Upper Niobrara State Park on the right, south bluffs. This park has excellent camping and day- Missouri River NEBRASKA GAME AND use facilities, and is located two miles west CANOE TRAIL PARKS COMMISSION of the Village of Niobrara. PO Box 30370, Lincoln, NE 68503 Downstream from Niobrara State Ft. Randall Dam 402-471-0641 • www.outdoornebraska.org Park, on your right, you will see a former to Niobrara railroad bridge, now a hiking trail; which The river follows a braided and winding indicates the point where the Niobrara GENERAL INFORMATION course, with the channel alternating River empties into the Missouri River. between the shorelines. There are many Downstream from this bridge, on the south The Missouri begins its journey sandbars and islands. A few private islands side of the Missouri River is marshland. Stay southwest of Great Falls, Montana, ending exist. Most islands are covered with willows on the south side of the Missouri River and 2,400 miles later at the confluence with and cottonwoods, or are marshland covered watch for two larger waterways on the the Mississippi River near St. Louis. Early with reeds and cattails. south, right, downstream side. Take the explorer Father Marquette described the Recommendation: Please read the second waterway which will take you directly Missouri as “frightful” and referred to it as General Canoeing Introduction pages to the Village of Niobrara boat landing. Pekitanoui, Sak Indian for “muddy water.” before beginning. They offer a good From the Verdel Landing SRA to the Lewis and Clark’s Corps of Discovery review for the avid canoeist and a quick Village of Niobrara boat ramp is 8 river followed the Missouri on their mission to lesson for the novice, and may make miles (2.5 - 4 hours). A graveled road leading the Pacific Ocean. It was known for two the difference between an adventure to the boat ramp might not be passable characteristics; by its murkiness, dubbed and a nightmare. during wet weather. There is another access “Big Muddy,” and by an army of floating site about one mile downstream, on the trees and large branches that acted as right, upstream side of the Standing Bear battering rams and spelled doom for many Bridge. This is an old paddle-boat landing steamboats. The river frequently changed its area and is accessible only from the same course as it rose and fell, creating sandbars gravel road continuing east from the Village that constantly frustrated river boat captains. boat ramp. Trip ends. Man worked for most of the past century to tame the Missouri. Six dams SCENERY store runoff from rains and snowmelt to control floods and generate power. The The valley ranges from one to two miles dams also regulate flows for navigation wide and in some areas is flanked by nearly ACCESS SITES AND vertical limestone cliffs and loess bluffs, more in the lower third of the river, which was POINTS OF INTEREST channelized for barge traffic. But from Fort than 250 feet above the river. Some of the Your trip will begin at the Randall Randall Dam to Ponca State Park, 98 miles, landmarks that Lewis and Clark observed Creek Recreation Area just below the Ft. including the section described here, on their journey exist today. Heavy stands Randall dam on the south side of the river. remain in a semi-natural state and have of willow and cottonwood trees are found Take U.S. Highway 281 and turn to the been designated as the Missouri National near the water, and hardwood forests grow right before the dam on a paved access Recreational River and managed by the on the steeper, upland slopes. Numerous road. This road extends through a recreation National Park Service. species of fish, including walleye, sauger, area, which has a double boat ramp, paddlefish, sturgeon, northern pike, small- SECTION DESCRIBED camping, picnic and restroom facilities. mouth and largemouth bass are found in The distance from the dam to the the river, while deer, fox, coyotes, mink, Ft. Randall Dam to the Village of Sunshine Bottoms access is 13.4 river miles eagles, and turkeys are a few of the animals Niobrara — 37 miles. (4.5 to 6.5 hours). From this access area to and birds that occupy its bottom lands. the primitive campsite is less than one mile CHARACTERISTICS downstream. Watch for the large sign visible COMMUNITY INFORMATION: Flow on this section of the river is regulated on the south side of the river. To drive to this Niobrara State Park (402) 857-3373 by Fort Randall Dam and the amount of boat ramp follow Nebraska 12, 4 miles west Boyd County Sheriff (Butte) water released depends on many factors, of Monowi or 2 ½ miles east of Lynch, to a Non-Emergency (402) 775-2331 including the amount accumulated above “Sunshine Bottom” sign which will direct Knox County Sheriff (Center) the dams from the Rocky Mountains snow you north, down a graveled road which Non-Emergency (402) 288-4261 melt, upriver precipitation, and sales of may not be passable during wet weather. Niobrara Police Dept. (Niobrara) hydroelectric power. The water discharge From Sunshine Bottom to Verdel Non-Emergency (402) 857-3581 rate can change hourly. The normal rate of Landing is 15 river miles (5 to 7½ hours). flow is between 3 to 5 mph while in periods To drive to this boat ramp follow Nebraska MEDICAL ASSISTANCE: of high water it can attain 7 mph or more. 12, and turn north at the Lazy River Acres Niobrara Valley Medical Clinic (Spencer) Caution: The Missouri is the deepest of sign, approximately 8 miles west of the (402) 589-1580 Nebraska rivers, 25 feet or more in some town of Niobrara. This graveled county road Niobrara Valley Hospital (Lynch) places. It is important that you wear a life leads you directly to the area. There is a pit (402) 569-2451 jacket at all times. toilet at this site. This boat launching area Niobrara Medical Clinic (Niobrara) This river is tamer now than in can be busy, but is an excellent canoe (402) 857-3398 Marquette’s time, however, debris, logs, access site. and silt still wash into the river. Another 6 miles downstream from Dial 911 to reach emergency the Verdel Landing SRA you can see the personnel in the area. Printed on recycled paper with soy ink. 4/04D .