Smith Falls, at 63 feet (19 m), is the highest waterfall in the state of Nebraska and the centerpiece of Smith Falls State Park. The state park and falls are located 12 miles (19 km) east-northeast of Valentine and 3 miles southwest of Sparks, on the south side of the Niobrara River. Access to the falls is via a footbridge across the river from the north side of the park.[3]
First known as Arikaree Falls,[4] the waterfall bears the name of Orrin B. Smith, a pioneer in the Seven Creeks area (1885 State Census). His step-son, Frederick Smith will later file for a homestead claim 5 Sept. 1889 on the south side of the river in Section 30. The site was subsequently owned by Fred Krzyzanowski, who purchased it in 1941, adding a picnic area and campground to capitalize on its popularity among tourists.[5] The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission established the 250-acre (100 ha) Smith Falls State Park through a lease agreement with Krzyzanowski family in 1992. A new 25-year lease was signed in 2018.[6]
Footbridge
In 1996, the historic Verdigre bridge was moved to the park and reconfigured as a footbridge spanning the Niobrara River. The bridge had been previously located at the mouth of Verdigre Creek, then had been moved to carry traffic on Highway 14 in the village of Verdigre, before being dismantled in 1991,[7] then reassembled as a restored 160-foot-long iron truss span at the park in 1996.[8]
Natural historyedit
The falls are on a short spring-fed stream that plunges into a small canyon on the south side of the Niobrara. As the canyon is narrow and sheltered from direct sunlight, it is much cooler than the surrounding landscape; this allows a unique set of flora to grow that is atypical for the Sand Hills of Nebraska. The canyon is home to paper birch and an endemic hybrid grove of quaking aspen and bigtooth aspen.
During the Wisconsin glaciation that ended around 10,000 years ago, north-central Nebraska was much cooler than it is today. The ice age climate supported boreal forest trees like birches, spruces, and aspens, all of which currently predominate in Canada. As the glaciers retreated, so did the boreal forest, which is ill-suited for hot, dry summers. However, the cool canyons along the Niobrara sheltered some of these trees.
The spruce trees did not survive in Nebraska; the nearest extant population is in the Black Hills of South Dakota. A small population of paper birches and aspens survive, protected by the cool microclimates of the small canyons that feed into the Niobrara River. The continued survival of these trees is threatened by warming temperatures. The paper birch population around Smith Falls is not currently reproducing, and may soon die out.[9]
Activities and amenitiesedit
The park offers tent camping, canoeing, fishing, hiking, and picnicking facilities.[3]
^"Smith Falls State Park". NGPC Map and Data Portal. March 1, 2017. Retrieved June 10, 2020.
^ ab"Smith Falls State Park". Nebraska Game and Parks Commission. Retrieved December 11, 2023.
^"Smith Falls State Park". Niobrara National Scenic River. National Park Service. Retrieved December 11, 2023.
^(PDF). Nebraska Game and Parks Commission. June 15, 2015. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 18, 2017. Retrieved October 16, 2017.
^Hammel, Paul (October 3, 2018). . Omaha World-Herald. Omaha, Neb. Archived from the original on October 8, 2019. Retrieved November 28, 2018.
^"Nebraska moves and rehabs old truss bridge". The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. Retrieved October 16, 2017.
^"The Bridges of the Niobrara". Niobrara National Scenic River. National Park Service. Retrieved December 11, 2023.
^Lynch, Ryan (August 20, 2005). . Lincoln Journal Star. Guest View. Lincoln, Neb. Archived from the original on September 30, 2007. Retrieved August 10, 2007.
External linksedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Smith Falls State Park.
Smith Falls State Park Nebraska Game and Parks Commission
Smith Falls State Park Map Nebraska Game and Parks Commission
May 22, 2024
smith, falls, confused, with, smiths, falls, ontario, feet, highest, waterfall, state, nebraska, centerpiece, state, park, state, park, falls, located, miles, east, northeast, valentine, miles, southwest, sparks, south, side, niobrara, river, access, falls, fo. Not to be confused with Smiths Falls Ontario Smith Falls at 63 feet 19 m is the highest waterfall in the state of Nebraska and the centerpiece of Smith Falls State Park The state park and falls are located 12 miles 19 km east northeast of Valentine and 3 miles southwest of Sparks on the south side of the Niobrara River Access to the falls is via a footbridge across the river from the north side of the park 3 Smith Falls State ParkSmith Falls State ParkLocation in NebraskaLocationCherry County Nebraska United StatesNearest cityValentine NebraskaCoordinates42 53 16 N 100 18 56 W 42 88778 N 100 31556 W 42 88778 100 31556 1 Area265 5 acres 107 4 ha 2 Elevation2 333 ft 711 m 1 Established1992Administered byNebraska Game and Parks CommissionDesignationNebraska state parkNamed forOrrin B SmithWebsiteSmith Falls State ParkSmith FallsSmith FallsLocationCherry County NebraskaTypeCascadeElevation2333 1 Total height63 feet 19 m Contents 1 History 2 Natural history 3 Activities and amenities 4 References 5 External linksHistory editFirst known as Arikaree Falls 4 the waterfall bears the name of Orrin B Smith a pioneer in the Seven Creeks area 1885 State Census His step son Frederick Smith will later file for a homestead claim 5 Sept 1889 on the south side of the river in Section 30 The site was subsequently owned by Fred Krzyzanowski who purchased it in 1941 adding a picnic area and campground to capitalize on its popularity among tourists 5 The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission established the 250 acre 100 ha Smith Falls State Park through a lease agreement with Krzyzanowski family in 1992 A new 25 year lease was signed in 2018 6 Footbridge In 1996 the historic Verdigre bridge was moved to the park and reconfigured as a footbridge spanning the Niobrara River The bridge had been previously located at the mouth of Verdigre Creek then had been moved to carry traffic on Highway 14 in the village of Verdigre before being dismantled in 1991 7 then reassembled as a restored 160 foot long iron truss span at the park in 1996 8 Natural history editThe falls are on a short spring fed stream that plunges into a small canyon on the south side of the Niobrara As the canyon is narrow and sheltered from direct sunlight it is much cooler than the surrounding landscape this allows a unique set of flora to grow that is atypical for the Sand Hills of Nebraska The canyon is home to paper birch and an endemic hybrid grove of quaking aspen and bigtooth aspen During the Wisconsin glaciation that ended around 10 000 years ago north central Nebraska was much cooler than it is today The ice age climate supported boreal forest trees like birches spruces and aspens all of which currently predominate in Canada As the glaciers retreated so did the boreal forest which is ill suited for hot dry summers However the cool canyons along the Niobrara sheltered some of these trees The spruce trees did not survive in Nebraska the nearest extant population is in the Black Hills of South Dakota A small population of paper birches and aspens survive protected by the cool microclimates of the small canyons that feed into the Niobrara River The continued survival of these trees is threatened by warming temperatures The paper birch population around Smith Falls is not currently reproducing and may soon die out 9 Activities and amenities editThe park offers tent camping canoeing fishing hiking and picnicking facilities 3 References edit a b c Smith Falls Geographic Names Information System United States Geological Survey United States Department of the Interior Smith Falls State Park NGPC Map and Data Portal March 1 2017 Retrieved June 10 2020 a b Smith Falls State Park Nebraska Game and Parks Commission Retrieved December 11 2023 Smith Falls State Park Niobrara National Scenic River National Park Service Retrieved December 11 2023 Smith Falls State Park Brochure PDF Nebraska Game and Parks Commission June 15 2015 Archived from the original PDF on October 18 2017 Retrieved October 16 2017 Hammel Paul October 3 2018 Public access to Smith Falls assured for another 25 years Omaha World Herald Omaha Neb Archived from the original on October 8 2019 Retrieved November 28 2018 Nebraska moves and rehabs old truss bridge The National Academies of Sciences Engineering and Medicine Retrieved October 16 2017 The Bridges of the Niobrara Niobrara National Scenic River National Park Service Retrieved December 11 2023 Lynch Ryan August 20 2005 Crossroads of biodiversity at crossroads of climate change Lincoln Journal Star Guest View Lincoln Neb Archived from the original on September 30 2007 Retrieved August 10 2007 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Smith Falls State Park Smith Falls State Park Nebraska Game and Parks Commission Smith Falls State Park Map Nebraska Game and Parks Commission Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Smith Falls amp oldid 1196118076, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
