The Niobrara: A National Scenic River

In the northern Sandhills lies the Niobrara River, which begins as a narrow cold-water stream in the high plains of eastern Wyoming. As the waters move eastward, springs from the High Plains Aquifer continuously feed the river. And as it grows, the river flows through wide valleys and narrow, sinuous canyons, exposing rocks that are millions of years old in the canyons and bluffs. Parts of the river even flow directly over bedrock, an uncommon feature of the many sand-bottomed, sediment-laden rivers in the Sandhills. Along its narrow corridor, the Niobrara River valley hosts a rich diversity of vegetation, including species from western coniferous, eastern deciduous, and northern boreal forests, some of which likely survived as relicts of the last glacial period and its cooler, moister climate. These attributes, along with the lack of significant impoundments and relatively undeveloped shorelines, led Congress to designate a 76-mile corridor beginning just east of Valentine, Nebraska, as a National Scenic River. Each year, thousands of tourists flock to the Niobrara River, enjoying the waters as they float, explore waterfalls, hunt, fish, or camp.