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Now as the weather is finally getting better, people all around Hastings have been getting out and about into the great outdoors after a seemingly endless and brutally cold winter. If you are anything like me though, just sitting on a porch swing or at a picnic table in your backyard can be enjoyable, but only for about five or ten minutes. I always have a need to be up and about whenever I’m outside.

Something that I enjoy a lot is riding my bicycle. A couple of years ago, Hastings built a very nice bike trail all around the town. If I can remember correctly, the bike trail is approximately 7 miles from start to finish. Not only is biking the whole thing a great way for exercise, but there is also a great view all around the trail.

Really you can jump onto the trail anywhere along the path, but to me it starts at the edge of Libbs Park. It then winds through the park northward and over the railroad tracks, where it starts to take multiple paths around Hastings Lake. I have always loved the lake, and when I ride around it, the view of the lake is always very nice.

The trail then takes a twist more south when you are done riding around the lake. It goes over the highway and past Dairy Queen. This is the part where the bike trail is my favorite. After going a little ways, the trail will take you through a beautiful cornfield with a long row of trees on one side of the trail. At this point in the trail, it is the less commonly traveled part. Personally for me, riding through a cornfield with only an open sky above me is very relaxing, and is probably something only a Nebraskan could appreciate fully.

Eventually the trail will go straight south and take you past Parkview Cemetery and then through another park, Heartwell. At this time if you are getting a little tired, you could always stop and take a breather on the benches found throughout the trail on its side and feed the ducks or view the fountains in the lake in the park. Once you are ready to go, the trail is only a short ways more until the end.

The trail will take you into the busy downtown area of Hastings. And abruptly, it will end right behind the Victory Building downtown. To me, this is kind of a weird spot to me for the trail and it is a slight disappointment to such a beautiful trail, but none the less the trail is excellent.

Up to this point, I’ve only been talking about riding a bicycle on the trail. But along the trail, I’ve said hello to many different people doing many different things. Probably a more common thing on the trail than biking on it is running or walking on it. I’ve gone by countless people just walking on the trail, or going for a jog. I’ve also seen people walking their dogs on the trail for exercise for them and their pet. And even if you aren’t feeling ambitious enough to walk, jog or bike the whole trail, you can pick your favorite part of the trail and get on for a little bit, and then head to the next spot on your list for the day.

With that all said, I honestly believe that the bicycle trail is one of Hastings’ most entertaining and unique aspects. If you haven’t ever been on the trail, I highly encourage you to get on it soon!

About the author: Joey Fox

Joey Fox is a lifelong Hastings resident. A junior at Hastings Senior High School, he loves to read, play his trumpet in the Hastings Tiger Marching Band, hang out with his friends, and just generally have a good time! Joey also enjoys volunteering at Hastings Museum and doing community service in organizations such as the Mayors Youth Council and Youth Leadership. You can almost always find him out and about doing things, whether it’s with his friends, in a school activity, or working to keep Hastings an enjoyable place!