Northfield Park Arboretum in Gering, just across the river from Scottsbluff, is a green space with a collection of trees and shrubs demonstrating which species thrive in the challenging climate of the Nebraska Panhandle — hot summers, cold winters, limited rainfall, and fierce wind. The arboretum is part of the broader Northfield Park complex and makes a quiet contrast to the more visited sites around the national monument.
For travellers who have come to Scotts Bluff primarily for the history and geology, the arboretum offers a chance to understand the regional landscape more broadly. The Platte River valley supports cottonwood and willow along the waterways, while the uplands are sagebrush and short-grass prairie — and the arboretum shows what deliberate planting can produce in this environment. A short walk, good for a slow morning before heading to the monument.