Fort Niobrara National Wildlife Refuge
Fort Niobrara National Wildlife Refuge
HC 14, Box 67
Valentine, NE 69201
Phone:402-376-3789
Web: fortniobrara.fws.gov
Established: 1912.
Location:4 miles east of Valentine, in north-central Nebraska.
Facilities:Visitor center, viewing sites (é), hiking trails, auto tour route, historic features, hand launch boat ramp.
Activities:Canoeing, river floating, hiking.
Special Features:The site was originally Fort Niobrara Military Reservation, which was established in 1879 to keep peace between the Sioux Indians and settlers. Soldiers stationed here fought no battles, and the fort was abandoned in 1906. All that remains is one building (the red barn), old foundations and earth works.
Habitats: 19,131 acres of deep canyons, limestone rocks, sand dunes and mixed grass prairie.
Access: Open to the public during daylight hours.
Wild life: Bison, elk, songbirds, wood ducks, grasshopper sparrow, and greater prairie chickens.
See other parks in Nebraska.