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Trails West Magazine

Welcome to Trails West Magazine. The online magazine that connects people, ignites curiosity, and shares the beauty, challenges, and triumphs that define the human experience. We bring stories to life—showcasing destinations, cultures, people, and moments that deserve to be seen, and in some cases, some stories that must be told.

Piercing the Veil: The Evolution of Body Modification 

Discover the rich history and cultural significance of body modification and piercing — from ancient rituals in Egypt, India, and Africa to the punk rebellion of the 1980s and today’s mainstream acceptance. Explore how piercings have symbolized identity, spirituality, and rites of passage across civilizations, and see how modern piercing culture has evolved into a celebrated form of personal expression and art.

Jeep Therapy: The Open Road Stress Reset 

On any given summer evening, when the sun drops low and the heat finally starts to fade, you’ll spot them: Jeeps with the doors off, the roof stashed in a garage somewhere, and a couple of friends rolling slowly down backcountry roads. The music drifts, the air rushes, and the world feels lighter for a while.

Chimney Rock Golf Course: Jewel of the Prairie 

Nestled in the rolling grasslands of western Nebraska, just a short drive from Bayard, sits a course that blends history, scenery, and sport into a uniquely memorable experience. Chimney Rock Golf Course, known by some proudly as “The Jewel of the Prairie.

Dancing with Light: The Art of Intentional Camera Movement 

In the world of photography—where sharpness and precision are often prized above all else—there exists a rebellious technique that throws convention to the wind. Intentional Camera Movement, or ICM, is an approach that embraces blur, motion, and abstraction, transforming everyday scenes into painterly works of art. Instead of freezing a moment in time, ICM captures the feeling of a moment—fluid, unpredictable, and alive.

Lake Minatare Lighthouse

No consideration is given to one of seven land-locked lighthouses in the United States that they can only see in the panhandle of Nebraska and honestly, no one cares.

Mary Murray Murdoch

Mary “Wee Granny” Murray Murdoch was born in Glencairn, Dumfries, Scotland, on Oct. 13, 1782. She died near Chimney Rock Nebraska.

Rock Hunting in Western Nebraska

Rock clubs are dynamic groups scattered throughout the world that unite people who have a passion for treasures that nature provides with exceptional diversity. WyoBraska is a rich and vast geographical area that provides plenty of opportunities to gather spectacular rocks and minerals.

Discovery of the Bisterfeldt Potato Cellar Site

In 1933 an archeological find of a lifetime was discovered in Gering, Nebraska containing the skeletons of 32 adults and five infants of Woodland Plains Indian hunter-gatherers located in four separate pits.

NEW JOURNEYS

Devils Tower, Wyoming: The Stone Sentinel of the Plains 

Standing proud and unyielding against the vast Wyoming sky, Devils Tower is more than just a striking geological formation. It’s a symbol etched deep in Native American heritage, American pop culture, and the enduring draw of the wild West.

Haystack Rock: Oregon’s Timeless Coastal Sentinel 

The first thing you notice when you arrive in Cannon Beach isn’t the scent of salt air or the crash of the surf—it’s the towering silhouette of Haystack Rock, rising 235 feet from the Pacific like a fortress of stone.

Toadstool Geological Park & Campground 

Situated within the Oglala National Grassland in the far reaches of northwestern Nebraska, Toadstool Geologic Park stands out for its exceptional geological marvels. The remarkable rock configurations found here bear the moniker "toadstools," a nod to their uncanny resemblance to mushrooms.

The Cache la Poudre River 

The Cache la Poudre River is prominent in Colorado, United States. It is located in the northern (NoCo) part of the state and flows through the scenic Poudre Canyon, west of the city of Fort Collins.

WESTERN NEBRASKA

Alliance, Nebraska, and the Iconic Carhenge 

In the heart of the American Midwest, tucked away on the plains of Nebraska, lies the town of Alliance. While often overlooked on the map, this unassuming community holds a fascinating history intertwined with a peculiar roadside attraction known as Carhenge.

COLORADO

Mount Richthofen: The Great Chief 

Nestled within the Never Summer Mountains of Northern Colorado, Mount Richthofen, also referred to as the "Great Chief" or "Chief Mountain," proudly stands as a prominent peak in the region. It has captured the hearts of many visitors, including ourselves, making it a beloved destination during our time in Colorado

SOUTH DAKOTA

Hot Springs, South Dakota: Where Warm Springs Meet an Ice Age Graveyard

Tucked into the Southern Black Hills, Hot Springs, South Dakota, wears two coats at once: spa town and science hub. On one side of town, naturally warm, mineral-rich water still bubbles up as it has for millennia, the reason nineteenth-century visitors flocked here to “take the waters.”
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