The origin for the water welling up from the springs is the Ogallala Acquifer, a vast underground reservoir extending into northern Texas. The seemingly endless water flows and lush grasses first attracted ranchers with their large herds of cattle to the Dismal in the late 1880s. Today it is flanked by private cattle ranches. Section Described Nebraska 97 bridge to Whitetail Campground in the Nebraska National Forest - 56.5 miles. What makes it difficult is the 6-to 8 miles per hour current and its continually winding nature.
Some springs emit water at such a fast rate that they seem to boil out of the ground.
In fact, there is one spring called Boiling Springs which wells up from the foot of a near-vertical bank. Here spring water bubbles up through openings in a bed of coarse rock pebbles. Care should be taken, springs are deep, some more than 100 feet, and the water is very cold. Occasionally you will find quicksand near the springs. Although there is no record of anyone losing their lives to quicksand, you should not wade alone.