Missouri River SOUTHEAST REGION Discover wild and scenic waters Missouri National Recreational River As South Dakota’s newest National Park, the Missouri National Recreational River preserves two stretches of the Missouri River. It is a meandering, living river — no dams or channelization. Forming much of the border between South Dakota and Nebraska, it is also part of the nation’s Wild and Scenic River system. Congress added the 59-mile reach between Gavins Point Dam and Ponca State Park in 1978 and the 39-mile reach, which includes the lower 20 miles of the Niobrara River and the lower eight miles of Verdigre Creek, between Ft. Randall Dam and Running Water in 1991. In the eastern reach the "Big Muddy" is vast, flowing fast past chalk bluffs, some as high as 100 feet. The river valley is as wide as two miles in some places, a testament to the twists and turns the river has taken over the last several thousand years. Islands, bars, and chutes still attest to the river’s dynamic character. The river in the western reach is more than 20 feet deep, with thick groves of willow and cottonwood trees growing on numerous 232 // #sesouthdakota islands and sandbars. Limestone bluffs rise 250 feet over the untamed river. The main channel twists and turns from one shore to the other, and the river flows slower, sometimes only at a lazy two miles per hour. Native floodplain forests, tall and mixed grass prairie remnants, and the rivers and tributaries themselves provide habitat for several endangered and threatened bird and fish species. things to see and do Most visitors come to the MNRR for its refreshing water and premier boating, fishing, and paddling. Exploring the "Big Muddy" by canoe or kayak is something you'll never forget. This recreational activity, however, is not for the novice, and requires appropriate watercraft. You can also camp, tour powerhouses and historic sites, birdwatch, visit a fish hatchery and aquarium, and explore quiet trails. The 800-acre Goat Island development, near Vermillion, provides unparalleled backcountry recreational opportunities.
South Dakota Vacation Guide South Dakota Vacation Guide 2022: Page 232
