Missouri National Recreational River offers natural beauty: the forested buff-colored chalkstone bluffs to gently rolling range bottomland; the brilliant white of migrating pelicans to the rich blues of prairie asters; the soaring majesty of resident bald eagles to fleeting glimpses of the wily red fox. It offers an exciting past for your enjoyment and enrichment, from Plains Indian tribes to Lewis and Clark to steamboat captains such as Grant Marsh. Here, you can experience the dynamic character of the river's ever-changing nature, with its islands, shifting sandbars, sloughs, and treacherous, deadly snags. Both the upper 39-mile reach and the lower 59-mile reach along the Nebraska-South Dakota border combine to form one of few sections of this once vast ecosystem along the Big Muddy that remains in a relatively natural state. Leashed pets are welcome in the park. Pets in South Dakota must be on a leash no longer than six feet, and pets in Nebraska must be on a leash no longer than ten feet. Pets are not allowed on designated swimming beaches or in any park buildings and may not be left unattended. Follow all state park rules.