Niobrara National Scenic River is a National Scenic River in Nebraska. This guide combines the park's official information with computed sunrise, sunset and Milky Way times, satellite climate data and 1 photo locations inside or next to the park.
Best photo spots in Niobrara
We matched 1 named overlooks, waterfalls, peaks and other features to Niobrara. Each has its own page with sun directions and a monthly golden hour table.
Waterfalls (1)
Sunrise, sunset & golden hour
At Niobrara the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 56° (ENE) at the June solstice and 122° (ESE) in late December. Sunset moves from 304° (NW) in June to 238° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 71° in summer but only 24° in winter.
| Month (15th) | Sunrise | Golden hour ends | Golden hour starts | Sunset | Sunset az. | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 8:08 AM | 8:52 AM | 4:47 PM | 5:31 PM | 242° | 9h 23m |
| February | 7:38 AM | 8:18 AM | 5:32 PM | 6:12 PM | 254° | 10h 34m |
| March | 7:53 AM | 8:30 AM | 7:09 PM | 7:46 PM | 268° | 11h 54m |
| April | 6:59 AM | 7:37 AM | 7:44 PM | 8:22 PM | 284° | 13h 23m |
| May | 6:18 AM | 6:59 AM | 8:15 PM | 8:56 PM | 297° | 14h 38m |
| June | 6:02 AM | 6:45 AM | 8:37 PM | 9:20 PM | 304° | 15h 19m |
| July | 6:15 AM | 6:57 AM | 8:35 PM | 9:17 PM | 301° | 15h 02m |
| August | 6:47 AM | 7:26 AM | 8:04 PM | 8:43 PM | 290° | 13h 57m |
| September | 7:20 AM | 7:57 AM | 7:14 PM | 7:51 PM | 275° | 12h 31m |
| October | 7:53 AM | 8:32 AM | 6:20 PM | 6:59 PM | 259° | 11h 05m |
| November | 7:32 AM | 8:15 AM | 4:36 PM | 5:18 PM | 245° | 9h 46m |
| December | 8:04 AM | 8:50 AM | 4:21 PM | 5:07 PM | 239° | 9h 03m |
Computed for the park's reference point (42.7941, -99.9187); large parks span several minutes of difference.
Milky Way & dark skies
From Niobrara, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from March through September. June gives the longest window (about 4.0 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 18° above the southern horizon. Our light-pollution model puts the sky at about Bortle 1 (excellent dark-sky site), which is excellent for astrophotography.
| Month | Core visible (15th) | Hours | Max altitude |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| February | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| March | 5:21 AM – 6:11 AM | 0.8 | 15° |
| April | 3:24 AM – 5:14 AM | 1.8 | 18° |
| May | 1:26 AM – 4:16 AM | 2.8 | 18° |
| June | 11:37 PM – 3:37 AM | 4.0 | 18° |
| July | 11:26 PM – 2:16 AM | 2.8 | 18° |
| August | 10:32 PM – 12:22 AM | 1.8 | 18° |
| September | 9:28 PM – 10:18 PM | 0.8 | 15° |
| October | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| November | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| December | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
1 Estimated Bortle 1 — Excellent dark-sky site. The Milky Way casts faint shadows; zodiacal light and airglow are obvious.
Weather & best time to visit
Summer (June-August): highs - low 80s to low 100s; lows - 50s to 60s, with occasional thunderstorms and associated strong winds. Moderate dry winds are common in the summer. 8.3" is average summer rainfall. Winter (November-April): Average highs 20-30s, average lows 0-10s with 5.5"/month average snowfall. Spring (April/May) and Fall (September/October) have cooler temperatures: average highs 60-70s, average lows 30-40s with 7.3" average rain/snowfall.
Weather overview: National Park Service.
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show September as the clearest month (about 42% average cloud cover) and March as the cloudiest (63%). July is the warmest month and January the coldest, which matters for gear, snow access and how long batteries last at night.
Average cloud cover (%)
Average high (°F)
Photography permits, drones & fees
Permits. Under federal law (54 U.S.C. 100905), still photography in National Park Service areas needs a permit only when it (1) takes place where members of the public are not allowed, (2) uses models, sets or props that are not part of the location's natural or cultural resources or administrative facilities, or (3) would cause the park to incur additional administrative costs to monitor the activity. Ordinary visitor and most landscape photography needs no permit. Commercial filming rules are separate and have changed in recent years — confirm current requirements with the park before a paid shoot.
Drones. Launching, landing or operating unmanned aircraft (drones) is prohibited in National Park Service units under a 2014 Superintendent's closure (36 CFR 1.5), except where a park has issued specific written approval. Flying from outside the boundary over park land can also violate park rules and disturb wildlife.
Getting there
Most visitors start their trip in the city of Valentine, Nebraska. Valentine is 76 miles south of I-90 (Murdo, SD Exit) on Hwy 83; or 130 miles north of I-80 (North Platte, NE Exit) on Hwy 83. The nearest major airports are in Rapid City, SD (220 miles); Denver, CO (391 miles); and Omaha, NE (300 miles)
Directions: National Park Service.
Activities
- Astronomy
- Stargazing
- Biking
- Camping
- Fishing
- Guided Tours
- Hiking
- Hunting and Gathering
- Hunting
- Paddling
- Canoeing
- Kayaking
- Stand Up Paddleboarding
- Junior Ranger Program
- Tubing
- River Tubing
- Wildlife Watching
- Birdwatching
- Park Film
- Shopping
- Bookstore and Park Store
