Photo: Blaze Wolf · CC BY-SA 4.0Lower Smith Falls
If you're passing
Is it plungeworthy?
A 2-tier tiered.
The details
- Tiers
- 2 drops
- Type
- Tiered
- Coordinates
- 42.88913, -100.3161
About Lower Smith Falls
Lower Smith Falls is a tiered in Nebraska. The water falls in 2 distinct tiers.
It's fullest after rain, and flow can drop off during dry spells — plan around recent weather.
Plungeworthy rates Lower Smith Falls 4.2/10 — if you're passing. The score weighs its scale, how confidently it's mapped, and its character.
What you'll find
A short spring-fed side stream that plunges into a small canyon on the south side of the Niobrara near Smith Falls — the minor companion to Nebraska's tallest waterfall, sharing the same state park and the same trailhead area.
Nobody has published a height; it's small. Think of it as the second stop on a Smith Falls visit, not a separate trip.
Same park permit covers both.
Getting there
- Trailhead
- Smith Falls State Park trailhead and boardwalk system, 12 miles northeast of Valentine
- Parking
- Smith Falls State Park lots
- Road
- Paved and gravel from Valentine
- Heads up
- Stay on established trails; the park restricts off-trail travel to protect rare plants.
When to go
Spring-fed, year-round.
Quietest outside the summer float rush.
Rules & fees
- Fee / pass
- Nebraska state park entry permit required: $7.35/day or $36/year for Nebraska-plated vehicles, $14.35/day or $71/year for out-of-state plates
- Dogs
- Allowed under standard state park rules
- Hours
- Park hours
- Camping
- At Smith Falls State Park — reservable up to 180 days out
Researched from Nebraska Game & Parks — Smith Falls · NPS Niobrara — Waterfalls and Springs. Conditions change — verify before you drive. Been to Lower Smith Falls recently? Post a conditions report below.
Where it is
Before you go
The pin marks the feature, not a trailhead or a legal route in. Some sit on private land or need a real hike, and conditions change with season and rain. Check local access, don't trespass, and never enter water — hot or cold — where it isn't safe.
Common questions
Where is Lower Smith Falls?
Lower Smith Falls is a waterfall in Nebraska, at 42.88913, -100.3161.
Is Lower Smith Falls worth visiting?
If you're passing — Plungeworthy rates it 4.2/10.
Gear for the trip
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