Berry Falls is one great benchmark for floaters on the river. It is one of hundreds of waterfalls on the Niobrara River that is easy to find and can be seen both from car and by boat.
Brewer Bridge Landing is a public access landing and launch site at mile 16.2 of the Niobrara National Scenic River. Canoes, tubes, and kayaks can be launched or land here. There is public parking, bathrooms, picnic tables, drinking water, and trash cans along with space to stage equipment.
Connor Rapids are located just after Penbrook Campground and Landing on the Niobrara National Scenic River. They are a Class I rapid and should pose no challenge for most beginner floaters.
Eagle Rapids are a class II+ river rapid on the Niobrara National Scenic River after the Norden Bridge and Chute. Beginners should portage this rapid, though it could be navigated in years when the river is low.
Egelhoff's Rapids, a.k.a. Egelhoff's Chute or Narrows, is a class I river rapid on the Niobrara National Scenic River. Most floaters have fun navigating this feature because of its unique canyon walls.
Egelhoff's Rapids are a class II+ river rapid past Rocky Ford and the County Line Bridge. Floaters should portage left around these, especially beginners.
Flowing down over 30 feet of exposed canyon wall, Fort Falls are some of the most easily accessed waterfalls on the Niobrara River. Just a short hike, you can journey down through the tree canopy to the canyon floor to view these falls in all four seasons and follow their flow directly into the Niobrara River, or stop off on your way by while you float in a canoe, tube or kayak!
Fort Niobrara National Wildlife Refuge's Public small watercraft launch site is open to the public and is $1.00/user. Canoes, kayaks, and tubes welcome! There is a parking area and many lanes for floaters to stage equipment. Open dawn to dusk.
A partner of the Niobrara National Scenic River, the Fort Niobrara National Wildlife refuge provides scenic river access and showcases the Niobrara River Valleys unique biodiversity, geology, and recreational opportunities for exploring the outstanding resources of value of the Niobrara National Scenic River.
Fritzes Island Rapid is a class II located a long way down-river after the Brewer Bridge landing. The Conner Rapids are just a few bends in the river before it.
The Highway 137 Landing is the last landing on the designated length of the Niobrara National Scenic River. It offers public river access to floaters hoping to see the furthest lengths of the Niobrara River.
Public Access landings on the Niobrara National Scenic River becomes more spread out the lower down the river paddlers travel. The Highway 7 Bridge Landing is the second to last of the public access landings that Rangers recommend for kayak and canoe access.
Nickols Landing is a public access small watercraft launch on the Niobrara National Scenic River. Visitors can launch or land with canoes, tubes, kayaks and see the Smith Falls all in one trip!
The Bookstore at the Niobrara National Scenic River Visitor Center is operated by Americas National Parks, an official non-profit partner of the National Park Service dedicated to supporting the educational mission of Niobrara National Scenic River.
The Niobrara Valley Preserve protects canyons, grasslands, and a 25 mile stretch of the Niobrara National Scenic River. Managed by The Nature Conservancy, their publicly accessible, privately owned land offers river views, the Norden Chute, hiking trails, and unique Niobrara River Valley wildlife.
Norden Chute is a mandatory portage for river floaters because of its powerful hydraulic underneath. Floaters can portage to the left, above the chute, and carry their vessels about 300 yards downstream to resume their river trip.
Rocky Ford Rapid is a class III rapid not recommended for inexperienced floaters. Many visitors portage this rapid and continue their float further downstream.
The tallest waterfall in Nebraska, Smith Falls are a unique geologic formation fed by the Ogallala Aquafer and a tributary of the Niobrara National Scenic River.
