2014 Map of Smiley Canyon

About this map

Nebraska National Forest and the Oglala National Grassland meet in this corner of Sioux County, where the Pine Ridge escarpment gives way to the high plains. The landscape is defined by the complex drainage systems of Soldier Cr and its tributaries, including the N Fork Soldier Cr and Middle Fork Soldier Cr, which carve through the terrain north of Us-20. The namesake Smiley Canyon provides a natural corridor for travel, tracked by Old Smiley Scenic Dr as it winds toward the southern boundary. Water resources are central to the area's geography, with the White River appearing in the southeast alongside Carter P Johnson Reservoir and Dunlap Reservoir. These water bodies and creeks like Dead Mans Cr and Charcoal Cr illustrate the vital network supporting life and transit in this sparsely populated region of western Nebraska.