Boating, Missouri National Recreational River , South Dakota

The Missouri National Recreational River offers scenic views and a variety of river opportunities for all boaters. The depth of the river varies considerably, from a few inches to ten and twelve feet, with a few holes up to forty feet. The less water your boat drafts, the easier it will be to navigate. Keep in mind that the channel is not marked and that it can shift from week to week, that there are sunken sandbars, snags and sawyers, and other hidden obstacles.

The use of personal watercraft, commonly known as jet skis, is prohibited within the Missouri National Recreational River. They are allowed on the large reservoirs behind the dams and on the river below Ponca State Park.

The lower 20 miles of the Niobrara River can normally only be navigated by canoes or kayaks. Reading the river is a must as in some places the (unmarked) channel is very narrow; otherwise, the canoeist will at times and in places have to get out and lift or push the canoe/kayak.

General Rules: An accessible, U.S. Coast Guard-approved wearable personal flotation device is required for each person on board. The State of Nebraska requires a child under 13 to wear a U.S. Coast Guard-approved life preserver while aboard any