Summer 2002
Carl A. Bimson Humanities Seminar
Colorado State University
College of Liberal Arts
Department of Anthropology  and Laboratory of Human Paleoecology

Learning From the Field –Teaching from the Field:
A Collaborative Experience on the Nebraska High Plains

Hudson-Meng Location:

The Hudson-Meng site is located in NW Nebraska near the South Dakota and Wyoming borders. Its about 270 miles (about a 5 hour drive) from Fort Collins, Colorado. The quickest route from Fort Collins is to go north on I25 to Cheyenne, Wyoming and then turn east (toward Omaha) on I80. Follow I80 east to Kimball, Nebraska (Exit 20), and turn north onto highway 71, through Scottsbluff and then about another 50 miles north and east where you'll turn left (north) onto highway 2.  Follow highway 2 into Crawford and then turn north on State 2/71. About 4 miles north of Crawford, turn west or left onto Forest Road 904 (unpaved), following signs to Toadstool State Park. Continue on FR 904 for about 7 miles, paralleling the Burlington Northern track on your left. Then head west on FR 905, taking great care as you cross the railroad track (trains pass every 15 minutes). It's about another 7 miles into Hudson-Meng from this point. Stay on the unpaved road and look for signs directing you to the Hudson-Meng Site.

Note that the unpaved roads can become treacherous when wet. Rainstorms can turn the ‘good road’ into a muddy mess in only a couple of minutes.    Usually, the road will be in good condition within a few hours after the rain stops. In general, use extreme caution when driving in the roads to and from the site, not only are they narrow and occasionally slick, much of the area is open range and cattle are usually present on some parts of the route.

Getting to the Site from Crawford: