Niobrara National Scenic River

The Niobrara is a peaceful place to paddle during the week.
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.
Map showing location of park.
Three rangers show of a tire in their canoe
Niobrara River Fall Clean-Up Day Volunteer Opportunity
Niobrara National Scenic River, in partnership with the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Outdoor Adventures Program, invites volunteers to celebrate National Public Lands Day by participating in a river clean-up float on Sept. 26, 2026. Participants will paddle the scenic stretch of river from Smith Falls State Park to Rocky Ford, collecting trash and helping preserve the natural beauty and ecological health of the Niobrara River.
Photo of new superintendent Chris Mather wearing a National Park Service uniform standing on a white porch and smiling for the camera
Niobrara National Scenic River Welcomes New Superintendent
The National Park Service has selected Chris Mather as the next superintendent of Niobrara National Scenic River. He will assume the role in mid-September 2026.
A beautiful, if short, waterfall empties into the side of the Niobrara NSR.
Photo by NPS Photo
A man takes a photo of a meandering river from an overlook.
Photo by NPS Photo/Ryan Schmieder
Yellows, oranges, and greens dominate the fall colors along the Niobrara NSR.
Photo by NPS Photo
Two people in one canoe paddle along the bluffs of the Niobrara NSR.
Photo by NPS Photo
A view from a canoe, with the photographer's feet resting on the bow, of the Niobrara NSR.
Photo by NPS Photo/Ryan Schmieder
A paddler in a canoe goes through Class II Rapids on the Niobrara NSR.
Photo by NPS Photo/Solveig Perrett
Many people on tubes float down the Niobrara.
Photo by NPS Photo/Solveig Perrett