402-376-2046
Niobrara River Trips - Nebraska's Crown Jewel
Trips and Camping along the Niobrara River near Valentine and Sparks Nebraska.
Smith Falls, Berry Bridge Falls, Fort Falls, Big Cedar is just to name of few of the most spectacular views on the Niobrara River. Nebraska, it's not just for anyone, but the Niobrara is just about for everyone, especially if you want to get back in touch with mother nature and your inner-self.
Tubing seems to be the most popular way to experience the Niobrara River with Kayaking coming in second. Tubers take twice as long to float the Niobrara River compared to kayak or canoe. Canoeing remains a team effort which could provide for lots of stories at the end of the day. Tubes are sat on and do not have a hole to fall through. They are equipped with rope & hooks so they can be linked together(up to the maximum allowed). Cooler tubes are optional and do not include the cooler. If you find us by accident and you aren't prepared just let us know and we can find a loaner cooler.
Trips can range from two to six hours, depending on the vessel type you choose, river conditions and the time of year you float.
"not just a season, a lifestyle........."
The scenic Niobrara river is a great place for photography, birding, and hiking. The corridor has abundant wildlife that commune with tourists in their obscure way. On occasion, some of the more elusive critters will let you catch sight of them. On the upper end which begins at Ft Niobrara, there are River Otters, Leatherback turtles, Blue Herons just to name a few. Bison roam in the pastures above the cliffs along the Niobrara and wild Elk have been known to be seen while floating the river.
The river corridor is unique being the only place in North America that has at least six eco-systems merging and converging along 76-miles. It is a spring fed river that begins in a pasture northwest of Lusk Wyoming and progressively gets bigger as it flows east. The scenic river is sandwiched between sandstone cliffs east of Valentine which is where ninety percent of the river trips take place. If you've never experienced a trip down the beautiful Niobrara then you need to put it on a "bucket list" of things to see and do.
Tube 4 Hour | Berry to Brewer
Adult Beverages Allowed
Berry to Brewer will take approximately four hours and will take you by the tallest waterfall in Nebraska, Smith Falls. This is one of the most popular trips we offer.
Tube 5.5 Hour | Berry to Penbrook
Adult Beverages Allowed
This trip includes the tallest waterfall in Nebraska, Smith Falls and another more secluded falls called Big Cedar. Big Cedar is an unmarked falls just beyond Brewer Bridge.
Canoe 2 Hour | Berry to Brewer
Adult Beverages Allowed
This trip includes Smith Falls, which is the tallest waterfall in Nebraska. It's a great place to pull over and take a short hike.
Canoe 3 Hour | Berry to Penbrook
Adult Beverages Allowed
This trip includes the tallest waterfall in Nebraska, Smith Falls with another more secluded called Big Cedar. Big Cedar is an unmarked falls just beyond Brewer Bridge.
Canoe 4 Hour | Ft Niobrara to Brewer
No Adult Beverages Allowed - Ft Niobrara/Cornell Bridge to Berry Bridge
This trip runs through the Fort Niobrara National Wildlife Refuge. This section has a "No Alcohol" policy-possession or consumption & requires a day use permit.
This includes the tallest falls in Nebraska, Smith Falls along with several other notable falls along the way.
Canoe 5 Hour | Ft Niobrara to Penbrook
No Adult Beverages Allowed - Ft Niobrara/Cornell Bridge to Berry Bridge
This is our longest canoe trip which runs through the Fort Niobrara National Wildlife Refuge. This section has a "No Alcohol" policy- NO possession or consumption & requires a day use permit. This trip includes multiple waterfalls: Ft Falls, Berry Falls, Smith Falls & Big Cedar and a short little rapid at the end, Conner Rapids.
Kayak 4 Hour | Ft Niobrara to Brewer
No Adult Beverages Allowed - Ft Niobrara/Cornell Bridge to Berry Bridge
This trip runs through the Fort Niobrara National Wildlife Refuge. This section has a "No Alcohol" policy-possession or consumption & requires a day use permit.
This includes the tallest falls in Nebraska, Smith Falls along with several other notable falls along the way.
Kayak 5 Hour | Ft Niobrara to Penbrook
No Adult Beverages Allowed - Ft Niobrara/Cornell Bridge to Berry Bridge
This is our longest Kayak trip which runs through the Fort Niobrara National Wildlife Refuge. This section has a "No Alcohol" policy- NO possession or consumption & requires a day use permit. This trip includes multiple waterfalls: Ft Falls, Berry Falls, Smith Falls & Big Cedar.
Tube 4 Hour | Ft Niobrara to Berry
No Adult Beverages Allowed
Weekdays only unless it's a holiday. Ft Niobrara to Berry Bridge will take approximately four hours.
Canoe 2 Hour | Ft Niobrara to Berry
NO Adult Beverages Allowed
This short trip runs through the Fort Niobrara National Wildlife Refuge. This section has a "No Alcohol" policy-possession or consumption & requires a day use permit.
Kayak 2 Hour | Berry to Brewer
Adult Beverages Allowed
This trip includes Smith Falls, which is the tallest waterfall in Nebraska. It's a great place to pull over and take a short hike.
Kayak 3 Hour | Berry to Penbrook
Adult Beverages Allowed
This trip includes the tallest waterfall in Nebraska, Smith Falls and another more secluded falls called Big Cedar. Big Cedar is an unmarked falls just beyond Brewer Bridge.
Kayak 2 Hour | Ft Niobrara to Berry
No Adult Beverages Allowed
This short trip runs through the Fort Niobrara National Wildlife Refuge. This section has a "No Alcohol" policy-possession or consumption & requires a day use permit.
Kayak Spring | Ft Niobara Launch | Through May 24th
3 to 5 Hour Trip
Ft Niobrara to Brewer - 3 to 4 Hour
Ft Niobrara to Penbrook - 4 to 5 Hour
Canoe Spring | Ft Niobrara Launch | Through May 24th
3 to 5 Hour trip
Ft Niobrara to Brewer Bridge - 3 to 4 Hour trip
Ft Niobrara to Penbrook - 4 to 5 Hour trip
Tube 4 Hour | Berry to Brewer
Adult Beverages Allowed
Berry to Brewer will take approximately four hours and will take you by the tallest waterfall in Nebraska, Smith Falls. This is one of the most popular trips we offer.
Tube 5.5 Hour | Berry to Penbrook
Adult Beverages Allowed
This trip includes the tallest waterfall in Nebraska, Smith Falls and another more secluded falls called Big Cedar. Big Cedar is an unmarked falls just beyond Brewer Bridge.
Canoe 2 Hour | Berry to Brewer
Adult Beverages Allowed
This trip includes Smith Falls, which is the tallest waterfall in Nebraska. It's a great place to pull over and take a short hike.
Canoe 3 Hour | Berry to Penbrook
Adult Beverages Allowed
This trip includes the tallest waterfall in Nebraska, Smith Falls with another more secluded called Big Cedar. Big Cedar is an unmarked falls just beyond Brewer Bridge.
Canoe 4 Hour | Ft Niobrara to Brewer
No Adult Beverages Allowed - Ft Niobrara/Cornell Bridge to Berry Bridge
This trip runs through the Fort Niobrara National Wildlife Refuge. This section has a "No Alcohol" policy-possession or consumption & requires a day use permit.
This includes the tallest falls in Nebraska, Smith Falls along with several other notable falls along the way.
Canoe 5 Hour | Ft Niobrara to Penbrook
No Adult Beverages Allowed - Ft Niobrara/Cornell Bridge to Berry Bridge
This is our longest canoe trip which runs through the Fort Niobrara National Wildlife Refuge. This section has a "No Alcohol" policy- NO possession or consumption & requires a day use permit. This trip includes multiple waterfalls: Ft Falls, Berry Falls, Smith Falls & Big Cedar and a short little rapid at the end, Conner Rapids.
Kayak 4 Hour | Ft Niobrara to Brewer
No Adult Beverages Allowed - Ft Niobrara/Cornell Bridge to Berry Bridge
This trip runs through the Fort Niobrara National Wildlife Refuge. This section has a "No Alcohol" policy-possession or consumption & requires a day use permit.
This includes the tallest falls in Nebraska, Smith Falls along with several other notable falls along the way.
Kayak 5 Hour | Ft Niobrara to Penbrook
No Adult Beverages Allowed - Ft Niobrara/Cornell Bridge to Berry Bridge
This is our longest Kayak trip which runs through the Fort Niobrara National Wildlife Refuge. This section has a "No Alcohol" policy- NO possession or consumption & requires a day use permit. This trip includes multiple waterfalls: Ft Falls, Berry Falls, Smith Falls & Big Cedar.
Tube 4 Hour | Ft Niobrara to Berry
No Adult Beverages Allowed
Weekdays only unless it's a holiday. Ft Niobrara to Berry Bridge will take approximately four hours.
Canoe 2 Hour | Ft Niobrara to Berry
NO Adult Beverages Allowed
This short trip runs through the Fort Niobrara National Wildlife Refuge. This section has a "No Alcohol" policy-possession or consumption & requires a day use permit.
Kayak 2 Hour | Berry to Brewer
Adult Beverages Allowed
This trip includes Smith Falls, which is the tallest waterfall in Nebraska. It's a great place to pull over and take a short hike.
Kayak 3 Hour | Berry to Penbrook
Adult Beverages Allowed
This trip includes the tallest waterfall in Nebraska, Smith Falls and another more secluded falls called Big Cedar. Big Cedar is an unmarked falls just beyond Brewer Bridge.
Kayak 2 Hour | Ft Niobrara to Berry
No Adult Beverages Allowed
This short trip runs through the Fort Niobrara National Wildlife Refuge. This section has a "No Alcohol" policy-possession or consumption & requires a day use permit.
Kayak Spring | Ft Niobara Launch | Through May 24th
3 to 5 Hour Trip
Ft Niobrara to Brewer - 3 to 4 Hour
Ft Niobrara to Penbrook - 4 to 5 Hour
Canoe Spring | Ft Niobrara Launch | Through May 24th
3 to 5 Hour trip
Ft Niobrara to Brewer Bridge - 3 to 4 Hour trip
Ft Niobrara to Penbrook - 4 to 5 Hour trip
Camping is a must just so you can experience one of the densest dark skies in Nebraska. The Milky Way shines so brightly that you feel like you can reach out and touch the stars. The smell of Pine trees along with clean fresh air makes it either one of the most memorable experiences or a nostalgic flash-back from the good old days.
Campsites at Berry Bridge are equipped with fire rings, picnic tables, modern restrooms along with tent camping sites, RV sites (20/30/50 amp) or Bunkhouses. Penbrook campground is more primitive with port-a-pot bathrooms, picnic tables, fire rings, and riverfront tent camping. There are a few RV sites that can accommodate 30 amp campers.
Check out trip information or call if you have more questions. We have other options available that may not be listed above.
Brewers Canoers & Tubers | Niobrara River Outfitter
433 E Hwy 20; Valentine, NE 69201; 402-376-2046
Randy & Mary Mercure