Niobrara National Scenic River

This 76-mile reach of the Niobrara River in northcentral Nebraska preserves a superb example of a Great Plains river and protects a unique ecological crossroads where six distinct ecosystems and their associated flora and fauna mix.The western third of the Scenic River is home to over two hundred waterfalls -- highest is Smith Falls that plunges sixty-three feet over a sandstone cliff.Many locally-owned ranches are found along the river retaining the valley's rural flavor, yet much of its wild character is preserved. Wildlife abounds: animals such as white-tailed deer, coyote, beaver, mink, bull snakes, soft-shelled turtles, turkeys, herons, and sandpipers are commonly sighted.