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Niobrara

State Park

89261 522 Ave. | Niobrara, NE 68760-6087

Situated at the confluence of the Niobrara and Missouri rivers on Nebraska’s northeastern border, Niobrara State Park offers visitors a wide array of outdoor experiences. This scenic, tranquil park offers cabins, both tent and RV camping, picnicking, swimming, boat ramps, horseback trails, hiking, fishing and wildlife watching opportunities. During the summer months, the park hosts its famous buffalo cookouts.

Features

  • Biking
  • Boating
  • Cabins
  • Camping
  • Equestrian trails
  • Fishing
  • Hiking
  • Hunting
  • Lodging
  • Picnicking
  • Playground
  • Swimming
  • Trail rides

Attractions

Niobrara State Park hosts buffalo cookouts with entertainment such as cowboy poets and storytellers each year on Memorial Day, July 4th and Labor Day. Reservations are required; for more information call the park office.

The J. Alan Cramer Interpretive Center offers not only an exceptional view of the park, but it also highlights people and places that played key roles in the history of the area, including the story of the Ponca Indians.

The Eagle View Group Lodge and the Buffalo Cookout Pavilion are popular venues for family reunions, weddings, meetings and other group functions. Call the park office for more details.

Niobrara State Park offers horseback trail rides led by wranglers throughout the summer months; call the park office for details. Riders must be 6 years of age or older and no double riders permitted.

Niobrara State Park offers a modern swimming pool situated high on a hill overlooking the park. Lifeguards are on duty. The pool is open from mid-June to mid-August from noon to 6 p.m. daily.

Niobrara State Park offers excellent wildlife watching. Both white-tailed deer and wild turkeys roam freely throughout the park, and beaver, muskrat and mink prowl the river banks. The park is home to a wide range of birds from the majestic bald eagle to the tiny chickadee. The varied wildlife and gorgeous views make the park a popular spot for wildlife photographers.

The park also offers 14 miles of hiking/biking trails, fishing in the park’s lake and beautiful picnicking, with several shelters available for rental.

  • Boat access: Although some may confuse Niobrara State Park with the popular kayak and canoeing destinations of the Niobrara National Scenic River, (the stretch of river 130 miles to the west near Valentine, Nebraska) Niobrara State Park is still a river lover’s paradise.  Those who wish to canoe, kayak or fish have a great opportunity with access nearby to the Missouri and Niobrara rivers at nearby Verdel Landing and Niobrara Landing. The interactive Missouri River Outdoor Recreation Access Guide shows public access sites for fishing, hunting, boating, camping and more on the Missouri River. It also serves as a navigation guide.
  • Ashfall Fossil Beds State Historical Park: This 360-acre historical park between Orchard and Royal is what National Geographic has called the Pompeii of prehistoric animals. Nearly 12 million years ago, volcanic ash engulfed this ancient watering hole, entombing innumerable animals. The park offers a fascinating and educational experience for the entire family and a chance to step back in time to see what Nebraska wildlife was like long before modern man ventured on the Great Plains.
  • Bazile Creek Wildlife Management Area: Adjacent to the park is Bazile Creek Wildlife Management Area, which provides additional opportunity of wildlife viewing, fishing, boating and hunting in season.

Lodging options

Camping

Niobrara State Park offers a campground complete with Electric Plus, and Basic campsites. Drinking water, modern restrooms, coin-operated showers, dump and fill station, picnic tables and grills. Next to the shower house facility is a free Wi-Fi hotspot location for campers that need to stay connected. Camping reservations are available for half of the electrical sites.

For those campers that don’t need electricity Niobrara State Park offers 30 Basic campsites tucked into the hills overlooking the Niobrara and Missouri Rivers. Grills and fire rings are provided, as is drinking water, picnic tables, restrooms, and coin-operated showers within the park. Reservations are accepted for half of the electrical campsites at Niobrara State Park and all other camping is first-come, first-served. All campers should check in at the park office upon arrival. For those camping without reservations, please go to park office upon arrival to check availability and register to camp.

Equestrian camping

Niobrara State Park offers 120 acres of free range riding as opposed to designated trails. The equestrian campground provides Basic Equestrian camping with one corral that will hold several horses. The corral works well for horses that are accustomed to each other. Campground is first-come, first served and includes non-modern restroom, picnic table and grill. Water will need to be bucketed to this area.

Cabins

Niobrara State Park has 20 cabins that may be reserved up to one year in advance. These cabins sit high on the bluffs overlooking the beautiful Missouri River Valley. There are 12 two-bedroom cabins and seven three-bedroom cabins. All cabins are air conditioned and heated. Bedding, towels, cooking utensils and tableware are provided. Cabins have furnished kitchens, complete with a stove and oven, refrigerator and microwave, a screened back porch and a patio with picnic table and grill.

Rent a facility

Niobrara State Park offers multiple group facilities available for rent. Visit our pricing page for details. Picnic shelters may be reserved by calling the park.

Park FAQs

Park FAQs

Answers to questions frequently asked by park visitors.

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Explore Trails

Nebraska offers trails for hiking, biking, kayaking, horseback riding, snowmobiling and more.

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Contact Us

Niobrara State Park

89261 522 Ave.
Niobrara, NE 68760-6087

Park Pricing

A park entry permit is required to visit state parks and may be purchased at the park, statewide Game and Parks offices and permit vendors, or in advance of your arrival online. View those fees, as well as attraction and amenity pricing.

Reservations

Reservations are accepted for cabins, lodge rooms, and group lodges up to one year in advance of the arrival date. Reservations for camping are accepted up to 180 days in advance of arrival date. The Reservation Call Center hours are Monday-Friday 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. (CT) and closed on holidays.