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.
Niobrara National Scenic River Visitor Center Transitions to Winter Hours
News release stating the change of visitor center hours for Niobrara National Scenic River's Visitor Center.
Tourism to Niobrara National Scenic River contributes $8.0 Million to local economy
A new National Park Service report shows that 80,000 visitors to Niobrara National Scenic River in 2023 spent $8 million in communities near the park. That spending supported 111 jobs in the local area and had a cumulative benefit to the local economy of $9.4 million.
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