From the high point of the park the view of the Missouri River is spectacular. We have not stayed in the cabins, but they are quite attractive and afford great scenery. The campground is neat and inviting. Would be a great place for a family reunion.
We stayed here on the advice of friends. The view is stunning and the staff we encountered were great. However, the cabin was full of flies!!! It says there is a kitchen (and there is), but no baking sheet and limited pans. not really set up well for much in the way of cooking. The beds were comfortable, but the furnishings were old (we were in unit 14). The carpet, and everything were old--the chairs on the porch were rusted. Plus, the fire alarm went off when we boiled water. I am not exaggerating--just boiling water. That said, I didn't stay for the furnishings--a comfortable bed is more important than the other areas and the view is just amazing. I think the cabins are in the process of being redone...clearly this one had not gotten there yet. If you are here in the summer, consider bringing fly paper. They have a fly swatter, but I think previous occupants did what we did and trapped the flies in the windows--so when you open the windows all the flies come streaming out.
This park has good wildlife viewing, proximity to both the Missouri and Niobrara river. There is WiFi at several places in the park but no TV in the rooms. I didn't miss it as there was plenty of hiking and birdwatching to do, but if you like electronics, you will have a few hours of withdrawal. Staff were friendly and knowledgeable.
Stayed at the campgrounds while fishing the Missouri River from the nearby Verdel Landing. Showed up on a Sunday afternoon ... dumpsters were full from the weekend. 3 days later they had still not been emptied. Restrooms/showers were adequate, could use a lot of just routine maintenance (door latches, clothing hooks, brighter light bulbs!) Camphosts did keep them well supplied with TP and paper towels, and hosing them out. Additional shock came when the local warden required us to pay for an additional campsite for the tent pitched along side the camper. Not in another campsite mind you. Didn't see much of the rest of the park, as sightseeing wasn't our purpose. Perhaps the cabins would have been better, but almost assuredly more expensive. Our experience in South Dakota a couple of weeks later, was much better.
The cabins are nice they have everything you would need except food already in them. The views are great with lots of hiking and outdoor activities available in the area. There are A LOT of bugs so be aware of that and use lots of bug spray.
After you visit Fort Niobrara Wilderness Refuge, head down the road to Smith Falls State Park. Stop in the Visitor Center to register and pay your admission, and then take the stairs down to the river. There are picnic tables right along the river so be sure and take yours along so you can feast as you watch the floaters on the river. BTW. Pets are allowed and our schnauzer had a great time on this adventure. To cross the Niobrara River and get back to the falls there is a recycled automobile bridge from the early 1900s that has been refurbished and rebuilt into a pedestrian bridge. Enjoy the walk and scenery as you cross the bridge. To preserve the environment, a wooden raised walkway has been built among the trees that takes you back to the falls. These tallest falls in Nebraska are a wonderful surprise to the eyes and body, as you can climb down off of the walkway once you get to the falls and walk up underneath to cool off. Be sure and wear shoes that give you good traction in the water. When we were there in August the waters coming off of the falls wasn't real heavy, so standing under the waters was a real cooling off treat on a hot day. Oh, there is a nice campground right along the river, too.
a wonderful place to camp, very clean and what a way to spend a weekend with family and friends
We absolutely loved this park! It sits on the bluffs overlooking the confluence of the Niobrara and Missouri rivers. The views are spectacular! Very interesting flora and fauna - evergreen forests, prairie, wet lands, river; incredible varieties of birds including many wild turkeys. Good hiking or you can drive around to various overlooks. There is also a nice pool for the kids, horseback riding, and a Lewis and Clark interpretive center. Nearby is the Gavin’s Point dam, Lewis and Clark Lake and other points of interest. We stayed in one of the housekeeping cabins – very well kept and convenient.
Wonderful view of the river, lots of hiking/walking/running trails. Cabins have everything you need except food! There is a swimming pool which does charge a small fee. Bring bugspray - lots of mosquitoes.
This park contains a camping spot where Lewis and Clark stopped on the western journey. The cabins are basic and the views of the river are unrivaled.