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Smith Falls State Park, NE Events

January

12 - 14 Niobrara River Polar Bear Festival Springview - Plunge into the Niobrara River! Snowmobile and 4-wheeler races, tug-of-war, chainsaw contest and dance. ... more

13 - 14 18th Annual Niobrara River Polar Bear Festival Ainsworth - Friday night is the kick-off party at the Meadville Store then kararoke !!! Saturday at noon "Liquid Courage" at the Meadville Store!! 1pm. regist ... more

26 - 27 Cork Thornton Memorial Ice Fishing Tournament Valentine - The tournament draws over 65, two person teams from all over Nebraska, South Dakota, Kansas, and Iowa and as far away as Missouri. It is the only ice ... more

February

3Valentine's Day Celebration Valentine - Coronation of King and Queen of Hearts, weddings, and activities. ... more

10Annual Heart City Bull Bash Valentine - Sixty plus pens of bulls and commercial exhibits will be set up on Main Street ready for commercial cattlemen's scrutinizing eyes. Over 15 breeds and ... more

April

201884 Days Celebration Valentine - Celebrating the founding of Valentine with historic dress, history and special events. ... more

May

13 - 14 Great Niobrara River Catfish Derby Springview - First Weekend - ... more

3Annual Country & Western Jamboree Springview - Friday before Memorial Day - ... more

19Valentine High School Rodeo Valentine

June

24 - 25 Valentine Classic Motor Club Cruise Night and Car Show Valentine - Join us for Cruise Night on Friday at 6:30 PM with a Burnout Contest to follow. $1,000 in cash prizes for the Burnout. Car Show will be Saturday with ... more

16Merritt Open Walleye Fishing Tournament Valentine - Entry Form: https://www.newallitrail.com/schedule/ ... more

22Valentine Rural High School Alumni Reunion Valentine

July

16K-Bar Bike Ride Ainsworth - Bike ride through the beautiful Niobrara River Valley. 7am. ... more

18 - 20 Middle of Nowhere Carnival Days Ainsworth - Have a great time at the D.C. Lynch Carnival. Enjoy the hamburger feed and ice cream social, along with turtle races and a tractor pullette. ... more

30Annual Turtle Races & Art in The Park Valentine

4Independence Day Celebration, Demolition Derby Valentine - BBQ at 4 pm. Demo Derby, 6 pm. Fireworks to follow. ... more

4Independence Day Meadville Celebration Ainsworth - Meadville hosts its annual Fourth of July parade, free BBQ, dance, antique tractor pull and ball games. ... more

5 - 6 Wind Turbine Day Springview - Festival begins with a fun run/walk to the turbines at 7am. The day long celebration includes a parade, pickup and tractor pull, calf roping, games fo ... more

13Valentine City Wide Garage Sale Valentine - City Wide. 8 am. ... more

August

26 - 27 Annual National Country Music Festival Ainsworth - 2nd Weekend - ALL NEW FORMAT! Everything from traditional to modern country. Featuring Drew Davis, Tate Stevens, OutBack, Green River Band, Tami Hall ... more

8 - 11 Cherry County Fair and Rodeo Valentine - Rodeo Saturday and Sunday, 8 pm. ... more

September

16 - 19 Brown County Fair and Rodeo Ainsworth - Every Labor Day Weekend, cowboys and cowgirls from Nebraska and nearby states compete in the MSRA/NSRA sanctioned three day rodeo. The Brown County Fa ... more

17 - 18 Keya Paha County Fair Springview - First Weekend - ... more

5 - 8 Annual Cowboy Poetry Gathering and Old West Days Valentine - Second Week - Cowboy poet gathering, bit and spur show, trail rides, melodrama, quilt show, parade, Native American Wacipi. Mountain Man Rendezvous w ... more

October

14Pumpkin Patch Craft Show Valentine

November

9Winterfest & Craft Show Valentine

December

16Open House & Gingerbread Decorating Contest Ainsworth - Categories for all ages. Enjoy refreshments and a sing along. 1-4pm. ... more

16Women's Club Annual Christmas Pageant Ainsworth - First Weekend - Decorated trees display 1-4 pm. Celebrate with carols and pageantry for the holidays. ... more

Smith Falls State Park Birdwatching

Smith Falls SP Wildlife
Often referred to as the "biological crossroads of the Great Plains," the 30-mile stretch of Niobrara River east of Valentine, in which Smith Falls is located, is of great biological importance. Along the Niobrara, the ranges of closely related species of eastern and western woodland birds overlap, and some, like flickers, buntings, orioles and grosbeaks, hybridize much a big-toothed and quaking aspens once did. In the deciduous forests, an isolated subspecies of eastern woodrats is found 400 miles from its nearest relatives in eastern Kansas. In addition to the northern birch community found in the spring-branch canyons, four other distinct plant communities and their respective compliments of animal life merge there. Along the dry, sun-washed north valley wall, the Rocky Mountain ponderosa pine forest reaches its easternmost limit. Along the shaded, moist south valley wall, eastern deciduous forests of basswood, ironwood, black walnut and elm reach their westernmost limit. Mixed grass prairie is found on tablelands north of the river and on the north valley slope. And, to the south of the valley, is Sandhills prairie. In this relatively short stretch of Niobrara River Valley, 160 species of plants and animals are at the very edge of their distribution.

Smith Falls State Park Hiking

Smith Falls SP Historic Footbridge
Recognizing the biological and scenic significance of Smith Falls and the need for its preservation, the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission established the park in May 1992. Adjacent lands, including the springs which feed the stream forming Smith Falls, has since been included as additions to Smith Falls State Park. The 260-acre park will protect this biologically unique and scenic site, while at the same time allowing the public to view and enjoy the picturesque falls. Since protection of this distinctive site is vital, Smith Falls State Park will be unlike any other in the state. While public access to the area has been improved, human impact on site's natural features will be minimized. The south side of the river, where Smith Falls is located, will be maintained in its natural condition. A boardwalk along the path to the falls has already helped nature heal eroded areas. Hiking is limited to the established trails to prevent erosion and protect rare plants found there.

Smith Falls State Park Camping

Smith Falls SP Camping
Apparently, Smith Falls was named for Frederic Smith, an early settler who filed the first homestead patent on the land in 1896. Until recently, Smith Falls and the unique plant community near it, were protected by its remoteness. During the last 20 years, as canoeing became ever more popular on the Niobrara River, and Smith Falls became more widely known, an increasing number of people have come to see the falls or camp nearby. This increased foot traffic, and years of cattle grazing on the area, has caused serious erosion, threatening the future of this biologically unique area. Fred Krzyzanowski, who purchased the land including Smith Falls in 1941, tried to accommodate swelling public interest by establishing a primitive campground and picnic area. Until his death in 1988, Mr. Krzyzanowski would often walk to the from his house to the campground nearby to visit with
campers.

Park Area Attractions

Valentine 13

Springview 7

Ainsworth 10

Park Area Events

Park Area Businesses

Valentine 44

Springview 22

Ainsworth 19