Smith Falls State Park
Click Here to View Smith Falls State Park Website

Of the Niobrara River Valley’s many waterfalls, the tallest is Smith Falls, 15 miles northeast of Valentine on Highway 12, then four miles south on a marked county road. The spring-fed falls, Nebraska’s tallest, drop 70 feet and fl ow out to the Niobrara River. The short hike to Smith Falls is half the fun. A historic iron truss bridge, open to pedestrians only, spans the Niobrara. A trail leads across a grassy fi eld into a secluded little canyon. At the end is the waterfall. Also on the south side of the river, the Jim McAllister Nature Trail is a self-guided hiking trail, more than a mile long, that leads through a portion of the Niobrara River Valley. Known as the “biological crossroads of the Great Plains,” this stretch of the Niobrara is a place where eastern and western species of plants and animals overlap – six distinct biological systems in all. But you don’t have to be a biologist to appreciate the beauty of the valley’s natural diversity. Th e park is open April 1 through November 30. Camping is available. Offi ce hours are 8 to 8, Memorial Day through Labor Day. A state park permit is required. (402) 376-1306.