Watch roaming buffalo and elk, explore a stunning state park and visit a historic Lewis and Clark campsite in Knox County’s tiny town in northeastern Nebraska.
Discover history and beautiful scenery in Niobrara, Nebraska. Begin your visit with swimming or boating in Niobrara State Park, where the Niobrara and Missouri rivers meet. Explore the park’s miles of trails on foot or horseback. Stay overnight in a tent or rented cabin. Summer visitors can enjoy famous buffalo cookouts, featuring cowboys and fireside folk songs.
Enjoy views of Niobrara’s wilderness from the J. Alan Cramer Interpretive Center. Learn about the people who shaped the area’s history, from early Ponca Indians to plains pioneers.
See the Lewis and Clark Campsite, where the famous explorers stayed overnight during their historic westward journey in 1804. A 15-star and 15-stripe American flag marks the spot. View the campsite from the Old Railroad Bridge Trail or from Niobrara State Park.
Explore the town’s heritage at the Niobrara Museum. Browse vintage farm equipment, microfilms of local newspapers dating back to the 1890s, family history files and more. Check out the sweeping mural outside, which depicts 200 years of local history, from Lewis and Clark’s expedition to modern times.
Honor local heroes at the Sage Brothers Memorial. In 1969, the destroyer USS Frank E. Evans was struck and sank near Vietnam. The three Sage brothers, born in Niobrara, went down with the ship.
Walk through history along the Nebraska Outlaw Trail. Known as Nebraska’s Everglades, the area features unique biological diversity. Enjoy clear blue sky, wetlands, forests, open prairie and more along your hike. Its forests and hills made the area a popular hideout for the Jesse James Gang and other outlaws.
See Nebraska’s wildlife up-close at Kreycik Elk and Buffalo Ranch. Take a covered-wagon tour and observe these stately animals in their natural habitat. The elk and buffalo will even eat corn out of your hands.
With fewer than 500 residents, Niobrara is truly a Nebraskan gem. When driving along Nebraska Highway 12, stop for an afternoon or longer to enjoy its unique beauty.
