Niobrara National Scenic River
National Wild and Scenic River · NE
Caution · Life Jackets Required!
By Nebraska State law, all children 13 years old and younger must WEAR a USCG approved life jacket to float the Niobrara NSR. Anyone over 13 years old must HAVE a life jacket. If you are renting equipment, your outfitter will provide them.
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.
- NPS site
- nps.gov/niob
- Location
- Niobrara National Scenic River (42.794, -99.919)
Track your visit to Niobrara National Scenic River
NP Tracker keeps a record of every National Park Service unit you visit — all 430-plus of them. Log visits with dates and photos, collect passport stamps, plan trips, and watch your map fill in. It's free.
Passport stamp locations
- Fort Niobrara National Wildlife Refuge
- Niobrara National Scenic River Bookstore
- Niobrara National Scenic River Visitor Center
- Smith Falls State Park
Hours
Floating and paddling standard hourstoday: All Day
- Sat Oct 3All Day
- Sun Oct 4All Day
- Mon Oct 5All Day
- Tue Oct 6All Day
- Wed Oct 7All Day
- Thu Oct 8All Day
- Fri Oct 9All Day
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.
Hours are retrieved from the National Park Service and can change without notice — check the official site before you go.
Visitor centers
1
Self-guided tours
1
River Float Tour1–12 hours · 19 stops
Take a self-guided tour as you float the Niobrara National Scenic River. This tour identifies landmarks along the river where you can stop and explore, finding waterfalls and scenic views, and rapids for you to avoid too!
Entrance fees
No entrance fee.