Niobrara National Scenic River

Think of somewhere with sandy soil, wetlands, and abundant waterfowl. Did you immediately think of north-central Nebraska? Neither did I.

Yet the Niobrara River (pronounced “N-eye-O BR-ah-Ra” locally) has carved out a valley of just such features in the great plains of Nebraska. The river parallels the better-known Missouri River across the northern extremes of the state, joining the Missouri just west of Yankton.

The floodplain has created a valley of lush vegetation and forests, steep cliffs, and waterfalls where abundant wildlife call home. During our drive along the riverbank today, we saw several deer, but wildcats, prairie dogs, and many other critters also live here. Bison even roam freely on the nearby Niobrara National Wildlife Refuge.

In a way, we are lucky to even be able to visit this location. In the 1960s, plans were drawn up to dam the Niobrara, much like what had been done to the Missouri. When I heard this while watching the video at the visitor center, I was reminded of my visit to the Buffalo National River in Arkansas. A planned dam there had been thwarted around the same time.

Fortunately for us, several concerned local citizens, including many whose farms would end up under water, joined conservation-minded groups in petitioning the government to cancel the dam. Their efforts culminated in the National Park Service adding the Niobrara as a National Scenic River.

The weather played nice with us today, offering mostly sunny skies and mild temperatures. After a visit to the Visitor Center in Valentine, Nebraska, we headed east on some dirt roads paralleling the river. A quick stop at the Visitor Center for the Wildlife Refuge yielded a few pamphlets and information about the Refuge.

Further down the road, signs announcing the Niobrara National Scenic River also carried the caveat – Public Water / Private Land. Yes, most of the land along the river is private. There are a few public parks and access points and we took advantage of those to get some photographs. We also stopped on one bridge over the river for some pictures.

For those with more time (and stamina), several canoe and kayak outfitters line the river offering group and individual trips. In my younger days, I’d enjoy such adventures, but not on this trip.

After two days of visiting rivers, tomorrow we move on to fossils and scenery.

Steve