Fort Niobrara Wilderness
Over 300 bison roam the sandhills of Fort Niobrara National Wildlife Refuge. During the winter, the herd lives in the Wilderness area, north of the Niobrara River. During the summer, the herd spends its time south of the Niobrara River. The bison are moved around the southern part of the Refuge to combat the growth of non-native grasses. The Niobrara River flows swiftly through the Refuge, creating a unique convergence of ecosystems and attracting canoers during the summer. Elevations surrounding the river range from 2,300 to 2,700 feet. Some of the deciduous trees growing along the river are ironwood, burr oak, box elder, and hackberry. Ponderosa pine is the dominant tree in the dryer savannah areas.
Description from Wilderness Connect (wilderness.net).
| Designation | Wilderness |
| Managed by | U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service |
| State | Nebraska |
| Size | 4,635 acres |
| Designated | 1976, by Congress |
| Center point | 42.92° N, 100.43° W |
| Night sky | Very dark ground, a faint glow at most (Black Marble reading 21) |
Boundary map
Boundary, simplified to about 0.005 degrees
The outline is the agency boundary simplified for display, so small parcels and inholdings may not show. The agency page has the authoritative map.
Weather by month
Large units span more than one climate. The station stands in for the center point, and the outer parts of the boundary can be warmer or colder.
Where to camp
No federal campground is within ten miles of the boundary in the Campsite Atlas index. Camping inside a wilderness is usually allowed away from trails and water, with no facilities; the managing agency page has the permit and group-size rules.
Explore
Nearby on the other atlases
- 1.7 miBerry State Aid Bridge ↗Valentine, NE
- 3.8 miBell Bridge ↗Valentine, NE
- 3.8 miValentine Public School ↗Valentine, NE
- 4 miUs Post Office--Valentine ↗Valentine, NE
- 4 miBorman Bridge ↗Valentine, NE
- 4 miCherry County Courthouse ↗Valentine, NE
- 4.2 miWalcott, F. M., House ↗Valentine, NE
- 5.4 miBryan Bridge ↗Valentine, NE
Landmarks are listed first, then by distance from the boundary.
Guidebooks for Nebraska and hiking across the country
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Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
How big is Fort Niobrara Wilderness?
4,635 acres.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Who manages Fort Niobrara Wilderness?
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Source: Wilderness Connect
What state is Fort Niobrara Wilderness in?
Nebraska.
Source: Wilderness Connect
When was Fort Niobrara Wilderness designated?
Congress designated it in 1976.
Source: Wilderness Connect
How do I get to Fort Niobrara Wilderness?
A point inside the boundary is at 42.918° N, 100.433° W. Niobrara National Scenic River is 25 miles away. The official page carries directions and the office address.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Which national parks are near Fort Niobrara Wilderness?
Niobrara National Scenic River (25 mi). Park Atlas has fees, hours and alerts for each.
Source: Nearby on the other atlases
Are there historic places near Fort Niobrara Wilderness?
The National Register has 11 listings within 15 miles, including Berry State Aid Bridge and Bell Bridge.
Source: Register Atlas
Sources
- Boundary, name, acreage, designation year, states and description: Wilderness Connect.
- Campgrounds: the Campsite Atlas index of federal campgrounds, matched to this boundary at build time.
- Trailheads and sites: the Forest Service Recreation Opportunities layer, points inside the boundary.
- Night sky: NASA Black Marble (VIIRS, 2016 composite) sampled at zoom 6 around the center point.
- Weather, alerts, air quality, river flow and earthquakes load live in your browser from NWS, AirNow, USGS and iNaturalist when you open the page.