On September 4, 1804, Lewis and Clark stood on a peninsula of land between two distinctly different rivers. On the east side ran the familiar Missouri with its crumbling banks and muddy water. On the west side ran a river of roughly the same size, but spewing sand, not mud. This was the "Qui coursse," as Clark spelled the French name, or "Niobrara" as the natives called it, and it was a major landmark for the travelers. The expedition set up camp, hunted, and fished while Clark explored this new river. Today's adventurer can follow suit, camping and fishing in Niobrara State Park at the junction of these two rivers. One of the nicest parks on the Missouri, it offers trails for hiking, biking, and horseback riding along the rivers and into the hills. The park also has three Missouri River boat accesses and several campgrounds. For the traveler looking for a taste of river-bottom unchanged since Lewis and Clark's time, the Niobrara provides just that. In 1804, Clark described a beautiful plain with abundant wildlife and a river defined by sandbars, islands and eroding banks. This same landscape greets visitors today, from the churning current to the groves of cedar near the river's mouth. These trees' ancestors supplied new masts for the expedition. The catfish, white bass, and northern pike common to the Corps' diet still thrive here, as do the sauger, walleye, and crappie.

More About the River What makes the Niobrara such a memorable experience is the feeling that the traveler has stepped into a timeless section of America, where progress has skipped a riverbed and the river runs as it wants. Rolling hills with waving native grasses stretch away from the river, dotted with strands of cedar and oak trees. Banks and trees eternally collapse into the river, and islands move with high water. Mention Nebraska to any active canoeist and expect a glazed-eye response with mentions of "incredible scenery" and "amazing wildlife." The Niobrara River is regularly listed as a top ten canoeing destination. The river east of Valentine, free-flowing for more than one hundred miles, offers quality single- and multi-day canoe trips. For families looking for the extraordinary overnight wilderness adventure, the Niobrara is an excellent choice. Numerous outfitters can be found in Valentine, Nebraska.