Experience the Sandhills as part of Nebraska Passport
TAYLOR - Several years ago, a study commissioned by Nebraska Tourism noted, “The Sandhills are marketed as an international natural wonder, yet it can be the case that to physically experience the Sandhills, one has to access a dirt road, cross over a barbed wire fence and risk walking on private land to actually claim that they have ‘experienced the sandhills.’”
Harrop Sandhills Park offers visitors a chance to experience the Sandhills. Eight miles north of Taylor on Highway 183 in Loup County, it has been selected as a Nebraska Passport stop for 2022.
The park has an informative one-third mile walking trail and provides visitors one of the best opportunities to learn about the Sandhills. It fulfills the need for those who want to enjoy a walk through the natural prairie
grass area. Native flora abound along the trail. Harrop also has a picnic shelter, windmill, restrooms and oldpump well.
The original development of Harrop Sandhills Park was spearheaded by Kevin Brown and John McFadden. Other committee members were Darla Buell, Sheila Luoma, Bob Price and Dr Terry DeGroff. The restoration of Harrop Sandhills Park was a project of the Loup County Historical Society.
In more recent years, the park has received maintenance help from local groups. Funded by two grants from the Calamus Area Community Fund (CACF), new informational signage was purchased. Care and maintenance of the park is done mainly by the Rusty Rustlers 4-H club.
A new trailhead sign was built and installed by Jim Ziegler. The text for 28 plant signs was written by Range Management Sspecialist Irene Ihm of Ainsworth. The new memorial sign for Lou Bohy was installed by the Rusty Rustlers 4-H club.
The Nebraska Passport program officially began May 1 and runs through Sept. 30. Participants are encouraged to download the Nebraska Passport App on their smartphone and get digital stamps, supplementing the physical Passport booklet for convenience. Those who used the mobile app last year will need to update the app to see the new program information.
To download, search “NE Passport 2022” in the Apple App Store or Google Play App Store. Passport booklets are available at Calamus Outfitters and the Taylor Visitor Information Center. Passport stamping is available at Calamus Outfitters. Make Harrop Sandhills Park your next destination!