This All-Day Float Trip Will Make Your Nebraska Summer Complete

Warm weather in Nebraska turns the focus to the water activities. There's nothing more Nebraskan than heading out to the river and hopping into a livestock tank for a leisurely all-day float. Yes, that's right, we said a livestock tank. While some of you who hear the words "all day float trip" and might picture a kayak or canoe, tubing in Nebraska is a little bit different. However, just because it's a different floating experience, doesn't mean it is any less exciting.

Glidden Canoe Rental is one of the most popular places to rent a kayak, canoe, or tank in the Sandhills. It's located on the west side of Mullen, a tiny town of around 500 people.

Mullen is in an ideal location for outdoor enthusiasts of all types. But one of its best attributes is its proximity to two of Nebraska's best floating rivers: the Dismal and the Middle Loup.

While the untamed Dismal is better suited to sporty canoe and kayak trips, the calmer Middle Loup is all about the leisurely float.

Glidden offers a two-hour tank trip down the Middle Loup, but we highly recommend the five to six-hour float.

You'll make the trip in a livestock tank - one of those plastic or metal tubs you see livestock drinking from on farms or ranches.

The tanks offer a unique river experience. Rather than having to stay alert and active the whole way, you can sit back and just watch the riverbanks glide by. You can even take a cooler along so your whole party can stay hydrated on the trip.

Glidden's tanking trips all include transportation to the put-in point and from the take-out point so you don't even have to worry about doing the two-car shuffle to get back and forth.

The float rate also includes equipment rental and life jackets. The fact that you don't really need any special skills or equipment to take this ride makes it accessible to a wide range of adventure lovers.

At the time of publication, prices for a float down the Middle Loup River are listed at $25 for adults and $10 for ages 12 and under. Kids under 6 can ride for free if they bring their own life jackets. This is a very affordable day out and one of the most memorable experiences you can have in the summer.

Address: 507 SW 1st Street, Mullen, NE 69152

Learn more about Glidden Canoe Rental (and its sister company, the Sandhills Motel) right here.

Have you ever taken this trip? Do you plan to go this year? Tell us all about it in the comments!