Jun 3-10; Monument Summitt Closed

(GERING, Neb.) — Scotts Bluff Summit to close for herbicide applications in June.

Invasive plant species threaten to overwhelm native plant communities that can be important sources of food and shelter for our wildlife.

The National Park Service Invasive Plant Management Team (IPMT) will be working on controlling various invasive plant infestations at Scotts Bluff National Monument during the week of June 3rd through 10th. 

In order to combat the threat posed by the invasive annual grasses, cheatgrass and Japanese brome, against native vegetation in the vicinity of the Summit Road parking lot and bluff-top trails, the team will target these areas for treatment using selective herbicides sometime in the range of June 5th, 6th, and 7th.

To ensure the safety of the visiting public, the herbicide treatments will facilitate a temporary closure of the Scotts Bluff Summit area. This means that the Scotts Bluff Summit Road and upper portions of the popular Saddle Rock Trail will remain closed to visitors from sunrise until 10am on June 5th, 6th or 7th.

Because herbicide application is dependent on weather conditions, the closure may happen on any of those three days. The herbicide application will not affect the Oregon Trail Pathway or Prairie View Trails and the Scotts Bluff National Monument visitor center is expected to be open for regular hours (open 9am to 5 pm daily).

Please note that there may also be temporary closures of the North and South Overlook Trails at the summit of Scotts Bluff on June 5th, 6th, and 7th.