BRAN 43 | ROUTE
June 1 – 7, 2025
Plan Your Journey Today!
BRAN 43, the annual “Bicycle Ride Across Nebraska”, invites you to pedal through the heart of the Cornhusker State on one of the most stunning and rewarding cycling adventures in the country. This year’s route travels right through the center of Nebraska, showcasing the breathtaking beauty of its rolling plains, vibrant landscapes, and charming small towns.
Designed by cyclists, for cyclists, BRAN offers an unforgettable journey with options like full-service accommodations to ensure your focus stays on the ride and the memories you’ll create. Best of all, your participation supports BRAN’s mission to fund scholarships for Nebraska high school students pursuing higher education. Don’t miss the chance to ride, connect, and make an impact!
Please note that the depicted routes are subject to change.
BRAN 43 – Day 1 | Sunday, June 1, 2025
Oshkosh to Sutherland
COMMUNITIES:
Oshkosh, Lewellen, Lemoyne, Roscoe, Paxton, Sutherland
We will depart bright and early from Oshkosh, NE. Oshkosh was founded in the 1880s by cattlemen who found the surrounding area ideal for livestock grazing. It was named after the city of Oshkosh, Wisconsin. It is surrounded by the Nebraska Sandhills on the north, wheat farms to the south, and corn, bean, and alfalfa production in the North Platte River Valley. The area is noted for its birding, hunting, fishing and camping with Lake McConaughy, the North Platte River and Crescent Lake Wildlife Refuge in the adjacent area. The friendly, small town atmosphere makes Oshkosh an ideal place to live, to visit, or for retirement – or start your first day of riding.
Your Day 1 Route will give you the chance to ride along the northern beaches of Lake McConaughy. When you ride through Paxton, be sure to stop and have a bite to eat at Ole’s Big Game Steakhouse. You’ll continue along the Lincoln Highway, the only byway that traverses the entire state.
Follow history as you drive alongside the Oregon, Mormon and California Trails, the Pony Express route and the Union Pacific, part of the first transcontinental railroad. You’ll also experience the cultural, natural wonders and agricultural bounties of Nebraska.
Start Town: Oshkosh, NE
End Town: Sutherland, NE
Estimated Milage: 74.7 miles
Elevation Gain: +1,607 ft
Elevation Loss: -2,024 ft
Max Grade: 0.0 %
Max. Loss: 0.0 %
BRAN 43 – Day 2 | Monday, June 2, 2025
Sutherland to Gothenburg
COMMUNITIES:
Sutherland, Hershey, North Platte, Gothenburg
Day 2 has us departing from Sutherland. As is true for most small towns located in the Platte River valley of Nebraska, the earliest history of Sutherland can be traced to the westward migration. The Oregon-California trail generally ran south of the South Platte river, while the Mormon trail ran north of the North Platte river. In 1843, the Oregon-California trail began to see heavy traffic, and in 1847, the first contingent of Mormons traversed the trail.
O’Fallon’s Bluff, just southeast of Sutherland, was a famous landmark referred to by many travelers in their journals. In the days of the trails, the river ran along the base of the bluff. Wagons would converge in this bottle-neck from along a fairly wide path and move single-file between the bluff and the river.
Your Day 2 ride will take you along the Platte River. You’ll have a chance to visit the Wild West days of Nebraska with a ride past Buffalo Bill’s Ranch and the Pony Express Trail. You will also pass the Fort McPherson National Cemetery. For those of you looking for gravel riding, there will be an opportunity for gravel riding along the irrigation canal.
Start Town: Sutherland, NE
End Town: Gothenburg, NE
Estimated Milage: 70.7 miles
Elevation Gain: +538 ft
Elevation Loss: -942 ft
Max Grade: 0.0 %
Max. Loss: 0.0 %
BRAN 43 – Day 3 | Tuesday, June 3, 2025
Gothenburg to Broken Bow
COMMUNITIES:
Gothenburg, Callaway, Broken Bow
We start Day 3 in Gothenburg, Nebraska. It is named after Gothenburg, Sweden, and is noted for its large number of residents of Swedish descent. Gothenburg, Nebraska, and Gothenburg (Swedish: Göteborg), Sweden, are believed to be the only two cities named Gothenburg in the world. While in Gothenburg, be sure to visit the Pony Express Museum, Sod House Museum, Gothenburg Historical Museum, and the Swedish Crosses Cemetery.
As you pass through Callaway, be sure to stop by the Seven Valleys Museum, which includes the first courthouse constructed from a log cabin. Democrat Hill is on the route, a sure test for every rider complete with bragging rights.
Start Town: Gothenburg, NE
End Town: Broken Bow, NE
Estimated Milage: 61.9 miles
Elevation Gain: +1,925 ft
Elevation Loss: -2,020 ft
Max Grade: 0.0 %
Max. Loss: 0.0 %
BRAN 43 – Day 4 | Wednesday, June 4, 2025
Broken Bow to St. Paul
COMMUNITIES:
Broken Bow, Westerville, Arcadia, Loup City, Rockville, Howard City, Dannebrog, St. Paul
Day 4 begins in Broken Bow. Broken Bow was platted in 1882. Its name, likely suggested by a settler who found a broken bow in a field at the site of a former Native American camping ground, was submitted by homesteader Wilson Hewitt to the U.S. Post Office Department. The railroad was built through Broken Bow in 1884, and the town was incorporated as a village that same year.
Be sure to visit the Boneyard Creation Museum and the Sandhills Journey Scenic Byway Visito Center as well as the Custer County Museum. Many riders like to take a short detour to the outskirts of town and visit Kinkaider Brewing Company for one of their many craft beers.
Your ride will take you through the Loup Valley and give you a taste of the Sandhills. You’ll pass through Dannebrog, which is a snapshot in time showing the charm of smalltown Nebraska.
Start Town: Broken Bow, NE
End Town: St. Paul, NE
Estimated Milage: 88.2 miles
Elevation Gain: +2,530 ft
Elevation Loss: -3,175 ft
Max Grade: 0.0 %
Max. Loss: 0.0 %
BRAN 43 – Day 5 | Thursday, June 5, 2025
St. Paul to Central City
TOWNS:
St. Paul, Worms, Chapman, Marquette, Central City
Day 5 starts out of St. Paul. While you are there, be sure to visit the Museum of Nebraska Major League Baseball. It is dedicated to illustrating the careers of over 160 men with Nebraska ties who have made it to the Major Leagues of American Baseball. The museum contains artifacts and information on native Nebraskan’s and those with Nebraska roots or ties.
This ride will offer an option for gravel riders to traverse the trail from Marquette to Central City.
Start Town: St. Paul, NE
End Town: Central City, NE
Estimated Milage: 50.3 miles
Elevation Gain: +587 ft
Elevation Loss: -711 ft
Max Grade: 0.0 %
Max. Loss: 0.0 %
BRAN 43 – Day 6 | Friday, June 6, 2025
Central City to David City
COMMUNITIES:
Central City, Silver Creek, Columbus, Bellwood, David City
You begin your day in Central City. The first pioneers passed through the area on the Mormon Trail in 1847 and later on the Oregon Trail and the California Trail. This location was close to a huge cottonwood tree, called Lone Tree, that the pioneers used on these trails as a landmark. In 1858, the Nebraska Territorial Legislature established Merrick County, naming it after Elvira Merrick, the wife of a Dodge County territorial legislator who introduced the bill creating Merrick County. A yet to be established county seat was called “Elvira” and was said to be located under Lone Tree. The actual county seat was created in 1866 near the planned location of Elvira and renamed “Lone Tree”.
Central City will give you a chance to see – and taste – the culture of Nebraska. Start off with a visit to the Merrick County Historical Museum, then finish up at the Prairie Creek Vineyard & Winery.
On your way into David City, you will ride the historic Lincoln Highway. Nebraska Lincoln Highway Historic Byway is the only byway that traverses the entire state. Now known as U.S. Highway 30, this historic route lets you follow history as you drive alongside the Oregon, Mormon and California Trails, the Pony Express route and the Union Pacific, part of the first transcontinental railroad.
Start Town: Central City, NE
End Town: David City, NE
Estimated Milage: 64.2 miles
Elevation Gain: +378 ft
Elevation Loss: -452 ft
Max Grade: 0.0 %
Max. Loss: 0.0 %
BRAN 43 – Day 7 | Saturday, June 7, 2025
David City to Fremont
COMMUNITIES:
David City, Bruno, Prague, Cedar Bluffs, Fremont
We will begin our final day in David City. The origin of the name is a popular debate among townspeople: some say it was named after a former governor, others a wealthy woman whose maiden name was Davids, or a gentleman who owned half of the town when it was incorporated. Be sure to see the Butler County Museum to help you decide who is right. Also stop by the Bonce Creek Museum of Agrarian Art.
Your ride today will take you through an area known as the “Bohemian Alps”, with lots of turns and gentle hills and something new around each bend. You will want to stop off in Prague for refreshments. Prague is commonly referred to as the home of the world’s largest kolach (a Czech pastry), as says the sign along Nebraska Highway 79 when entering the town from the south.
Fremont is the end of our journey. Before you go, we will have a free lunch to fill you up and give you one last opportunity to the friends you have made along the way.
Start Town: David City, NE
End Town: Fremont, NE
Estimated Milage: 46.5 miles
Elevation Gain: +1,711 ft
Elevation Loss: -2,159 ft
Max Grade: 0.0 %
Max. Loss: 0.0 %
2024 BRAN Sponsors
The Bicycle Ride Across Nebraska is a non-profit, registered 501c3 organization. Our committee is made up of volunteers who work year-round to bring you the best biking experience in Nebraska. Sponsors help us to operate efficiently and keep the registration price as low as possible. Please consider them in all your future needs.. If you are interested in sponsoring, supporting, or volunteering for BRAN 43, please CONTACT US!