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Sandhills River Voyage
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| Type: Fully Supported Canoeing/Kayaking Camping Trip |
Tour Dates: 8/18/08 – 8/23/08 |
| Level: Easy to Moderate |
Start City: Ericson,
Nebraska |
| Duration: 6 Days/5 Nights |
End City: Ericson, Nebraska |
| Accommodations: 2 nights
Cabin / 3 nights Camping |
Price: $995 |
| Rivers: The Cedar 2 days, Niobrara 2 days, and the Dismal 2 days |
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Click Here For Tour Application
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"Some saw it as a great sea caught and held forever in a spell and were afraid. Yet here and there were a few sensitive to the tans and mauves of the strange rhythmic hills
that crowded away into the hazy horizon." Mari Sandoz The Nebraska Sandhills have inspired many poets laureate to lament on the forgiveness of Mother Nature, and praise her rejuvenation of life.
 Covering nearly 20,000 sq. miles, the unique Nebraska Sandhills make up the largest body of sand dunes in the western hemisphere. The last windward migration of the sandhills ended
around 1000 years ago, what has been left behind are oceans of rolling grassland covering 500 ft tall hills, some reaching out for 20 miles. Because the Ogallala aquifer rests just below the
valley surface of these great hills, spring-fed lakes are scattered throughout the hills, and miles of fresh flowing sand bottom rivers allow wildlife and vegetation to flourish. These fresh water
springs have created a network of rivers that meander lazily through the sandhills, perfect for the casual canoeist or kayaker.
 Spring-fed, sandy, and always flowing, the Cedar River is the perfect river to begin our sandhills voyage. Located in the eastern finger of the sandhills, the Cedar River had traveled just 30
miles before reaching Lake Ericson. Tall old cottonwoods, ash and cedar’s crowd the banks of this ever-twisting stream. Mule and Whitetail Deer call this river home, as do coyotes, cougars,
raccoons, owls, turkeys, hawks and eagles. If your lucky you may even see a river otter, which are trying to make a come back after a long absence.
 The Niobrara National Scenic River, located in the north central sandhills, is among the top 10 canoeing rivers in the U.S., according to Backpacker magazine. National Geographic lists a Niobrara
River trip among its top 100 adventures. The Niobrara’s swift waters flow over hard sandstone bedrock for much of its course, creating numerous riffles, chutes and easy rapids. Winding through
deep canyons lined with ponderosa pines and towering cliffs, waterfalls plummet from the banks offering a cool refreshing shower on a hot summer day. Smith Falls, Nebraska’s tallest waterfall, is
just a short hike from the rivers edge. Even in dry years the river has ample water for floating thanks to its many spring-fed tributaries.
 Cut deep into the sandhills, the remote Dismal River is one of Nebraska’s most beautiful rivers. Snaking and winding its way east, the Dismal River moves swiftly through twisting channels banked
by native grasses. Thick stands of cedar trees cloaked in grapevine, blanket the tall encroaching dunes. Cold bubbling springs of crystal clear water create small intriguing circles of quicksand along
the river bottom. A challenging river for a canoe yet a perfect river to kayak. Don’t let the name fool you; this river is a spectacular sandhills treasure.
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| Type: Fully Supported Canoeing/Kayaking Camping Trip |
Tour Dates: 8/18/08 – 8/23/08 |
| Level: Easy to Moderate |
Start City: Ericson,
Nebraska |
| Duration: 6 Days/5 Nights |
End City: Ericson, Nebraska |
| Accommodations: 2 nights
Cabin / 3 nights Camping |
Price: $995 |
| Rivers: The Cedar 2 days, Niobrara 2 days, and the Dismal 2 days |
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Click Here For Tour Application
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Day 1: HTC will pick you up at a designated Hotel near the Omaha Airport and transport you to Lake Ericson in the eastern most reach of the Sandhills. Here we will get acquainted
with canoes and kayaks on Lake Ericson and the Cedar River. After some paddling time on the water there will be time for relaxing or hiking the area. A delicious dinner and campfire
will finish off the first day before retiring to our cabins.
Day 2: After an early breakfast we will make the scenic two-hour drive through the beautiful Sandhills to the Niobrara River. We will have lunch in Valentine before putting-in the Niobrara,
and then we will have the entire afternoon to enjoy the magnificent scenery of the high cliffs and wildlife as we float down this beautiful lazy river. A 3 ½ to 4 hour float will bring us to our
evening camp where you can hike up the trails for a bigger view of the Niobrara River Valley, cool off in the river, or park yourself in a lawn chair with a cool drink and watch the river flow.
The soothing sound of the river will be our constant companion, as we enjoy a delicious dinner and a campfire before climbing into our tents along the peaceful Niobrara.
Day 3: As the fog lifts from the water, the aroma of coffee and pancakes cooking over the fire should awaken your senses. Although the gurgling song of the river may entice you to stay in
your cozy sleeping bag, don’t give in. This is when the deer are moving across the river and many of the creatures are stirring.
After breakfast we’re ready to launch into the current, making our first stop at Smith Falls, the largest waterfall in Nebraska. More waterfalls will mark our progress as we pass in the shadows
of the towering cliffs to Rocky Ford. (a natural rock dam)
Here at Rocky Ford we will finish our Niobrara adventure and make a short scenic drive to Merritt Reservoir, where we will make camp for the night.
Day 4: A delicious breakfast starts our day along the Snake Rivers, Merritt Reservoir.
A beautiful hours drive through some of the tallest and longest dunes in the Sandhills will bring us into the Dismal River Valley. Here we will begin our Dismal River journey on one of Nebraska’s
most remote and scenic rivers.
On the Dismal the paddler experiences an intimate communion with the river and its surroundings. As we will all be in kayaks gliding through the narrow channels and bends, an inescapable
solitude is experienced, lending to the Dismal Rivers intimacy. Frequent stops to regroup and take in nature will put us into camp after about six hours. While the staff prepares dinner, there will
still be plenty of time to relax, swim, or hike the hills.
Day 5: Up with the sun or roused by the smell of coffee, which ever you choose as your wake-up call is how we will start the second day on the Dismal. The crowding sandhills take a step back
from the river on this lower section, allowing vegetation to flourish and wildlife to gather along the rivers bank. Paddling the lower section will take us about five hours to reach our take-out point,
bringing us to the end of our Dismal River adventure.
From the Dismal River we will make the scenic sandhills drive along the Middle Loup and North Loup Rivers to Burwell. Here in Burwell we will have dinner before catching the sunset at Lake Ericson.
Day 6: The morning is yours as you awaken in your cabin at Lake Ericson. Maybe you would like to paddle the Lake or the Cedar River again, swim, hike or bike ride, it’s your time to spend your way.
Coffee and breakfast time will be announced the evening before. We will make the drive to Omaha in the early afternoon and say our good-byes at the Airport or the Airport Hotel of your choice.
Thanks for helping to make this an excellent sandhills adventure!
Click Here For Tour Application
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