Pawnee Pioneer Trails Byway retraces the steps of the old Native American and pioneer trails across the open plains. What once was inhabited by Plains Indians and buffalo was later traveled by fur trappers, frontiersman, cattle ranchers, and homesteaders as they settled through the land, creating many railroad towns.

The best time to visit the Pawnee Buttes is in the spring or fall, when the temperatures are milder. In the early mornings and evenings, the bright colors painted across the sky add to the artwork of the sandstone towers. The Pawnee Buttes trail is open year-round; however, there is a nearby closure annually from March 1 – June 30 to protect any nesting raptors.