A beautiful place to stop while tubing the Niobrara! Note that if you are unsteady on your feet, walking down near the falls may not be for you. read more

Smith Falls State Park - Parks Near Me - Valentine, Nebraska

Whenever our family plans a road trip, my husband usually looks at the route and figures out a way to make time in the car longer (I mean better). This go around it included making a 6 hour drive up to South Dakota 8 hours by building in a stop at Smith Falls. I digress. In fairness, the stops are usually worth it. Smith Falls is apparently the largest waterfall in Nebraska. The falls are pretty neat. There is a raised wooden path that leads you to the base of the fall and you have the ability to step into the very clear and cold pool of water at the base. You can also climb some of rocks and stand right under the falls as well. If we lived in the area, I am sure it is a place we would come with our family regularly. After spending some time at the falls, we followed the narrow stream of water to where the spring feeds into the Niobrara which also offered some calm waters to wade and play around in. The area where the state park is located is surprisingly scenic for Nebraska as well so that offered another perk! read more

Smith Falls State Park - Niobrara River where the falls drain - Parks Near Me - Valentine, Nebraska

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This was a really great campground, I've never actually stayed at one with facilities this nice or one that keeps the grounds as pristine as this one. We unfortunately only got to stay here one night on our trip but it looks like people were camped out there for the full long weekend, and what a great place for that! We were here over Labor Day weekend and there was a decent amount of people but not crowded by any means. I called about two weeks prior for a reservation and the campsite was 10.00. Once we got there it was an additional 5.00 for the state park pass, all very affordable! I was so pleased to find a nice visitors center, and an amazingly clean bathroom with a flush toilet and sink (open all night). They also had pay shower areas we didn't utilize. BBQ areas and a beautiful grassy park area is set up on both sides of the river. The river is clean and beautiful and we saw some people tubing down it. We went up the .5 mile or so trail to the falls as well which were beautiful and you can go into them if you can brave the cold! Beautiful waterfalls and definitely worth the stop! I hope to visit again while I'm still living in Nebraska. If you're going by Valentine NE this is a great place to stop in! read more

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This is one of the most beautiful places in the state of Nebraska. If you are a native of Nebraska and haven't been here you need to go. If you are a visitor of this state, this is where you'll find a great slice of Nebraska landscape, beauty, fun, and hospitality. I love the Sandhills, and this is a MUST STOP for me when I'm there (I have family in Ainsworth and am fortunate to get up there once or twice a year). The campground/picnic area is gorgeous. It's right along the Niobrara River, and it has lots of big shade trees and areas to go wade in the river. There are lots of picnic tables, fire pits and charcoal grills so you can come up for a day trip. There are also many camping spots and a few bunk houses available. There's also a small convenience store with some various supplies (ice, food, beverages etc). Smith Falls itself is on the other side of the river. You cross a bridge and hike up a trail to get to this treasure. They have a nice trail set up now, complete with ramps, rails and stairs. It's a gorgeous light hike along a small creek that comes from the falls and flows directly into the Niobrara River. The falls is gorgeous, and the tallest falls in Nebraska. You can get in and splash around (although it's very cold, so doing that is best on a very hot, summer day. Then it feels oh so good) or just admire from the top of the trail. It's gorgeous. Bring bug spray, sunscreen, sun hats, swimming suits, towels and water shoes. If you plan well and bring these things, it'll make for a much more enjoyable trip for you. ENJOY! read more

My sisters and I are from Omaha and took a trip to Smith Falls this summer. I cannot recommend it enough. We spent two nights camping and everything was wonderful. The campground is clean and fun. We camped right on the river and had a bonfire ring and bbq grill to use. There are pay showers and outdoor restrooms, but there is also a restroom attached to the office that is available 24/7 and was perfectly clean and made you feel a little less "campy". The office has picnic tables to hang out at, snacks and souvenirs to purchase, and history and artifacts from the area. The whole campground is just a short walk from the waterfall, which is very easily accessible thanks to a nice walking path. The waterfall is beautiful and a great spot for photos. The river itself is not very deep and can be entered from basically anywhere. It never came up higher than our chests and was very clean. There is a ton of open space here and everyone was very respectable and polite. We couldn't have asked for a more relaxing or fun place to stay at! We kayaked down the river with Graham Canoe Outfitters in Valentine and they had a shuttle service that parked the car right back at Smith Falls, which was awesome. We can't wait to stay here again!! read more

Great place to go camping and tubing, beautiful scenery. Only downfall is that some of the bathrooms don't have flush toilets however everything else is great. Very large campsites are a plus read more

Waterfalls in Nebraska? Yes. I really want to come up here and camp as many of my coworkers tell me this is the best place to go camping, tubing and such. The tent sites look like you may need the assistance of a few Sherpas to get your gear to the spots, many tent spots look a bit far from parking. The river runs right through it and it is a small hike to the falls. The place is serene though even with the occasional bands of floating patrons rolling through. This place is also a fair distance away from anywhere populated so pack smartly and bring some stuff to watch stars. read more

I grew up many of my younger years in Valentine NE. Smith Falls State Park is a very nice area to visit. The scenery is always amazing. Spending some time on the Niobrara River during the summer is always a must if you get the chance. Camping in the area is very reasonable and a fun experience. Walking down to the Smith Falls is always a kid favorite especially. They will remember, believe me. read more

Beautiful place to visit! Will go again! Just wish there was a landing by the campsites for us to take lunch but just a little ways down works! However I do wish that they could regulate the people who park inside of the post and control the campsites a bit better. We had a group that was partying and kept us up! read more