Chimney Rock- Nebraska Panhandle. Challenging an evening thunderstorm on the High Plains, Chimney Rock stands a lone sentinel on the prairie, piercing the horizon to point the way west to all those who seek hope and promise of a better life in the American West. Chimney Rock once was an important landmark for pioneers during their westward migration along the Platte River Road a century and a half ago. Today, it is arguably the most recognized natural feature on the Oregon Trail.