Missouri National Recreational Rivers Seeks Help in Protecting

Date: May 26, 2016
Contact: Daniel Peterson, 605-665-0209

The summer season is here for anyone living or visiting along the 98-mile Missouri National Recreational River. Established in 1978, this national park provides natural and cultural entertainment suited for all ages! The Park is one of seven National Park Service sites in South Dakota containing national heritage areas, historic trails, and two free-flowing segments of the Missouri River.During your visit the National Park Service would like to remind visitors about the protection of cultural resources within the park.

Items of cultural significance may appear during your river explorations.The National Park Services seeks help from its residents and visitors to remind others that collecting of cultural artifacts is prohibited by federal law. Cultural artifacts including bison bones and arrowheads are valuable remnants of our cultural heritage. They make history real and provides enjoyable fun when evidence of the past is discovered.The National Park Service asks to leave the artifacts you find for others to enjoy.

One section of the Missouri National Recreational River stretches from Fort Randall Dam at Pickstown, to Running Water, South Dakota.This section also includes the lower 20 miles of the Niobrara River and eight miles of the Verdigre Creek.The other segment of the park begins at Gavin Point Dam to Nebraska's Ponca State Park.

Our National Park System contains over 400 national parks, located in national heritage areas, along historic trails and waterways, and in many neighborhoods.There are things to do this summer and throughout the year at Missouri National Recreational River including ranger-led guided hikes, junior ranger programs, special events throughout the year, classroom visits, and volunteer opportunities.For information about these programs or about the park and its neighbors, please visit us online at www.nps.gov/mnrr. Call 605-665-0209 or visit our Park Headquarters located off of Second Street in Yankton Monday through Friday from 8:00am to 4:30pm.