niobrara | NE | Find park - Future Camping

A beautiful, if short, waterfall empties into the side of the Niobrara NSR.

Berry Falls is one of over 200 waterfalls that visitors may see along the Niobrara National Scenic River's bluffs.

A man takes a photo of a meandering river from an overlook.

Parts of the river are shallow and meandering, making beautiful backdrops for people to take photographs.

Yellows, oranges, and greens dominate the fall colors along the Niobrara NSR.

Autumn is a perfect time to enjoy the beauty of the Niobrara National Scenic River, from the river or the banks.

Two people in one canoe paddle along the bluffs of the Niobrara NSR.

The Niobrara is a peaceful place to paddle during the week.

A view from a canoe, with the photographer's feet resting on the bow, of the Niobrara NSR.

Much of the Niobrara National Scenic River is easy paddling, suitable for novice canoers.

A paddler in a canoe goes through Class II Rapids on the Niobrara NSR.

An experienced canoer takes on the Class II Egelhoffs Rapids along the Niobrara National Scenic River.

Many people on tubes float down the Niobrara.

On Saturdays, the Niobrara National Scenic River is a great place to meet hundreds of other tubers.

Physical Address:

214 W US Highway 20

Valentine, NE 69201

Mailing Address:

214 W US Highway 20

Valentine, NE 69201

contact-details

Phone Number: 4023761901 Voice
Phone Number: 4023761949 Fax

Email Address: niobrara_nsr@nps.gov
Description:

Fees

Entrance Fees

Entrance Passes

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.

park designation:National Scenic River

Directions:

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)

For detailed directions, please visit this link.

Directions

Operating Hours:

Floating and paddling standard 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.

Weather Information:

Summer (June-August): highs - low 80s to low 100s; lows - 50s to 60s, with occasional thunderstorms and associated strong winds. Moderate dry winds are common in the summer. 8.3" is average summer rainfall. Winter (November-April): Average highs 20-30s, average lows 0-10s with 5.5"/month average snowfall. Spring (April/May) and Fall (September/October) have cooler temperatures: average highs 60-70s, average lows 30-40s with 7.3" average rain/snowfall.