Fort Niobrara National Wildlife Refuge

Fort Niobrara is a 19,000 acre refuge managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Fort Niobrara was established by executive order in 1912 for the conservation of native birds. The refuge consists of riparian forests, wooded canyons and sandhill grasslands. Two hiking trails exist on the refuge. The Fort Falls trail is an arduous 1 mile loop. It has great views of a waterfall and the Niobrara National Scenic River. The second trail is the buffalo bridge trail which is an out and back trail (2 miles total). The trail ends at the buffalo bridge above the Niobrara River. After the bridge you are in a wilderness area. The Wilderness has no trails but you are welcome to experience the solitude while self exploring - just be cognizant of hunting season. River access to float or paddle is available for a small fee at the canoe launch area. The refuge also has a scenic overlook off HWY 12 with two separate viewing platforms. Wildlife observations are not guaranteed.