The Pine Ridge district of the Nebraska National Forest is comprised of 52,000 acres in the northwest corner of the state. This section of native Ponderosa forest was added to the National Forest system in the 1950s and includes Soldier Creek Wilderness, a federally-designated wilderness area. Eons of upthrusts of the earth’s crust, sedimentary deposits, and wind and water erosion have created the unique topography of the Pine Ridge region of this forest—sharp ridges, steep canyons, sandstone buttes, and sloping grassland.

The Nebraska National Forest is ideal for hiking, biking, fishing, camping, and sight-seeing. Visitors should be sure to explore the nearby Toadstool Geologic Park and Hudson-Meng Bison Bonebed while in the area.