Fort Niobrara Wilderness

Over 300 bison roam the sandhills of Fort Niobrara National Wildlife Refuge. During the winter the herd lives in the Wilderness area, north of the Niobrara River; during the summer it spends its time south of the river, moved around the southern part of the refuge to combat the growth of non-native grasses. The Niobrara River flows swiftly through the refuge, creating a unique convergence of ecosystems and attracting canoers during the summer. Elevations surrounding the river range from 2,300 to 2,700 feet. Deciduous trees along the river include ironwood, burr oak, box elder, and hackberry, while ponderosa pine dominates the drier savannah areas and a mix of native grasses — sand bluestem, prairie sand reed, Indian grass, side oats grama, porcupine grass, and buffalo grass — grows in the prairie. Summer temperatures average between 52 and 110 degrees Fahrenheit, while winter temperatures average between -25 and 58 degrees. Day-hikers can have a great adventure year-round; Fort Falls Trail is the only maintained trail on the refuge and lies on the south side of the Niobrara River.