Saddle Rock

Saddle Rock one of the five named rocks of Scotts Bluff National Monument.

NPS/Eric Grunwald

Quick Facts

Amenities

2 listed

Cellular Signal, Scenic View/Photo Spot

This narrow buttress of rock rises 4,659 feet (1,366.11 meters) above sea level and 780 feet above the North Platte River. Saddle Rock was named for the indention between two thin spires on the bluff’s edge. Saddle Rock has also been referred to as “Motorcycle Rock”, “Grandpa’s Toes”, and “Steamboat Rock” among other names. The Saddle Rock Trail runs from the Visitor Center to the summit of Scotts Bluff and has its own tunnel to walk through.

• Geologic Formations

  
  

  Stop 5 on the Scotts Bluff National Monument Saddle Rock Trail Audio Tour.

  Credit / Author:

  Audio recording by Ray Richards

  Audio Transcript

  You have just been walking alongside the geologic formation referred to as the Gering Formation.  It may be difficult to tell the layers apart.  As you move further up the trail you will begin to notice more changes in the rock types that you are seeing. 

  Look out at Saddle Rock. It’s a different perspective from up here.  Did you notice the breakdown in front of you?  Now turn around and look at the rock face.  It almost appears as if the sandstone was sheared off of the rock face.  In October of 2000 there was a major rockslide that resulted in a 1,200-ton block of sandstone sloughing off onto the Saddle Rock Trail. 

  Ultimately the massive rock had to be broken down into smaller manageable sized boulders; and this was accomplished using dynamite the following May.  Several small charges were set to minimize the impact on the surrounding resources.  The blasting left the park with a 2,000-ton pile of debris.   The trail remained closed for nearly a year due to that rockslide. 

  As you continue up the trail from here you will notice a great deal of gray colored rock protruding from the cliff side.   Go ahead and reach out and touch some of it.  Now compare that feeling to the sandstone that it surrounds.  It’s much harder, isn’t it?  These are limestone concretions.  Sometimes the concretions are referred to as pipey concretions indicating the way in which they were deposited.  The pipey concretions have not formed in one continuous layer but rather are found in different shapes and sizes.  Another name for the limestone is cap rock.  This refers to location of the deposition, near the top of the bluffs capping it off.  The cap rock acts as a protective layer for the bottom portions of the bluff; much like the roof protects your house.  Since it is much harder, it can better withstand weathering and erosion than the sand and the siltstone below. 

  Continue walking, you are nearing the top of the bluff.  At the top take a right onto the North Overlook Trail to find the final stop on this tour.