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There was a time there was just the river. Then people came. People and
the river have been connected ever since. And now it's your turn.
Missouri National Recreational River offers natural beauty: the forested
buff-colored chalkstone bluffs to gently rolling range bottomland; the brilliant
white of migrating pelicans to the rich blues of prairie asters; the soaring
majesty of resident bald eagles to fleeting glimpses of the wily red fox.
It offers an exciting past for your enjoyment and enrichment, from Plains
Indian tribes to Lewis and Clark to steamboat captains such as Grant Marsh.
Here, you can experience the dynamic character of the river's ever-changing
nature, with its islands, shifting sandbars, sloughs, and treacherous, deadly
snags.
Both the upper 39-mile reach and the lower 59-mile reach along the Nebraska-South
Dakota border combine to form one of few sections of this once vast ecosystem
along the "Big Muddy" that remains in a relatively natural state.
The two reaches of the Missouri River protected here are segments of
the nation's Wild and Scenic River System. The reach set aside in 1978
from Gavins Point Dam to the vicinity of Ponca State Park still exhibits
the river's dynamic character in its islands, bars, and chutes. The reach
set aside in 1991 from Fort Randall Dam to Lewis and Clark Lake represents
the natural landscape of the Missouri of pre-settlement days. Included
in the upper reach are the lower 20 miles of the Niobrara River and the
lower 8 miles of Verdigre Creek.
Activities: The Missouri offers scenic views and a variety
of river opportunities for all boaters. The lower 20 miles of the Niobrara
River can only be navigated by canoes or kayaks, but in other areas paddlers
have to share the river with motor boaters. Camping is available at state
parks and recreation areas along the river including Chief White Crane
Recreation Area, Niobrara State Park, Ponca State Park, and Randall Creek
Recreation Area. In addition, two campgrounds -- Cottonwood and Nebraska
Tailwaters -- are operated by the US Army Corps of Engineers. Primitive
camping is normally allowed on islands on the river. There are many opportunities
to observe a wide variety of wildlife along the river. |
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