Scenic Rivers
“Superb water quality and the free-flowing nature of the Niobrara support diverse life while unspoiled fossil-filled sandstone cliffs host more than 200 waterfalls.”
—Steve Hansen, ecotourism manager, Niobrara River Retreats
Niobrara, Dismal, Calamus, North Loup, Republican, Cedar, Elkhorn, Platte, and Missouri – Nebraska’s rivers are truly beautiful waterways. A river trip is an ideal outing for families looking for adventure.
Nebraska Game and Parks has a Water Trails Guide, providing information about access sites, points of interest, scenery and wildlife, detailed maps and more.
Niobrara Riverview Retreats
(402) 376-2679
P.O. Box 414
Valentine, NE 69201
Steve Hanson and his family run Niobrara Riverview Retreats, a business that transforms their love for the outdoors into an experience to share with visitors. A former fisheries biologist in Alaska, Steve is an expert naturalist who can explain in detail the botany, geology, biology and ecology of his surroundings. Niobrara Riverview Retreats borders two miles of the Niobrara River. It includes hiking trails and a 25-acre marsh, appropriate for canoeing and catch and release fishing. The Valentine National Wildlife Refuge is only 15 miles away, a stunning landscape of over 30 sandhills lakes spread out across 70,000+ acres with 260 identified bird species spotted. The ranch is also just miles from Ft. Valentine National Wildlife Refuge in which a visitor can see bison, prairie dogs, burrowing owls, and many other species. Activities include tubing, canoeing, guided nature walks, orienteering, overnight stabling and horseback riding.
Nebraska Rivers
Niobrara, Dismal, Calamus, North Loup, Republican, Cedar, Elkhorn, Platte, and Missouri – Nebraska’s rivers are truly beautiful waterways. A river trip is an ideal outing for families looking for adventure.
Nebraska Game and Parks has a Water Trails Guide, providing information about access sites, points of interest, scenery and wildlife, detailed maps and more.
The Crane Trust Nature & Visitor Center
(308) 382-1820
9325 South Alda Road
Wood River, NE 68883
The Crane Trust is a non-profit organization dedicated to the protection and maintenance of critical habitat for whooping cranes, sandhills cranes and other migratory birds along the Big Bend Region of the Platte River Valley. The Trust operates the Nebraska Nature & Visitor Center, providing a regional gateway for community outreach and education. During crane season they offer visitors several different guided tours and access to private photo and viewing blinds along the river.
Upper Missouri River Breaks National Monument
Missouri Breaks Monument is public land managed by the Bureau of Land Management. There’s 149 miles of scenic river to float. Many visitors make sure to see the white cliffs section of the river. The riparian forests, uplands, and surrounding cliffs are home to mule deer, elk, and big horn sheep. Many grassland birds can be found along the rivers and on the nearby prairies. Hiking and camping are also available.
Chicken Dance Trail
(308) 995-4601
701 4th Avenue
Holdrege, NE 68949
The Chicken Dance Trail provides opportunities to see not just prairie chickens, but a multitude of other bird species in south central and southwestern Nebraska. The Chicken Dance Trail is not a physical location, but a website full of insider information about canyons, reservoirs, and creeks where you’re sure to spot the birds on your bucket list—as well as rural communities to explore along the way. The Chicken Dance Trail organizes the information into five birdwatching trails that travelers can take independently, at their own pace. Many of the best birding areas along the trail are adjacent to waterways including the Platte River, the Republican River, Medicine Creek, and Rainwater Basin.
Rowe Sanctuary-Audubon
(308) 468-5282
44450 Elm Island Rd
Gibbon, NE 68840
Rowe Sanctuary is dedicated to the conservation of sandhill cranes, whooping cranes and other migratory birds and their habitat along the Platte River. Along with preserving habitat for wildlife, Audubon’s visitor center in south central Nebraska is a great spot for crane tourism and year-round nature-based education opportunities. Guided crane viewing is scheduled by reservation between March and early April.
Loup Rivers Scenic Byway
The Loup Rivers Scenic Byway is a 4 hour, 40 minute path between Wood River and Dunning (at the edge of the Nebraska National Forest). From rolling farmland to the stunning Sandhills, this trek is full of small-town charm, beautiful vistas, and plenty of wildlife-watching spots. It’s an excellent chance to leave Interstate 80 and experience what Nebraska really looks like.
Calamus Outfitters
(308) 346-4697
83720 Valley View Ave
Burwell, NE 68823
Calamus Outfitters is a family-owned business providing outdoor recreational activities for diverse kinds of tourists: from hunters, to serious birdwatchers to families who want to float down the Calamus river or lounge at the nearby reservoir. The operation is located in the north central Nebraska Sandhills, near Burwell, right along the Calamus Reservoir, a prominent regional tourist attraction. River activities include canoeing, tanking, and tubing.
Uncle Buck’s Lodge
(800) 239-9190
PO Box 100
Brewster NE 68821
Experience the diverse ecosystem of the Sandhills grasslands, which supports a distinct population of plants and animals. Fields are filled with grasses and wildflowers, cacti and other desert plants, and lush marshes that buzz with birds, mammals, reptiles, amphibians and insects. Researchers have counted 134 different vertebrate species associated with a community of prairie dogs alone. The flora and fauna can also be enjoyed on our scenic canoe trips down the Loup and Dismal Rivers.
Know of an ecotourist-friendly place in the Great Plains to explore rivers and other waterways? Email us at cgps@unl.edu