If you are looking for unique places to visit and explore in this small but growing city, Crowell is the place for you. This small city is just a side trip away from Wichita Falls, Texas, but it still has plenty to offer. If you’re looking for a relaxing getaway, this small town is an excellent choice.
Medicine Mounds
A visit to the Medicine Mounds in Crowell will allow you to see a very different part of Nebraska. The area is surrounded by private farms, but there are still traces of the ancient structures scattered across the hillsides. The area is also home to the Downtown Medicine Mound Museum, which documents the lives of the ranchers and farmers who once lived nearby.
Before the railroad arrived, the Comanche and Kiowa Indians called this part of Hardeman County their home. It was named after a group of large mounds that were believed to have healing properties. In 1854, a railroad company purchased the land in the area, and by the 1870s, Anglo settlers began to arrive. In 1908, the village was moved 2.5 miles north. By the Great Depression, the population of the town was only 210. Around the same time, the local post office was closed, and the town’s school district merged with the neighboring district of Quanah.
Near the town of Crowell, a series of four dolomite mounds are considered sacred by the Comanche Nation. During the prehistoric era, braves from the Comanche Nation would travel to these mounds to undertake vision quests. Vision quests are rituals in which a person seeks contact with the spirit world and nature. The mounds were also used for worship and gathering medicinal plants. Native-Americans still go to the site to perform vision quests and to seek spiritual guidance.
If you’re interested in learning more about the Comanche culture, visit the Downtown Medicine Mound Museum. This museum preserves the history of the town and the pioneer families that lived here. Also, visit the Medicine Mounds Ranch, a private cattle ranch located in Hardeman County. It includes the historic Medicine Mounds and is about 12 miles southeast of Quanah.
Crowell Ridge
The Crowell Ridge is a ridge in Washington, located at 6,686 feet above sea level. It lies to the west and northeast of Sullivan Mountain. People who are interested in the outdoors can visit this area by hiking, biking, or riding horses. The ridge is also home to several small towns and rural areas.
Accommodations in Crowell are plentiful, and most of them are affordable. These places offer basic amenities and good comfort. They often have free wireless internet, satellite television, and swimming pools. Other affordable places to stay in Crowell include bed and breakfasts and motels. You can also find a wide range of dining options in Crowell.
For hiking enthusiasts, Crowell Ridge offers excellent views of the surrounding area. It is accessible via a trail that follows the mostly treeless ridge between Sullivan Mountain and the Salmo-Priest Wilderness. The trail is 7.8 miles one-way and offers incredible views.
Visitors can also explore the nearby Salmo Priest Wilderness, which is located within the Colville National Forest. Access to the wilderness requires a high-clearance vehicle. However, once there, the Forest Service road takes care of the majority of the climbing. A hike to Crowell Ridge from the trailhead at 6,220 feet provides a breathtaking view of the area. The hike can be done in a day and can take up to 8 miles round-trip.
For hikers, the Crowell Ridge is a great choice for backpacking and overnight camping. The trail is not steep, and the scenery is almost continuous. The ridge is a great choice for those who want to experience the Washington Selkirks. The overnight route requires one mile of off-trail navigation. For those who don’t want to do that, you can take the shorter route to Gypsy Peak, which begins from Bear Meadow.
Crowell Trailhead
The Crowell Trailhead is located in the Salmo Priest Wilderness within the Colville National Forest. Accessing the trailhead requires a high-clearance vehicle. Most of the hiking is along a Forest Service road. The trail begins at 6,220 feet and offers sweeping views of the surrounding area. Hikers can enjoy a day hike up to 8 miles round trip.
The Crowell Ridge trail is an easy hike with panoramic views. It’s 3.7 miles long and accessible by horseback or foot. There are two trailheads in the Crowell Ridge area. The Bear Pasture trailhead is open from May to August while the Crowell Trailhead is open year-round.
