Open source ↗
- Information date
- Not supplied by the source
- Retrieved
- 2026-10-30
- Evidence
- Single source; not independently corroborated.
- Reuse
- Factual reference data; source attribution retained.
State or territory · National Park System directory. Open source ↗
- Information date
- Not supplied by the source
- Retrieved
- 2026-10-30
- Evidence
- Single source; not independently corroborated.
- Reuse
- Factual reference data; source attribution retained.
Park Map - Scotts Bluff National Monument · National Park Service, Harpers Ferry Center. Open source ↗
- Information date
- Not supplied by the source
- Retrieved
- 2026-10-30
- Source scope
- Scotts Bluff National Monument
- Download
- Official map PDF ↗
- Evidence
- Single source; not independently corroborated.
- Reuse
- Public domain; NPS map
- Rights
- Public domain; NPS map
History & Culture · National Park Service. Open source ↗
- Information date
- Not supplied by the source
- Retrieved
- 2026-10-30
- Evidence
- Single source; not independently corroborated.
- Reuse
- NPS-authored U.S. government material is generally public domain; third-party material may have separate rights. No images copied.
Ecology · Nature & Science — National Park Service. Open source ↗
- Information date
- February 21, 2025
- Retrieved
- 2026-10-30
- Evidence
- Single source; not independently corroborated.
- Reuse
- NPS webpage text; U.S. government work generally public domain. Third-party material may have separate rights.
Wildlife · Wildlife — National Park Service. Open source ↗
- Information date
- February 20, 2025
- Retrieved
- 2026-10-30
- Evidence
- Single source; not independently corroborated.
- Reuse
- NPS webpage text; U.S. government work generally public domain. Third-party material may have separate rights.
Plants · Plants — National Park Service. Open source ↗
- Information date
- February 20, 2025
- Retrieved
- 2026-10-30
- Evidence
- Single source; not independently corroborated.
- Reuse
- NPS webpage text; U.S. government work generally public domain. Third-party material may have separate rights.
Physical Address · Official park structured information. Open source ↗
- Information date
- Not supplied by the source
- Retrieved
- 2026-10-30
- Evidence
- Single source; not independently corroborated.
- Reuse
- NPS-supplied text; NPS-authored government work generally public domain, subject to third-party rights.
Mailing Address · Official park structured information. Open source ↗
- Information date
- Not supplied by the source
- Retrieved
- 2026-10-30
- Evidence
- Single source; not independently corroborated.
- Reuse
- NPS-supplied text; NPS-authored government work generally public domain, subject to third-party rights.
Telephone · Official park structured information. Open source ↗
- Information date
- Not supplied by the source
- Retrieved
- 2026-10-30
- Evidence
- Single source; not independently corroborated.
- Reuse
- NPS-supplied text; NPS-authored government work generally public domain, subject to third-party rights.
Recreation visits · National Park Service Visitor Use Statistics. Open source ↗
- Information date
- 2025
- Retrieved
- 2026-10-30
- Methodology
- NPS reporting unit; annual total is the sum of 12 monthly recreation visit estimates.
- Reporting unit
- Scotts Bluff NM
- Evidence
- Single source; not independently corroborated.
- Reuse
- Factual reference data; source attribution retained.