Updated July 2026
Fort Falls
A spring-fed 45-foot waterfall that tumbles through the layered Valentine and Rosebud Formations to the Niobrara River, reached by a short loop with steel catwalks and stairs at Fort Niobrara National Wildlife Refuge.
Before you go
Waterfalls are hazardous by nature — wet rock, cold water, and unstable edges — and flow varies enormously with season and recent rain. Trail figures here describe the route as documented, not conditions today. Check U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (Fort Niobrara National Wildlife Refuge) for closures and current conditions, and confirm land status before setting out.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Fort Falls drops about 45 feet. That makes it the 451st-tallest documented waterfall in this inventory, taller than roughly 34% of the falls listed here. Height comes from published land-manager and survey records, not from our own measurement.
The Fort Falls Trail reaches it about 0.8 miles (loop) with roughly 100 feet of elevation gain, rated easy. The nearest town is Valentine. That describes the route as documented, not conditions on the day — check with U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (Fort Niobrara National Wildlife Refuge) for closures and current conditions.
Spring through fall. Waterfall flow swings enormously with snowmelt and recent rain, so a fall that roars in spring can be a trickle by late summer.
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