In the Wild with Greg Wagner

The Wagner family can’t wait to try it! IT is the newest, coolest adventure on north-central Nebraska’s pristine Niobrara River with several of its Class I, II, III and possibly IV rapids –  a fun raft trip!

 My friends Doug and Twyla Graham of  Graham Canoe Outfitters (GCO) based out of Valentine, NE, now have available not one, but two, 16-foot Aire-brand whitewater-type rafts (similar to those used on rivers in Colorado) for year-round, guided, reasonably priced, float trips for folks of nearly all ages on the canoe stretches of the Niobrara River east of Valentine. Yes, I said YEAR-ROUND float trips, no faux pas there!

 Virtually impossible to tip or flip on the Niobrara, the rafts have the capacity to hold 8-10 people who are welcome to paddle if they so choose or to just ride along if they want. Graham Canoe Outfitters provides all of the required boating equipment including Coast-Guard approved life jackets, plus transportation. Lunches can be furnished by GCO if pre-arranged. The rafts have been okayed for use by the governing entities of the scenic river.

 Doug Graham says that there is no better way to experience the genuine beauty of the Niobrara River in fall or winter up close and personal, than by taking a trip with family or friends on one of these rafts that go quietly and have little, if any impact on the unique, diverse environment of the Niobrara River valley. “Whether it’s seeing leaf color and deer now in fall or the renowned ice cliffs and bald eagles in winter, the rafts bring an eco-friendly, added float trip excursion opportunity to the outdoor scene in Nebraska,” Graham emphasizes. “The exciting part of these trips though,” he says, “is that we take the rafts right through Rocky Ford, Eglehoffs Narrows and the other rapids on the river, it’s a quick rush, but everybody loves shooting the rapids!”

 To get more information about the raft trips on the Niobrara River, call Doug or Twyla Graham toll-free, at: 1-800-322-3708 or drop them an e-mail message, at: graham@sandhillswireless.net   Doug and Twyla hope to update their website (http://www.grahamoutfitters.com/) with details on the raft trips soon. Special thanks to the Grahams for the outstanding photos you are looking at that were taken recently on the river. 

By the way, Backpacker Magazine rates the Niobrara River as one of the top ten canoeing rivers in the nation, now I’ve got to get the staff of that magazine back here to Nebraska for raft trip on the river with my family, IN JANUARY, WOO-HOO!