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Missouri National Recreational River

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Missouri National Recreational River

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The official page of the Missouri National Recreational River, a unit of the National Park Service and Wild and Scenic Rivers System.

Two-thirds of the "Mighty Mo" has been dammed, channelized
or otherwise "tamed" by the works of man. Missouri National
Recreational River preserves 98 miles of relatively natural,
free-flowing Missouri River, designated by Congress under the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act. MNRR also includes the lower 20 miles of the Niobrara River and the lower 8 miles of Verdigre Creek.

10/31/2026

Happy Halloween!
What's furry, winged, and eats their body weight in bugs?
It's bats! The Missouri National Recreational River is home to eight species of them. These are: the big brown bat, eastern red bat, evening bat, hoary bat, silver-haired bat, northern long-eared bat, little brown bat, and tricolored bat.

These nighttime hunters use echolocation to navigate in total darkness. They use this to devour huge numbers of insects on any given night! This makes them one of nature's best (and least appreciated) pest control systems.

Unfortunately, not all of these species are thriving. The northern long-eared bat is federally endangered. The tricolored bat and little brown bat are also vulnerable species. All three largely due to white-nose syndrome. White-nose syndrome is a fungal disease that impacts North American hibernating bat populations.

Next time you're along the river at dusk, look up! You might catch one of these eight species at work. Which bat species that lives in the MNRR do you like the most? Tell us below!

Image Credit: NPS Photos, NPS/E. Smith, USFWS / Ann Froschauer, USFWS / Dave Thomas, Michelle Durham

10/24/2026

Meet the bobcat, one of the most adaptable predators along the Missouri River! Its scientific name is Lynx Rufus, and it can weigh anywhere from 9 to 33 pounds. Bobcats come in a few different looks. With fur ranging from reddish-brown with faint markings to tan with bold dark spots. You can spot one by its short tail and pointy, tufted ears.

Here's a fun fact: bobcats get their name from that short tail, which is only about 5 inches long! It looks like it's been "bobbed," or cut short.

These cats are found in all kinds of habitats across the United States. However, along the Missouri River, they like to stick close to rocky areas and smaller creeks and tributaries. Bobcats mostly hunt rabbits, hares, and small rodents like squirrels and mice, but they'll also go after small deer, snakes, and lizards. They're even quick enough to leap up and catch low-flying birds!

Speed is one of their biggest tools. Bobcats can run up to 30 miles per hour when chasing prey. Their stomachs can only hold about 3 pounds of meat at a time. If a bobcat catches something bigger than that, it will drag the leftovers to a safe spot, cover them up, and come back later for another meal.

Bobcats are shy and mostly active at dawn, dusk, and night, so spotting one in the wild is a rare treat. Have you ever seen a bobcat, or signs like tracks while exploring nature?

Image Credit: NPS Photos, NPS/ M. Yarbrough

10/15/2026

EVENT UPDATE!
The Red Cedar Removal on Green Island this Saturday, October 17th, has been cancelled.

We'd like to thank everyone who signed up and everyone who joined the waitlist for wanting to join us this Saturday to tackle the Red Cedar on Green Island. Unfortunately, due to the high winds and cold weather expected for Saturday we will not be able to go forward with the event. We hope you understand that the safety and comfort of our volunteers comes first. We want to thank you again for your interest in volunteering with us and hope you'll keep an eye out for our future events.

Image Credit: NPS/C. Ver Mulm

10/13/2026

Before the cold sets in join Missouri National Recreational River one more time as a volunteer!

We'll be setting out again to Green Island Recreation Area to remove invasive Eastern Red Cedars. You can support the biodiversity of this island by helping the native plants thrive. Volunteers will get a coupon for a Fee Free Day at participating federal lands! Registration caps at 10, so register in advance to secure your spot!

• WHEN: Saturday, October 17th 8am – 12pm
• WHERE: Meet at the Riverside Park Boat Ramp in Yankton, SD. Get a boat ride to Green Island Recreation Area!
• WHAT: Once we get to Green Island, we'll set out cutting down Eastern Red Cedar saplings using loppers and shears, promoting biodiversity and helping other native plants thrive! Cutting down the saplings can be strenuous and involves frequent bending.
• WHO CAN VOLUNTEER: All ages are welcome! Anyone under 15 will need a parent/guardian present.
• WHAT TO BRING: Yourself, water, closed-toe shoes, insect repellant, and dress for the weather.

Registration is REQUIRED. You can register on our Friends of MNRR webpage or by applying on the Volunteer.gov website. Have Questions? Call us at 605-665-0209 x21!

Visit our Friends page here: https://fomnrr.org/event/red-cedar-removal-on-green-island/

Image Credit: NPS/ C. Ver Mulm

10/11/2026

On this day, October 11th, in 1924 the Meridian Bridge was opened! This historic bridge stretches across the Missouri National Recreational River. It has been a landmark for Yankton, SD since its opening.

Before the Meridian, people crossing the river relied on a ferry or a seasonal pontoon bridge. Local leaders, led by businessman Deloss B. Gurney, wanted something better and more reliable. In 1919, they started the Meridian Bridge Company to make it happen. The bridge cost $1.1 million to build and was financed largely by local funds. It quickly became a source of local pride, and Yankton even earned the nickname "Bridge City."

The bridge was built with two decks. The builders hoped a railroad would use the lower deck someday, but that never happened. Instead, the lower deck was later opened up for cars, letting traffic flow one-way on each level.

One of the coolest parts of the bridge is its vertical lift span. This was a section that could be raised to let tall boats pass underneath. In 1983, the lift mechanism was removed, but the tall towers are still standing today. This makes the Meridian Bridge the only vertical lift bridge left in Nebraska or South Dakota. Due to this, it earned a spot on the National Register of Historic Places in 1993.

In 2009, a new bridge called the Discovery Bridge opened for cars, and the Meridian Bridge closed to traffic. After some updates, it reopened in 2011 for walking, biking, and running, and it's still a favorite spot for those activities today.

Next time you're near the river, would you rather bike or walk across the bridge, or admire it from the water?

Image Credit: NPS Photos, NPS/ A. Houston, NPS/ S. Bormann

09/30/2026

Don’t rain on our parade!

Despite the weather we had a great time cutting down Eastern Red Cedar at Mulberry Bend Overlook. We were able to clear the cedar from the ridge along the overlooks and the top hill into the woods. Because of this hard work, the native prairie species of this area will continue to grow! When you visit, look out for grasses like the Big bluestem and Side-oats grama, and in the spring and summer look for Shell-leaf penstemon, Virginia waterleaf, and the variety of coneflowers that grow throughout the prairie and woods.

Thank you to those who volunteered for all your hard work and for coming out despite the rain. We’re happy to have added to the amazing work of !

Image credit: NPS/ A. Schauer

09/25/2026

UPDATE! Attention interested volunteers!

Due to wind and weather our volunteer event for National Public Lands Day will be moving to Mulberry Bend Overlook! The event details are still the same. Join us this National Public Lands Day and earn yourself a Fee-Free coupon to any federal lands!

WHEN: Saturday, September 26th from 8am-12pm

WHERE: Mulberry Bend Overlook

WHAT: At Mulberry we'll set out cutting down Eastern Red Cedar saplings using loppers and shears, promoting biodiversity and helping other native plants thrive! Cutting down the saplings can be strenuous and involves frequent bending. We will also be hiking on and off trail so wear sturdy shoes!

WHO CAN VOLUNTEER: All ages are welcome! Anyone under 15 will need a parent/guardian present.

WHAT TO BRING: Yourself, water, closed-toed shoes, rain jacket, and insect repellant.

Please register in advance by calling into our park office at 605-665-0209x21 or by emailing [email protected] in case we have to cancel due to weather!

Image Credit: NPS Photo

09/19/2026

That’s a wrap! Thank you to everyone who has joined us this summer for our Paddle with a Purpose events!

We’ve done an amazing job keeping trash out of our waterways and being able to get out and enjoy the river. We’ll be back again next year with more volunteer events like this, and we hope to see you there!

While the wind kept us off the water, we had a rewarding time doing an extended litter cleanup around Lake Yankton. We were able to collect trash from both sides of the Bubble and along the shoreline of Lake Yankton. We found a lot of cans, worm bait containers, fishing line, and more! The most surprising find was probably the s**g rug near the rocks of the boat ramp! Thanks to our amazing volunteer Sharon and staff for taking the time to clean up these areas and stop two and half bags of trash from getting into the river.

If you're interested in joining us for another volunteer opportunity, then check out our Invasive Red Cedar Removal on September 26th for National Public Lands Day!

Image Credit: NPS Photo, A. Schauer

09/07/2026

Meet the "barking squirrel!" On this day in 1804, Lewis and Clark came across a prairie dog town along the banks of the Missouri River. This "town" was in an area that's now protected as part of the Missouri National Recreational River. Prairie dogs and their underground towns were nothing new to the Native peoples of the area. But, for the Corps of Discovery, this animal was something they had never encountered.

Wanting to learn more, the men spent hours pouring water down a burrow to flush one out. They eventually captured a prairie dog alive! They then shipped the prairie dog all the way down the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers. It then went overland to Washington, D.C. as a gift for President Thomas Jefferson!

Unfortunately, prairie dog towns no longer dot the riverbanks here today. However, this stretch of river remains the place where America first met the prairie dog. It's a reminder of how much this landscape has changed, and how much history layers into every bend of the river.

Did you know that prairie dogs used to call the Missouri National Recreational River home?

Photo Credit: NPS Photos

Address

508 E 2nd Street
Yankton, SD
57078

Opening Hours

Monday	9am - 4:30pm
Tuesday	8am - 4:30pm
Wednesday	8am - 4:30pm
Thursday	8am - 4:30pm
Friday	8am - 4:30pm

Telephone

+16056650209

Website

http://www.nps.gov/mnrr

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