Running along a former Union Pacific Rail track, the Jamaica North Trail extends from the intersection of Park Boulevard and Speedway Circle south through Lincoln to Saltillo Road, linking several of the city's neighborhoods to various Lincoln parks and trail connections.
For longer excursions, the trail connects with the
Salt Creek Levee Trail at its northern end and with the
Homestead Trail at its southern tip, providing an uninterrupted route from downtown Lincoln south to Beatrice. The trail also provides access to the Standing Bear and Sawyer Snell Parks, as well as Sherman Field, a historic baseball stadium. Those fans wishing to experience college or independent baseball as well can continue north along the Salt Creek Levee Trail directly to Haymarket Park, home of both the Nebraska Cornhuskers and Lincoln Saltdogs baseball teams. Mid-way along the Jamaica North Trail is Wilderness Park, Lincoln's largest park, which offers miles of hiking and mountain biking trails through dense forest and meadows.
Parking for the Jamaica North Trailhead can be found on Saltillo Road just east of S. 25th St. Parking can also be found near an unmarked trailhead at E. Van Dorn St. and Park Blvd.
In August 2012, my wife and I traveled from Kansas City to Lincoln to ride the Homestead Trail. However, when we arrived, we discovered that the Homestead Trail had been closed three days prior, due to dangerous cracks in the trail from the severe drought. ...