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Valentine
Things to Do in Valentine
Fort Niobrara National Wildlife Refuge
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Fort Niobrara National Wildlife Refuge

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Fort Niobrara National Wildlife Refuge
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#3 of 16 things to do in Valentine
Nature & Wildlife Areas
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Prairie dogs, antelope and buffalo are some of the animals that can be spotted at this wildlife refuge.
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The area
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We rank these restaurants and attractions by balancing reviews from our members with how close they are to this location.
Attractions
6 within 6 miles
Niobrara National Scenic River
41
National Parks
Bolo Beer Co
11
Breweries
Valentine City Park
3
Parks • Playgrounds
Valentine Municipal Swimming Pool
1
Sports Complexes • Water Parks
Centennial Hall
5
History Museums
Valentine Public Library
1
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
Popular mentions
4.0
119 reviews
Excellent
59
Very good
36
Average
13
Poor
10
Terrible
1
vandvinc
Kansas City, MO27 contributions
Great walk to Fort Falls
Jul 2020 • Family
A definite must that only takes 30 minutes max. Outside Valentine Neb, on the Fort Niobrara National Wildlife Refuge is a great walking path down to Fort Falls. Very pretty easily accessible. But does require stair climbing. Turn off at Fort Niobrara launch and drive back towards the Visitor Center. Just follow the signs for the Falls. Once there at the trail head, take the trail down to the Falls. It is a combo of stairs and paths. Continue past the falls and you are at the river. A great find!!
Written July 4, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Mary H
Omaha, NE49 contributions
Well worth the hike
May 2021
The falls are beautiful! We parked in the handicapped parking at the beginning of the trail, but still had quite a hike. We pushed on as we really wanted to see the falls. The trail was very nice and the wooden walkway was smooth with a small upgrade. Easy to walk with a cane. It was further than we thought, but so worth the hike. We got lots of marvelous photos!
Written May 3, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Aaron C Casey
Cheyenne, WY10 contributions
Hike the Falls
Aug 2020
Only stopped at Fort Falls and hiked the 1 mile trail. Sure, the brush got really thick, but the trail wasn't the main attraction. The falls are the star of this stop, but glad we took the time to walk/hike the full mile loop. Great views of the river, hillsides and what nature give us to enjoy. Well worth the stop. Take the time to take in the beauty of this world.
Written August 3, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
JoAnn H
Lyons, KS55 contributions
Well not what we were expecting for a wildlife refuge
Oct 2021
Went there and honestly did not see anything. No buffalo, Elk, Eagles or prairie dogs. Every where fenced in, We think the dogs "dies out". Roads/maps poorly defined. actually drove through reserve without realizing it.
Written October 9, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
largeanimalmom
Wyandotte, MI53 contributions
Vacation
May 2021 • Couples
Gary and I came to bird watch and mammal watch. Visitor center closed. Looks run down. No buffalo or elk present. Saw horses. Can't see the hay barn or even get close. Big disappointment from our first time here 6 years ago. Valentine Refuge much better for birds and mammals. Susan and Gary
Written May 13, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Gaynor h
Grafton, ND842 contributions
2nd time around
Feb 2020 • Couples
We have been there twice. To be honest the first time was better. We had a lovely encounter tee with horses who were super friendly and didn’t want to move from in front of our vehicle. This time they were much further away from us. Still a calm and pretty place to go.
Written February 27, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Ebeth Pozzi
Council Bluffs, IA50 contributions
A lovely afternoon in nature
This is a great afternoon trip to make,both with or without kids.
Buffalo, elk, prairie dog, borrowing owl, and any other animal that calls the prairie home can be found here.
The staff was very friendly, and the nature center was quaint but cute.
If you plan on doing the full nature walk, bring your camera and your walking shoes. It is a scenic walk which takes you to Fort Falls, and then to the niobrara.
There was no part of the refuge I didn't enjoy, the best part is it is free.
Written August 25, 2009
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Letsg0somewhere
54 contributions
Scenic view of the Sandhills
Sep 2014 • Friends
A nice quiet drive through the Natonal Wildlife Refuge. Don't expect to see bison there every time, but if you do, it's great! Otherwise you get a nice view of a meandering Niobrara river and the Sandhills grassland. You might get lucky enough to see a bald eagle while you're there. Stop in to the visitor center, hike to Fort Falls, or just take a cruise. If you keep going on the dirt road, eventually you'll get to Berry Bridge, which has a nice concessions shop and a neat little waterfall right on the river. No alcohol is allowed in the refuge if y are starting a river trip there, so don't even pack it in your cooler or you could get ticketed.
Written December 2, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Stu B
Omaha, NE212 contributions
Absent Elk, Anxious Buffalo, Awesome Falls
Jul 2014 • Family
I was a little disappointed with this attraction, though it does have ample good points. The visitors' center is staffed by intelligent, helpful folks, but it might be helpful (and perhaps even profitable) for them to stock refreshments of some kind; even bottled water for sale would have been good. The prairie dogs on the auto tour were diabolically cute, but they constituted 90% of the wildlife we saw, and they weren't enough to carry the park. The Refuge's herd of buffalo* was reputed to graze close to the road and attack any poor soul foolish enough to step outside their vehicle. Instead, they all huddled by a fence, seemingly terrified of some unseen presence. (Though this is promoted as a refuge, these mighty beasts are a managed herd, periodically culled with their corrals in plain sight. One can see how the buffalo might not be casual around humans.) The elk, alas, were nowhere to be seen. My sainted aunt vainly searched for them on the horizon for hours after we left. I think elk viewing is a seasonal thing; this merits more research.

The Fort Falls, thankfully, exceeded expectations. They are a natural treasure by Nebraska standards, almost as impressive as nearby Smith Falls. This watery wonder - along with the frank, honest narration of the very educational auto tour - raise this to a four-star attraction, desipite the pain that still abides in my aunt's elk-starved broken heart. In other words, the Falls make the visit worth doing, but prepare to be disappointed if you're looking for a lot of wildlife.

*I realize these are properly termed "bison" by taxonomists. I'm calling them buffalo because it sounds cool. Anyone who has a problem with this should seek therapy.
Written July 28, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
PostcardJar
Crete, NE216 contributions
Beautiful Scenery
Jul 2014 • Couples
We pulled in here and were able to drive right on in. At the refuge, you drive on a 3-mile loop around the park where you’ll see native plant and animal life. We spent a lot of time in a prairie dog town snapping photos of the prairie dogs as they stuck their heads out of their holes. The refuge also maintains a herd of about 350 bison which can be seen and photographed from the comfort of your car. At one point, we stopped and my wife was snapping pictures of some bison nearby when suddenly one ran 10 feet in front of the car! A bit north of the main entrance to the refuge, there is a turn-off for a scenic overlook--and this shouldn’t be missed if you are there. From this overlook you can take in a view of the Niobrara river below as well as look off across ranchland stretching as far as the eye can see. Absolutely breathtaking.
Written July 5, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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Fort Niobrara National Wildlife Refuge (Valentine) - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go

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