The Cowboy Trail, which traverses northern Nebraska, was one of the recipients of a federal grant recently. It is pictured here near Valentine.(Courtesy of NEBRASKAland Magazine and Nebraska Game and Parks Commission)

LINCOLN — Hiking and biking enthusiasts are set to gather on Friday in Valentine to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the establishment of the Cowboy Trail, a recreation trail that spans most of northern Nebraska.

At 317 miles long, the Cowboy Trail is the nation’s longest rails-to-trails conversion project, stretching from Norfolk on the east to Chadron on the west on the abandoned Chicago & Northwestern rail line. The rail line was dubbed “the Cowboy Line” because it traverses some of Nebraska’s best cattle country.

Events on Friday begin at 9 a.m. with a bike ride from

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