Nebraska High Point Trip Reports

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The highest point in Nebraska, Panorama Point, is in Kimball county in the western part of the state on the Nebraska, Colorado, and Wyoming border. With a population of less than 5,000, there isn't much going on there. At 5,424 feet above sea level, it has a higher elevation than both Denver and Katahdin, the highest point in Maine. I always think of Nebraska as being very flat, but it gently gains elevation as you move from east to west. Omaha, on the eastern side of the state, has an elevation of 1,091 feet. Kearney, my home town, is in the middle of the state and sits at 2,152 feet above sea level.

Panorama Point is out in the middle of nowhere, surrounded by farmland and windmills. It is on private land and there is a small fee to enter the property. After crossing over a cattle guard, you travel down a short dirt road before reaching the four foot high granite monument. For some reason there is a dark steel pipe fence set in concrete surrounding the monument, which I think detracts from the beauty of the monument. Nearby sits an awkward looking black metal desk which holds the summit registry.

2009, July 19th - Kim's First Visit

My 20th high school reunion was in 2009. Since we were in the area, Todd and I decided to make a trip out to Kimball so I could pick up the Nebraska high point. The trip from Kearney to Sidney is pretty boring west of North Platte, the largest town on the interstate in the western part of the state. We stopped in Sidney for lunch, the location of the international headquarters for Cabela's, the World's Foremost Outfitter of hunting and fishing equipment.

When we got to Kimball, we left the interstate and traveled for what seemed like hours to get to the high point. The rolling hills, windmills and an occasional antelope were the only company we had. This is nothing like the beautiful mountains and trees I have become accustomed to. Finally we arrive at the high point. We pay the required fee and park near the monument. After taking a few pictures and trying to decide which direction is Colorado, we take off heading for our next adventure. But first, we must find Interstate 80 again and that means hours (or more accurately a half hour) of solitude. Our next stop was going to be Mount Sunflower, the highest point in Kansas.