Niobrara National Scenic River
Designation: National Scenic River
Location: Nebraska
📘 Park Overview
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.
🌤 Weather Information
Summer (June-August): highs - low 80s to low 100s; lows - 50s to 60s, with occasional thunderstorms and associated strong winds. Moderate dry winds are common in the summer. 8.3" is average summer rainfall. Winter (November-April): Average highs 20-30s, average lows 0-10s with 5.5"/month average snowfall. Spring (April/May) and Fall (September/October) have cooler temperatures: average highs 60-70s, average lows 30-40s with 7.3" average rain/snowfall.
🚗 Directions
Most visitors start their trip in the city of Valentine, Nebraska. Valentine is 76 miles south of I-90 (Murdo, SD Exit) on Hwy 83; or 130 miles north of I-80 (North Platte, NE Exit) on Hwy 83. The nearest major airports are in Rapid City, SD (220 miles); Denver, CO (391 miles); and Omaha, NE (300 miles)
Images
Berry Falls is one of over 200 waterfalls that visitors may see along the Niobrara National Scenic River's bluffs.
Credit: NPS Photo
Parts of the river are shallow and meandering, making beautiful backdrops for people to take photographs.
Credit: NPS Photo/Ryan Schmieder
Autumn is a perfect time to enjoy the beauty of the Niobrara National Scenic River, from the river or the banks.
Credit: NPS Photo
The Niobrara is a peaceful place to paddle during the week.
Credit: NPS Photo
Much of the Niobrara National Scenic River is easy paddling, suitable for novice canoers.
Credit: NPS Photo/Ryan Schmieder
An experienced canoer takes on the Class II Egelhoffs Rapids along the Niobrara National Scenic River.
Credit: NPS Photo/Solveig Perrett
On Saturdays, the Niobrara National Scenic River is a great place to meet hundreds of other tubers.
Credit: NPS Photo/Solveig Perrett
Activities
Topics
Operating Hours
Entrance Fees
No entrance fees listed.
Entrance Passes
No entrance passes listed.
3-Day Weather Forecast
Thursday, Apr 23
Patchy rain nearby
High: 72°F | Low: 47.5°F
Humidity: 32%
Wind: 27.7 mph
Rain Chance: 70%
UV Index: 6.8
Sunrise: 06:45 AM
Sunset: 08:31 PM
Moon: Waxing Crescent (38%)
Visibility: 6 mi
Dew Point: 48°F
Cloud Cover: 70%
Pressure: N/A mb
Air Quality (PM2.5): N/A
Ozone: N/A
EPA Index: N/A
Friday, Apr 24
Patchy rain nearby
High: 52.5°F | Low: 37.9°F
Humidity: 42%
Wind: 16.1 mph
Rain Chance: 85%
UV Index: 6.3
Sunrise: 06:43 AM
Sunset: 08:32 PM
Moon: First Quarter (49%)
Visibility: 6 mi
Dew Point: 33.2°F
Cloud Cover: 85%
Pressure: N/A mb
Air Quality (PM2.5): N/A
Ozone: N/A
EPA Index: N/A
Saturday, Apr 25
Patchy rain nearby
High: 43.1°F | Low: 38.6°F
Humidity: 61%
Wind: 8.7 mph
Rain Chance: 88%
UV Index: 6.6
Sunrise: 06:42 AM
Sunset: 08:33 PM
Moon: Waxing Gibbous (60%)
Visibility: 5 mi
Dew Point: 33.8°F
Cloud Cover: 88%
Pressure: N/A mb
Air Quality (PM2.5): N/A
Ozone: N/A
EPA Index: N/A
Weather Alerts (5)
Red Flag Warning issued April 22 at 12:50PM CDT until April 22 at 9:00PM CDT by NWS North Platte NE
Effective: Apr 22, 2026 1:50pm
Expires: Apr 23, 2026 2:00pm
The National Weather Service in North Platte has issued a Red
Flag Warning for western and north central Nebraska, which is in
effect from 10 AM CDT /9 AM MDT/ to 8 PM CDT /7 PM MDT/ Thursday.
* AFFECTED AREA...Fire Weather Zone 204 Eastern
Panhandle/Crescent Lake NWR, Fire Weather Zone 206
Sandhills/Valentine NWR/Nebraska National Forest, Fire Weather
Zone 208 Niobrara Valley/Fort Niobrara NWR/Samuel R McKelvie
National Forest, Fire Weather Zone 209 Loup Rivers Basin, Fire
Weather Zone 210 Frenchman Basin and Fire Weather Zone 219
Loess Plains.
* TIMING...Today through 9pm CDT, Thursday from 10AM CDT/9AM MDT
to 8PM CDT/7PM MDT.
* WINDS...Southwest 25 to 35 mph with gusts up to 50 mph for
today. West to Northwest 20 to 35 mph with gusts of 45 mph or
greater.
* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...As low as 10 percent today and Thursday
* TEMPERATURES...Up to 88 today, up to 77 Thursday.
* LIGHTNING...Dry lightning possible late this afternoon and
evening, especially west of Highway 83.
* IMPACTS...Any fire starts may rapidly grow and spread. Gusty,
erratic winds will be possible with thunderstorms.
Red Flag Warning issued April 22 at 12:50PM CDT until April 23 at 8:00PM CDT by NWS North Platte NE
Effective: Apr 22, 2026 1:50pm
Expires: Apr 23, 2026 2:00pm
The National Weather Service in North Platte has issued a Red
Flag Warning for western and north central Nebraska, which is in
effect from 10 AM CDT /9 AM MDT/ to 8 PM CDT /7 PM MDT/ Thursday.
* AFFECTED AREA...Fire Weather Zone 204 Eastern
Panhandle/Crescent Lake NWR, Fire Weather Zone 206
Sandhills/Valentine NWR/Nebraska National Forest, Fire Weather
Zone 208 Niobrara Valley/Fort Niobrara NWR/Samuel R McKelvie
National Forest, Fire Weather Zone 209 Loup Rivers Basin, Fire
Weather Zone 210 Frenchman Basin and Fire Weather Zone 219
Loess Plains.
* TIMING...Today through 9pm CDT, Thursday from 10AM CDT/9AM MDT
to 8PM CDT/7PM MDT.
* WINDS...Southwest 25 to 35 mph with gusts up to 50 mph for
today. West to Northwest 20 to 35 mph with gusts of 45 mph or
greater.
* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...As low as 10 percent today and Thursday
* TEMPERATURES...Up to 88 today, up to 77 Thursday.
* LIGHTNING...Dry lightning possible late this afternoon and
evening, especially west of Highway 83.
* IMPACTS...Any fire starts may rapidly grow and spread. Gusty,
erratic winds will be possible with thunderstorms.
Red Flag Warning issued April 23 at 12:09AM CDT until April 23 at 8:00PM CDT by NWS North Platte NE
Effective: Apr 23, 2026 1:09am
Expires: Apr 23, 2026 9:15am
...RED FLAG WARNING WILL EXPIRE AT MIDNIGHT CDT /11 PM MDT/
TONIGHT...
* AFFECTED AREA...Fire Weather Zone 204 Eastern
Panhandle/Crescent Lake NWR, Fire Weather Zone 206
Sandhills/Valentine NWR/Nebraska National Forest, Fire Weather
Zone 208 Niobrara Valley/Fort Niobrara NWR/Samuel R McKelvie
National Forest, Fire Weather Zone 209 Loup Rivers Basin, Fire
Weather Zone 210 Frenchman Basin and Fire Weather Zone 219
Loess Plains.
* TIMING...Red Flag Warning will expire for tonight at 12 AM CDT/
11 PM MDT. The Red Flag Warning remains in effect for Thursday
from 10AM CDT/9AM MDT to 8PM CDT/7PM MDT.
* WINDS...West to northwest will develop overnight tonight and
increase 20 to 35 mph with gusts of 45 mph or greater by mid-
morning today (Thursday).
* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...As low as 10 to 15 east of Highway 83 and
south of I-80. Across northwest Nebraska humidity as low as 15
to 25%.
* TEMPERATURES...High temperatures in the lower to mid 70s across
southwest, central and north central Nebraska. Highs in the
lower 60s across northwest Nebraska.
* LIGHTNING...none expected during the day today (Thursday).
* IMPACTS...Any fire starts may rapidly grow and spread. Gusty,
erratic winds will be possible with thunderstorms.
Red Flag Warning issued April 23 at 2:05AM CDT until April 23 at 8:00PM CDT by NWS North Platte NE
Effective: Apr 23, 2026 3:05am
Expires: Apr 23, 2026 9:00pm
* AFFECTED AREA...Fire Weather Zone 204 Eastern
Panhandle/Crescent Lake NWR, Fire Weather Zone 206
Sandhills/Valentine NWR/Nebraska National Forest, Fire Weather
Zone 208 Niobrara Valley/Fort Niobrara NWR/Samuel R McKelvie
National Forest, Fire Weather Zone 209 Loup Rivers Basin, Fire
Weather Zone 210 Frenchman Basin and Fire Weather Zone 219
Loess Plains.
* TIMING...From 10AM CDT/9AM MDT to 8PM CDT/7PM MDT.
* WINDS...West to northwest at 20 to 30 mph with gusts up to 45
mph.
* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...As low as 10 to 15 east of Highway 83 and
south of I-80. Across northwest Nebraska, humidity as low as 15
to 25%.
* TEMPERATURES...High temperatures in the lower to mid 70s
across southwest, central and north central Nebraska. Highs in
the lower 60s across northwest Nebraska.
* LIGHTNING...none expected.
* IMPACTS...Any fire starts may rapidly grow and spread. Gusty,
erratic winds will be possible with thunderstorms.
Red Flag Warning issued April 23 at 2:28AM CDT until April 23 at 5:00PM CDT by NWS Sioux Falls SD
Effective: Apr 23, 2026 3:28am
Expires: Apr 23, 2026 2:00pm
* AFFECTED AREA...In South Dakota, Beadle, Gregory, Jerauld,
Sanborn, Brule, Aurora, Davison, Charles Mix and Douglas.
* WINDS...West 25 to 35 mph with gusts up to 45 mph.
* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...As low as 12 percent.
* IMPACTS...Any fire that develops will catch and spread
quickly. Outdoor burning is not recommended.
Park Alerts
Visitor Center & Contacts
📍 Physical Address:
214 W US Highway 20
Valentine, NE 69201
🏤 Mailing Address:
214 W US Highway 20
Valentine, NE 69201
📞 Voice Phone: 4023761901
📞 Fax Phone: 4023761949
✉️ Email: niobrara_nsr@nps.gov