SNAKE FALLS

The Snake River is a 126-mile-long (203 km)[1] tributary of the Niobrara River. Entirely located within the Sandhills of north-central Nebraska, the Snake River rises near the eastern edge of Sheridan County. It flows eastward into Cherry County and passes along the southern edge of Samuel R. McKelvie National Forest. On the southeast edge of the national forest, the river is dammed to form Merritt Reservoir. At this point, the river makes a sharp turn to the north.

Snake River Falls is immediately to the north of Merritt Reservoir; it is the largest waterfall, as measured by volume, in the state. (Nebraska's highest waterfall is Smith Falls.) The Snake River joins the Niobrara River about 15 miles (24 km) southwest of Valentine, Nebraska.

Snake River Falls
Among Nebraska’s most spectacular waterfalls, Snake River Falls rushes over a 54-foot-wide ledge. When the Snake is full, it rushes over the edge at a rate of 230 cubic feet per second and sprays mist across the canyon.

Nebraska Waterfalls – Part One
BY JEREMY DIXON | PUBLISHED OCT 03 2011
Most folks will read the title to this post and wonder if I hit my head on something while out shooting or if this is a typo but I assure you it is not! When you think about waterfalls often you think of scenic places such as Washington, Oregon, Hawaii, or Colorado… not Nebraska. Despite contrary belief their really are waterfalls in Nebraska and all of them are located within an hour of eachother near the small town of Valentine, Nebraska in the North-Central portion of the state near the South Dakota border. My goal was to document that my lovely homestate does in fact have waterfalls and they while they don’t quite compete with what I’ve seen in other states, they do hold their own for Midwest waterfalls and unlike certain unnamed Southern states, whom I shall not name, these ones flow year-round because they are spring-fed which means anytime you go you will see water!


Nebraska's largest waterfall soon will sit on public land.
The Nebraska Environmental Trust on Thursday approved a grant to the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission that will allow it to purchase land containing Snake River Falls.
Although the five members voting in favor of the award didn't represent a majority, opponents fell short of the eight votes necessary to kill the controversial sale. Six members voted no and one abstained.
“We've only got one chance. If it comes up for sale again, we'll have no control over it,” board member Vince Kramper said in urging approval of the measure.
The 3,100-acre Snake Falls Ranch is about 20 miles south of Valentine in Cherry County.
The Game and Parks Commission will pay $3.5 million for a 1,300-acre parcel that contains Snake River Falls and about three miles of river upstream.
The trust approved a grant of approximately $2.4 million. The parks commission will fund the remaining $1.1 million from revenue produced by the sales of hunting and fishing permits and excise taxes on goods such as guns and boat fuel.
Although the commission has been forced to cut its budget in other areas, the game cash fund is solvent.
The remaining 1,800 acres, costing about $5 million, will be sold to the 110-member Snake Falls Sportsmen's Club, which has leased fishing rights since the area was closed to public access 20 years ago.
“I've fished it for so many years, it's in my soul,” said Dave Baxter, a Lincoln resident and member of the club. “I just want to see it protected.”
The sale was strongly opposed by many neighboring residents, who fear that an onslaught of visitors would harm the fragile ecosystem. That portion of the Snake River is widely considered among the region's finest trout-fishing streams.
The parks commission is considering allowing only barbless hooks or fly fishing — or limiting access to the river through a lottery.
“The Environmental Trust Fund, to me, is about providing good access to the citizens of the state,” said board member Gloria Erickson, who voted against the measure. “This includes families and young people who might not meet the requirements to fish.”
Heirs of Les and Betty Kime own the Snake Falls Ranch and initially offered to sell the entire property to the private Snake Falls Sportsmen's Club.
The fishing club couldn't afford to buy the entire ranch so it approached the Game and Parks Commission about buying part of the property. The agency turned to the Nebraska Environmental Trust, which distributes funds from the state lottery.