Location: Smith Falls State Park, Valentine, Cherry County, Nebraska
Water Source: Smith Springs
Drop: 70 Feet
Directions: Take Rt. 12 east from Valentine, from the place where Rt. 83 turns off north, for 15.1 miles to the road to Smith Falls State Park. Take that road to the right (south) for 3.3 miles to the park entrance (follow the signs to the Park Office). Park in the office parking lot and take the steps behind the office down toward the river. Continue along the walk to the right to the footbridge across the Niobrara River, and continue on the walk a short distance to the falls.
Notes: I visited Smith Falls on March 21, 2003. This waterfall is fully accessible to wheelchairs. Instead of parking at the Park Office, continue on the road into the park through the campground to the Handicapped Parking spots. From there, follow the path to the bridge and up the wooden ramp to the falls. (The ramp looked a little steep to me, but I've pushed my father up steeper grades).
Smith Falls is Nebraska's tallest waterfall at nearly 70 feet. It got its name from Frederick and Anna Smith, who homesteaded the area in the late 1800's. Their youngest daughter died as a baby and was buried in a secluded spot above the falls.
The photos below show the footbridge across the Niobrara River and a nest near the bridge (I don't know what kind it is - looks like a baltimore oriole but shorter). Also shown are two smaller falls downstream of the main Smith Falls.
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Page last updated 25 Mar 2003.
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