June 22-26, 2022
Route Details
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It’s our 34th year, and we want to spend it someplace special and familiar, like an old shoe (or your favorite bike). For us, there’s only one place, and that’s the Nebraska Sandhills, an area we love for its quiet roads, dramatic vistas, winding rivers, cowboy towns, ranches, cattle, horses, wildlife and friendly people.
New This Year: We’re rolling out a new double-double format, with two nights in two different towns that we absolutely love and will not disappoint! The new "double-double" gives us the unique opportunity to explore some off the beaten paths, quiet county roads. Come ride with us and take in some inspiring landscapes, homegrown breweries, tanking/tubing opportunities and hospitality only found in rural Nebraska. Note: Please enjoy reading all the tentative details about the 2022 route! All daily routes and rest stops are subject to change. The intentions are to better explain new route options by posting the maps early. |
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Our Featured Breweries
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DAY 0: Tuesday, June 21
The Night Before — Loup City Our start and end host community in 2022 is Loup City, first organized in the 1870s. Located in Sherman County in Nebraska, this friendly town (population 1,029) is located near the Middle Loup River and almost 5 miles from the Sherman Reservoir. Loup City offers you a lot of attractions, restaurants and beautiful sites. If you have time, check out the famous Sherman Reservoir State Recreation Area with its beautiful lake, gardens, fishing and cabins. In town, Loup City features a community pool with a water slide, golf course and several local restaurants. For many years, Loup City has proclaimed itself as the “Polish Capital of Nebraska.” This is because it has a significant Polish population. It also has a Catholic church called Saint Joseph with stained glass windows that commemorate the families of the place, and some names are Polish. The church’s windows dated from the 20th century and were rescued from the previous Saint Jehoshaphat. |
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DAY 1: Wednesday, June 22
Loup City to Broken Bow — 47 mi Broken Bow is home to Kinkaider Brewing Company, a high school, a lovely park and the Historic Arrow & East Hotels right on the beautiful town square. Broken Bow has plenty of restaurants, a three-screen theater, a swimming pool, tennis courts, historic town square with lots of shopping and a library. So whether you ride a loop on Thursday or relax around town, there’s plenty to do and see in Broken Bow! ROUTE: Ride north on Hwy. 58 approximately 12 miles to Hwy. 70. Turn west and ride 6 miles to Arcadia. Continue west 14 miles to Westerville, and another 13 miles to Broken Bow. Departure: 7:30a REST STOPS:
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DAY 2: Thursday, June 23
Broken Bow to Callaway Loop — 57 mi There is only 1 road ride on Thursday and it’s a doozy! Ride through the beautiful Sandhills to Callaway and Oconto—this 57-mile route includes scenic highways through rolling grass-covered dunes and the challenging “Democrat Hill” with a nice lunch stop in Callaway and a rest stop in tiny Oconto. ROUTE: From Broken Bow, head west out of town on the Callaway Road. Follow this challenging and scenic road west and south about 22 miles to Callaway for brunch. From Callaway, head southeast on Hwy 40 for about 14 miles to Oconto for more snacks. Turn left (north) and follow the S Lincoln Ave to East 8th and then turn NE on Hwy 21 for about 11 miles to rest stop. From there, you have 10 miles to get to Broken Bow, where you can grab lunch! These are very scenic asphalt-covered, quiet highways, so have fun! Breakfast: 5:30a-7:30a REST STOPS:
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DAY 3: Friday, June 24
Broken Bow to Ord — 55 mi ROUTE: From Broken Bow, head north on the Airport Road 3.8 miles to the Round Valley Road. Turn right onto Round Valley Road and continue 11 miles to the Round Valley Schoolhouse. From the schoolhouse, continue west on Round Valley Road and continue 13 miles to Sargent. From Sargent, continue east on Sargent/Ord Road for 15 miles to the historic St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church. From the church, continue east on the Airport Road 12 miles to Ord. If you hurry, you can go tubing on the North Loup River when you get to town! Breakfast: 5:30a-7:30a REST STOPS:
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DAY 4: Saturday, June 25
Option Day — Various Mileage Day 4 is your day. Relax, sleep in, go tanking/tubing, or choose from one of our three loop ride options. Breakfast: 5:30a-7:30a Whether you are coming to live, work, play, or give, Ord is an excellent choice with an exceptional quality of life and a growing business community. Ord is located in north-central Nebraska, on the eastern edge of the Nebraska Sandhills. Known nationally for its rural economic development excellence, Ord is a small rural community with 21st century amenities, a progressive mentality with traditional small-town values. There are 2 large motels, including Airport Motel, which has rooms both nights! Be sure to make time to slow down, kick back and relax in the best the Good Life has to offer. Ord is the winner of multiple TDN Favorite Host Town awards. There are three road ride options: |
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OPTION 2:
ROUTE: 48-mile lunch ride to the Hungry Horse Saloon in Ericson (out and back). From Ord, follow Hwy. 70 to near the junction of Hwy. 91 for a remote rest stop--a very scenic and quiet route recommended by one of our local cyclists. Continue to Hwy. 91, turn right (east) and ride to Ericson and enjoy lunch at the unique cowboy-themed Hungry Horse Saloon. Rest stops: Remote rest stop at mile 17 on Hwy. 70 just south of junction with Hwy. 91. Lunch at Hungry Horse Saloon in Ericson (24 miles) REST STOPS:
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OPTION 3:
ROUTE: 100-mile loop ride from Ord to Ericson, Burwell, Taylor, Sargent, Comstock and back to Ord From Ord, head north on Hwy 70 to Hwy 91 (right) to Ericson and the Hungry Horse Saloon. Turn around on Hwy 91 and head to Burwell. Veer right on Hwy 183 to Taylor and then head south to Sargent. Head east on Sargent Road back to Ord. Rest stops:
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SATURDAY NIGHT STREET FESTIVAL
Street dance on the City Square hosted by Scratchtown Brewery. Ord knows how to throw a party! Scratchtown Brewing Company, the Nebraska Sandhills’ first brewery, opened its doors in 2013 and since have been dedicated to brewing and serving an assortment of premium-quality handcrafted beer. Caleb and his crew are also passionate about their small town roots and the incomparable Nebraska Sandhills. We are excited to celebrate TDN 2022 with some live music while sipping on one of Scratchtown's award-winning beers. |
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DAY 5: Sunday, June 26
Ord to Loup City - 30 miles Route: From Ord, ride 2 miles from park and then turn south on 11st Street/South Ave./Pizza Hut Road south of Ord 8 miles to Hwy. 22. Turn west and ride 4 miles to Hwy. 70. Turn south and ride Hwy. 70 about 16 miles to Loup City. Breakfast: 5:30a-7:30a REST STOPS:
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