Places to see near Valentine, NE

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WorldStreet
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Places to see near Valentine, NE

Post by WorldStreet »

Besides floating down the Niobrara River, we explored the area for a few days and found some other fun things to do. We visited during the final week of May.

Steve
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Brad
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Re: Places to see near Valentine, NE

Post by Brad »

Nice Video. I have been floating the camping and Niobrara river for decades. In the 90's we would go with a friend's youth group, in my 20's a bunch of friends and would go every year. Now I take my son up there and he loves it!

Not really accessible except from the river, but there is a waterfall just east of Berry Bridge called Berry Falls and you can actually get down in it, really cool on a hot day.

South of Valentine is the Valentine National Wildlife Refuge, its one of my favorite places in the state.
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WorldStreet
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Re: Places to see near Valentine, NE

Post by WorldStreet »

Brad wrote: Mon Jul 21, 2025 11:15 am Nice Video. I have been floating the camping and Niobrara river for decades. In the 90's we would go with a friend's youth group, in my 20's a bunch of friends and would go every year. Now I take my son up there and he loves it!

Not really accessible except from the river, but there is a waterfall just east of Berry Bridge called Berry Falls and you can actually get down in it, really cool on a hot day.

South of Valentine is the Valentine National Wildlife Refuge, its one of my favorite places in the state.
In the early 90's, I went to Valentine on a hot summer day for a canoe ride. I think that was before the much more comfortable air rafts became prevalent. The trail to Smith Falls is now completely different than what I remembered. I also remember the National Wildlife Refuge, but we didn't go there this year.
Steve
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Re: Places to see near Valentine, NE

Post by BRoss »

I was there this past weekend. Went camping at Merritt Reservoir to catch the beginning of the Star Party. This was certified by DarkSky International back in 2022 and has an awesome view of stars and the Milky Way. It was amazing to see.

Got caught up in a massive storm in Valentine while at dinner that turned into a tornado warning. It was pretty insane. Highway 20 through the city got pretty badly flooded and everyone was trying to get under the gas station canopies. The Casey's canopy was looking like it was going to blow over and had to take refuge inside the Spee-dee Mart across the street.
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Also got a cool photo of this cloud at sunset the day before.
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WorldStreet
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Re: Places to see near Valentine, NE

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BRoss wrote: Mon Jul 21, 2025 3:15 pm I was there this past weekend. Went camping at Merritt Reservoir to catch the beginning of the Star Party. This was certified by DarkSky International back in 2022 and has an awesome view of stars and the Milky Way. It was amazing to see.

Got caught up in a massive storm in Valentine while at dinner that turned into a tornado warning. It was pretty insane. Highway 20 through the city got pretty badly flooded and everyone was trying to get under the gas station canopies. The Casey's canopy was looking like it was going to blow over and had to take refuge inside the Spee-dee Mart across the street.
Wow, you had quite the experience. Glad to hear that you made it back safely.
Steve