20 Nebraskaland • July 2022
water trails.
The National Park Service off ers information on
fl oating the Niobrara River, bit.ly/3axcuNs, and the
Missouri National Recreational River Water Trail,
bit.ly/3Q42mMn. Find information on fl oating other water
trails at the Nebraska Game and Parks Water Trails website:
OutdoorNebraska.gov/watertrails.
If you're keen on exploring more advanced or remote
rivers and streams, make sure to go with someone who is
experienced and knows that area of the stream well. One,
it's diffi cult to estimate travel time on a river without prior
experience, and two, fast water and other dangerous features
can sneak up on you quickly.
Bekah Poppe of Bloomfi eld said, "Be prepared to exit your
boat on short notice at dangerous stretches, and be prepared
to drag your boat if you lose the current on the lazy, wide
sections." Dangerous chutes, rocky rapids, submerged trees,
log jams, wire fencing and low-head dams are also common
obstacles on remote Nebraska streams, many of which we
encountered while fl oating an unmapped stretch of the
Niobrara River between Nenzel and Valentine.
Also, make a game plan of where you will put in and
take out each day, plus have a plan B should those areas be
inaccessible. Don't wing it. If possible, scout access points
Experienced kayakers Jen and Kelly Corman of Bassett inspect a chute on the Niobrara River. Deciding it was too dangerous,
kayakers portaged around this obstacle.
Jamie Bachmann of Stanton enjoys bringing her dog Finn
kayaking. Not only is Finn a strong swimmer, he also takes
direction well.
