About Niobrara National Scenic River
With a little something for everyone, the Niobrara National Scenic River is a destination for crossing adventures off your bucket list. Most popular for river recreation, you can float the Niobrara River on a canoe, tube, or kayak as a beginner and have a blast. Hiking, biking, and wildlife watching keep our visitors busy. Oh! And we haven't even told you about the waterfalls yet.
Quick Facts
Operating Hours
Most of the river itself is open 24 hours a day, with the exception of the river that flows through Fort Niobrara National Wildlife Refuge. The river in that stretch is open from sunrise to sunset. Please use caution: because the NPS does not own the land, different sites and private businesses have their own hours. Please ensure that you are following individual landowner regulations when you launch, take out, or visit individual areas.
Activities
Getting There
Most visitors start their trip in the city of Valentine, Nebraska. Valentine is 76 miles south of I-90 (Murdo, SD Exit) on Hwy 83; or 130 miles north of I-80 (North Platte, NE Exit) on Hwy 83. The nearest major airports are in Rapid City, SD (220 miles); Denver, CO (391 miles); and Omaha, NE (300 miles)
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Topics & Themes
Things To Do
Bike the Cowboy Trail
The Cowboy Trail is a hiking and biking trail created from the historic bed of the railroad track that passed…
The cowboy trail is an eight foot wide, crushed gravel trail that is well maintained by volunteers for the Nebraska…
Float the Niobrara River
Experience the beauty of the Niobrara National Scenic River up close and personal by floating the gentle waters through six…
See the Fort Niobrara National Wildlife Refuge from a whole new perspective. Wildlife can be seen from the river along…
Shoot Winter Photography at Fort Falls
See the Niobrara River in the light of a winter lens. Photographers can find winter scenery, natural phenomena's, wildlife, canyons,…
At the Fort Falls, you can photograph one of the over 200 waterfalls on the Niobrara River. The falls change…
Hike to Fort Falls
This scenic 1.0 mile hike highlights the 45-foot-tall Fort Falls and the shores of the Niobrara National Scenic River on…
Along this trail you will see both the Fort Falls and the Niobrara National Scenic River, but other highlights include…
Visitor Centers
Niobrara National Scenic River Visitor Center
Begin your journey down the Niobrara at the visitor center, where you may discover what makes this river so special through exhibits and a twenty…
Hours: The Niobrara National Scenic River Visitor Center is a perfect way to begin your trip to explore the Niobrara. Exhibits, a twenty minute film, and park rangers will all help you plan your visit and discover why the Niobrara is so special. Summer is our busiest season (On Season), between Memorial Day and Labor Day. Off Season runs (September to May) and has fewer crowds and traffic on the river.
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