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HomeEventsSmith Falls State Park & Niobrara River -- CANCELED

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Smith Falls State Park & Niobrara River -- CANCELED

When:
Tuesday, July 09, 2024, 8:00 AM until Friday, July 12, 2024, 9:00 AM Central Time (US & Canada) (UTC-06:00)
Where:
Smith Falls State Park
90165 Smith Falls Rd
Valentine, NE   69201-910

(402) 376-1306
Additional Info:
Event Contact(s):
Leslie C Taylor
Organizer
Category:
Car Camping Trip
Registration is not Required
Payment In Full At Event Only
Participants must be members of RMSKC with an up-to-date ACA annual waiver. You must wear a PFD while on the water. Sun screen and lots of drinking water required.
Capacity:
10
Available Slots:
10
Attendees pay for their own charges
Book your own campsite at Smith Falls State Park.  https://nebraskastateparks.reserveamerica.com/There are no official group sites. (Your organizer has site 26.) You can also call the park for reservations ( (402) 376-1306) but your best bet is on-line. The camping cost is $15/day/site plus a day use fee. 
Your organizer will arrive late July 9.  If we have at least two cars, we can paddle July 10 and July 11.  This is an easy, class 1 river, with our campground in the middle of the run.  Each day will be about 12 miles and about 4 hours. This beautiful stretch is one of America’s premier scenic heritage waterways; we’ll see many waterfalls, beautiful hardwood forests, and birds!    We run the river on Wednesday, July 10 and Thursday, July 11.

Niobrara River Trail description Niobrara Info . 

River gage at Guage
Wednesday, we’ll meet at 9:30 am (CDT) ready to shuttle from the Cornell Bridge put-in near Valentine, down to the Smith Falls State Park campground.  We stop at the state park. 

Wednesday evening – optional potluck dinner at campsite 26.  Thursday we shuttle a car or two to Sunny Brook Camp and float from the camp ground.  Both days include stops at beautiful  waterfalls. The shuttle takes over an hour, so non-drivers should plan to relax, hike to Smith Falls, and/or birdwatch at the campground while the drivers are driving.

Note: Directions to Cornell Bridge from Valentine:  Take Nebraska 12 east about 4 miles to the Ft Niobrara Wildlife refuge turn-off. Turn right towards the river and then make the first right into the access parking lot. Be there by 9:30 am ready to shuttle and be sure to purchase your $1 wrist-band at the kiosk