Journey through Arikaree Breaks Stagecoach Run

Get ready for the rumble of wagon wheels, the sound of hoofbeats on the prairie, and a true taste of the Old West as Cowboy Rick Hamby and the Journey Stagecoach crew return for another unforgettable adventure across the High Plains. Known for his “Just for Kids Roundup,” Cowboy Rick Hamby is a favorite storyteller and ambassador of Western heritage. His annual Journey Stagecoach rides bring history to life, offering families, communities, and visitors a chance to experience the spirit of the frontier.

This year’s Journey Stagecoach Ride will travel from St. Francis, Kansas, on June 6, through the scenic Arickaree Breaks, to the historic Beecher Island Battle Memorial Site in Colorado on June 10.

Participants and visitors will enjoy stagecoach rides, cowboy fellowship, living history, breathtaking prairie scenery, campfires, music, and stories beneath the western sky. The adventure begins in St. Francis, Kansas, on Friday, June 5, at the Hardt Gallery, followed by a full day of family-friendly activities, historical presentations, and community celebrations on Saturday. The adventure ends on Wednesday, June 10, at the Battle of Beecher Island Memorial grounds in Colorado. 

Friday, June 5 —The Hardt Gallery in St. Francis, Kansas 

6 to 9 PM CT “Western Art and Culture” exhibition at the Hardt Gallery featuring works by 21  regional artists. Experience an inspiring collection of art in a variety of mediums and styles,  including oil, acrylic, pencil, leather, bronze, pottery, and silver. 

Saturday, June 6 — St. Francis, Kansas 

Families and visitors are invited to enjoy a fun-filled day of activities including:

• 10:00 AM CT Nursing Home Visit to Cheyenne County Village • 12:00 PM CT Tour of the Cheyenne County Museum  
• 12:00 PM Lunch & Tour of the Cheyenne County Museum
• 2:00 PM CT Slideshow presentation featuring past Journey Stagecoach adventures and view the Western Art and Culture Exhibit  at the Hardt Gallery

Come out to the Cheyenne County Fairgrounds to meet the crew and view the real-life stagecoach up close in person! 

• 4:00 PM CT Meet and Mingle at the Fairgrounds
• 6:00 PM CT Free-will donation supper at the Fairgrounds

Sunday, June 7 – Wednesday, June 10 — Trail Ride Through the Arickaree Breaks 

Beginning Sunday, June 7, the stagecoach crew and outriders will begin their four-day journey  through the beautiful Arickaree Breaks — one of the High Plains’ hidden treasures. The  stagecoach will leave Saint Francis bright and early. Trail outriders wishing to ride in or  accompany the stagecoach on horseback during the June 7–10 trek must receive approval from  the trail bosses to ensure safety and trail access across private lands. Riders are responsible for  supplying their own horses, feed, camping equipment, and trail gear. Once registered, outriders  will receive a detailed route map including campsite locations, rollout times, and estimated daily  arrival times. Riders are welcome to participate in the entire four-day journey or simply join for a  single day of the ride. 

Arickaree or Arikaree? 

Both Arikaree and Arickaree are common spellings used for the river, geologic formation, and  local place names in Colorado. Arikaree is generally accepted today as the spelling for the river,  while Arickaree is often used for specific local landmarks and historic references. Both names  are derived from the Arikara Native American tribe. 

Stretching across northwest Kansas, eastern Colorado, and into Nebraska, the Arickaree Breaks  feature dramatic canyons, rugged ravines, rolling prairie, yucca, sagebrush, and native grasses.  Many visitors compare the scenery to a “mini-Grand Canyon” hidden in the middle of the plains. The area is also filled with fascinating stories from the past; the Breaks were once traveled by  Native American tribes, stagecoach passengers heading west during the Colorado Gold Rush, the  cattle-drives along the Great Western Cattle Trail, and frontier scouts during the days of the Old  West. 

In Colorado, near the headwaters of the Arickaree River, the Battle of Beecher Island took place  in September 1868. One of the American West’s most legendary frontier conflicts, where a small  band of 51 U.S. frontier scouts famously held off an overwhelming force of hundreds of  Northern Cheyenne, Arapaho, and Lakota Sioux warriors over nine harrowing days. Today, the  area serves as an important reminder of the region’s rich and complex frontier history. 

Wednesday, June 10 — Beecher Island, Colorado 

The final day of the journey concludes at the Beecher Island Battle Memorial Site along the Arickaree River in eastern Colorado. 

Activities include: 

• Approx. 3:00 PM MT Arrival of the stagecoach and outriders  
• 5:00 PM MT Delivery of letters to area school children 
• 6:00 PM MT Chuckwagon dinner for the crew and guests. 

▪ Community members are invited to attend the chuckwagon dinner for $15 per person.  If interested, please make dinner reservations by May 20.

▪ After supper, everyone is welcome to gather around the campfire for cowboy stories,  guitar pickin’, singing, and fellowship beneath the prairie stars — a perfect ending to  a memorable western adventure. 

The Journey Stagecoach Ride continues to celebrate the people, places, and stories that shaped  the American West while bringing communities together for a fun and meaningful experience for  all ages. For additional information, event participation, or dinner reservations, contact The  Hardt Gallery by email: [email protected] or by phone: 785-332-4950 or the Wray Museum at  [email protected] or by phone: 970-332-5063.