The river water is unsafe to drink unless boiled or filtered. When camping overnight, take along gas stoves for cooking, as firewood is scarce. Beware of camping in cottonwood groves when winds are strong, as the trees snap easily. Be sure to camp and hike on public land unless you have permission. Vault toilets have been installed at most campsites.
Rattlesnakes are common along the river and have been encountered at every campsite.
Consider taking a snakebite kit. If you're looking for wildlife, head for the prairie dog towns, as they're usually a center of activity. More than 30 different species of Great Plains wildlife use the dog towns. Floaters also have an excellent opportunity to see Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep. These animals were reintroduced into the Missouri Breaks country in the 1960s to replace the Audubon sheep that had been wiped out after the settlement of the white man.