Explore the best rated trails in Omaha, NE. Whether you're looking for an easy walking trail or a bike trail like the Turner Boulevard Trail and Walnut Creek Lake Trail . With more than 55 trails covering 374 miles you’re bound to find a perfect trail for you. Click on any trail below to find trail descriptions, trail maps, photos, and reviews.
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The Indian Creek Trail in Council Bluffs runs north along Indian Creek from busy US 275where it meets the Veterans Memorial Trail and Lake Manawa Trailto the southwestern edge of Sunset Park on 16th...
The 2-mile long Railroad Highway Trail runs through gently undulating farmland just outside of Council Bluffs, Iowa. The trails sits within the corridor of Railroad Highway, but is separated from the...
Although one of the shorter trails in Council Bluffs' outstanding system, the Western Historic Trails Center Link provides an excellent connection between two longer trails. In the south, the trail...
MoPac Trail West follows the former Missouri Pacific Railroad's Omaha Belt Line (hence "MoPac") from central Lincoln to the city's eastern outskirts, where it joins the MoPac Trail East. The concrete...
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The Rock Island Trail in Lincoln, Nebraska, runs for nearly 7 miles through the city on a north–south corridor, between the University of Nebraska's flagship campus and Densmore Park. The trail is an...
This trail is an 8-mile long winding pathway stretching from north to south along 144th Street (State Route 50). It is an important route for both recreation and transportation, providing safe...
Flanagan Lake, opened to the public in July 2018, is a 220-acre reservoir designed to aid in flood control on the outskirts of Omaha. Named for Father Edward Flanagan, the priest who founded the...
Roper Park Trail provides an oblong loop around a creek in northwestern Lincoln. The narrow, paved pathway (located west of I-180) traverses a wide, grassy area dotted with trees. Short spurs along...
Omaha's Big Papio Trail follows the route of Big Papillion Creek from southern Omaha to the city's northwestern corner. The paved trail begins along the creek at Harrison Street in Seymour Smith Park,...
The Zorinsky Lake Trail offers a pleasant excursion on the western outskirts of Omaha. The paved pathway encircles a 255-acre lake, offering beautiful views of the water from all angles. The full...
The Rock Island Old Stone Arch Nature Trail travels 4 miles along an asphalt path atop a former railbed once owned by the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad. Starting near an I-80 on-ramp, the...
Stretching a mile across Blair’s northwest side, the Deerfield Lions Trail is so named because it connects the Deerfield subdivision (and Deerfield Elementary School) at one end and Lions Club Park at...
The Shanda Dixon Trail borders a residential area along Fremont Street in northeastern Lincoln and makes its way east to Mahoney Park. The trail circles the park, which offers athletic facilities and...
The Valley View Trail spans the eastern side of Council Bluffs, Iowa, passing close to residential neighborhoods, retail hubs, parks and rural areas. Along the way, trail users can read historical...
Just north of the small Iowa city of Atlantic, a sprawling network of concrete multi-use trails have been built, enabling cyclists and pedestrians to safely explore the lovely natural landscape around...
The West Papio Trail offers nearly 23 miles of paved trail in the western Omaha metro region. The pathway begins just west of S. 36th Street in Bellevue, where it connects with the Keystone Trail, and...
Nebraska's Oak Creek Trail, occupying a former Union Pacific Railroad corridor in the eastern part of the state, offers a truly rural experience. While the trail is only about an hour from both Omaha...
The Steamboat Trace Trail in southeastern Nebraska rests on a former Burlington Northern railroad corridor stretching from Brownville to just south of Nebraska City. The corridor was railbanked by...
Vascilating between natural and suburban surroundings in the outskirts of Bellevue, the Marv Holubar Trail offers an important off-road connection from local neighborhoods to popular shopping...
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The MoPac Trail in Springfield is an integral component of what is planned to be a more than 50-mile recreational trail between Omaha and Lincoln, Nebraska's two largest cities. Four sections of the...
Immediately adjacent to its namesake, the Old Cheney Road Trail provides a straight east-west route across southern Lincoln from 27th Street to 70th Street. Although the 3-mile paved pathway isn't...
The West Papio Trail offers nearly 23 miles of paved trail in the western Omaha metro region. The pathway begins just west of S. 36th Street in Bellevue, where it connects with the Keystone Trail, and...
The Billy Wolff Trail provides Lincoln residents with a connection to nature, running through a string of parksPansing Park, Roose Park, Antelope Park and Holmes Lake Parkas it winds its way from S....
The South Omaha Trail serves as an important connector for the city, linking the Keystone Trail, Karen Park, Karen Western Elementary School and the Field Club Trail. The paved pathway is built on a...
The Antelope Creek Trail follows its namesake waterway through suburban sections of southeastern Lincoln, Nebraska. Essentially a direct continuation of the slightly shorter Billy Wolff Trail, the...
The Valley View Trail spans the eastern side of Council Bluffs, Iowa, passing close to residential neighborhoods, retail hubs, parks and rural areas. Along the way, trail users can read historical...
The Shanda Dixon Trail borders a residential area along Fremont Street in northeastern Lincoln and makes its way east to Mahoney Park. The trail circles the park, which offers athletic facilities and...
The Iowa Riverfront Trail in Council Bluffs spans the western side of the city along the Missouri River. For most of the route, bikers, runners, skaters and walkers are treated to spectacular views of...
Following a former railroad route, the Field Club Trail spans nearly 2 miles in one of Omaha's older neighborhoods. The northern portion of the trail—beginning just south of the University of Nebraska...
The Northern Atlantic Trails System connects two major recreation sites in Atlantic, Iowa. On the west end is the Schildberg Recreation Area, where 1.3 miles of trail wrap around the three lakes in...
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Council Bluffs' Veterans Memorial Trail runs adjacent to US 275also known as Veterans Memorial Highwayfor its 5 mile route. On the non-highway side of the trail, runners, walkers, bikers and skaters...
The MoPac Trail in Springfield is an integral component of what is planned to be a more than 50-mile recreational trail between Omaha and Lincoln, Nebraska's two largest cities. Four sections of the...
The Bellevue Loop Trail is actually the southern extension of the Keystone Trail, and it is occasionally referred to simply as part of the longer trail. The trail makes a loop around the southern edge...
The Turner Boulevard Trail offers a north-south route paralleling its namesake roadway through residential neighborhoods on Omaha's west side. Although just shy of 2 miles long, the paved pathway...
The Lake Manawa Trail in Council Bluffs links the city's industrial core along US 275 with Lake Manawa State Park, a popular destination for hiking, camping, boating, fishing and swimming. In the...
The Steamboat Trace Trail in southeastern Nebraska rests on a former Burlington Northern railroad corridor stretching from Brownville to just south of Nebraska City. The corridor was railbanked by...
For commuters, the 84th Street Trail provides a convenient, north-south route paralleling its namesake road from Mahoney Park and Adams Street to Old Cheney Road. For recreationists, the trail...
Omaha's Big Papio Trail follows the route of Big Papillion Creek from southern Omaha to the city's northwestern corner. The paved trail begins along the creek at Harrison Street in Seymour Smith Park,...
The North 1st Street Trail parallels its namesake road through Lincoln's northwestern neighborhoods between Cornhusker Highway and Superior Street. Near its southern end, the trail offers access to...
The Boulevard Trail (also known as the Happy Hollow Trail) is a 10-foot, 3-mile trail winding through the tree-lined, historic neighborhoods of midtown Omaha. The trail splits off from the Keystone...
Council Bluffs' Veterans Memorial Trail runs adjacent to US 275also known as Veterans Memorial Highwayfor its 5 mile route. On the non-highway side of the trail, runners, walkers, bikers and skaters...
A Rails-to-Trails Conservancy Hall of Fame rail-trail, the Wabash Trace Nature Trail earns its title—providing an amazing trip through the rural forests and countryside of southwest Iowa. The trail...
The Salt Creek Levee Trail provides a scenic route for bikers and runners along its namesake waterway. This crushed-limestone path takes you past Lincoln's oldest neighborhoods and under a picturesque...
Roper Park Trail provides an oblong loop around a creek in northwestern Lincoln. The narrow, paved pathway (located west of I-180) traverses a wide, grassy area dotted with trees. Short spurs along...
Although one of the shorter trails in Council Bluffs' outstanding system, the Western Historic Trails Center Link provides an excellent connection between two longer trails. In the south, the trail...
The 2-mile long Railroad Highway Trail runs through gently undulating farmland just outside of Council Bluffs, Iowa. The trails sits within the corridor of Railroad Highway, but is separated from the...
Stretching a mile across Blair’s northwest side, the Deerfield Lions Trail is so named because it connects the Deerfield subdivision (and Deerfield Elementary School) at one end and Lions Club Park at...
Vascilating between natural and suburban surroundings in the outskirts of Bellevue, the Marv Holubar Trail offers an important off-road connection from local neighborhoods to popular shopping...
MoPac Trail West follows the former Missouri Pacific Railroad's Omaha Belt Line (hence "MoPac") from central Lincoln to the city's eastern outskirts, where it joins the MoPac Trail East. The concrete...
Providing an invaluable connection between the 144th Street Trail and the West Papio Trail, two key trails in the Omaha area's trail network, the Westin Hills Trail also serves as a pleasant community...
The Shanda Dixon Trail borders a residential area along Fremont Street in northeastern Lincoln and makes its way east to Mahoney Park. The trail circles the park, which offers athletic facilities and...
The Turner Boulevard Trail offers a north-south route paralleling its namesake roadway through residential neighborhoods on Omaha's west side. Although just shy of 2 miles long, the paved pathway...
The Rock Island Trail in Lincoln, Nebraska, runs for nearly 7 miles through the city on a north–south corridor, between the University of Nebraska's flagship campus and Densmore Park. The trail is an...
The Walnut Creek Lake Recreation Area is a natural gem in Papillion, a southwestern suburb of Omaha. The 450-acre park features a paved multiuse pathway circling Walnut Creek Lake. Along the way,...
The Indian Creek Trail in Council Bluffs runs north along Indian Creek from busy US 275where it meets the Veterans Memorial Trail and Lake Manawa Trailto the southwestern edge of Sunset Park on 16th...
The Billy Wolff Trail provides Lincoln residents with a connection to nature, running through a string of parksPansing Park, Roose Park, Antelope Park and Holmes Lake Parkas it winds its way from S....
For commuters, the 84th Street Trail provides a convenient, north-south route paralleling its namesake road from Mahoney Park and Adams Street to Old Cheney Road. For recreationists, the trail...
The Platte River Connection is a short, but critical, route that will one day link the vast trail systems of the two most populous Nebraskan cities, Lincoln and Omaha. The trail's centerpiece is the...
Flanagan Lake, opened to the public in July 2018, is a 220-acre reservoir designed to aid in flood control on the outskirts of Omaha. Named for Father Edward Flanagan, the priest who founded the...
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The Highlands Trail offers a pleasant, 3-mile loop through Lincoln's Highlands neighborhood. Supporting its role as a community connector, the trail traverses Nebraska Technology Park on its south end...
Don't miss out on this wonderful trail!
My husband and I rode Mineloa to Imogene (locals say this is the most scenic part of the trail) in late August. The shady path was really welcoming and peaceful on this sunny warm Iowa day. We were lucky enough to chat with a superb bowtied gentleman, one of the original heroes who advocated to make this path a rail-trail starting in 1988 - and there was much local opposition! This gentleman, now a healthy 74 years old, rides regular and is part of the smashing volunteers on The Wabash Trace Nature Trail.
Thank you Iowa and all those who volunteer to keep this trail sparkling!
We rode from the East part of Lincoln to Elmwood on our "hybrid" bikes (not skinny tires). The trail was basically in good shape, with a few very short rough patches due to the kind of gravel surface and the weather. It is well worth the ride, with lovely and somewhat varied country views and plenty of birds and flowers. The mural in Elmwood is worth the ride up from the trail and the convenience store there will let you buy donuts or ice cream or sports drinks and a pitstop to keep you going.
Runs on the west side of downtown Lincoln,from Van Dorn St. in the south, following along the banks of the Salt Creek, and curving east around the north end of downtown.
What I love most about the Wabash, is that it captures all the remote scenery and serenity that I remember from childhood growing up in Kansas, TN, KY and ozark areas. The flora and wildlife on the trail kind of blend that variety with the midwest prairie in a lush and comfortable display of life. I can get to it from my house in Midtown Omaha via a series of local trails, all thrilling through the parks, pit stops, historic downtown shopping, and across the river at the National Parks HQ last even MORE parks, and finally to the Wabash which I am proud to say is a park in itself! I love it for its length and use and find it fun to camp out along near warm summer months when the natural wild secluded atmosphere is blended with distant fireworks and lawnmowers and dogs barking and the dreams of the next small town to stop for an ice cream or cold juice along the journey. I’ve not yet ridden it in Autumn but am prepared to do so this year. It’s been a great opportunity to get in tune with myself and the land and learn about foraging, sustainable resource, and to find happiness as I remain in this community. I hope to meet some amazing people as I travel the Wabash in the future. I also hope for more marked primitive camp zones in shaded safe areas along the trail for future use, and for far many more miles to be added and a link of web across states may be achieved before I am too old to ride much. I am looking forward to the snow melting now and getting back on path as soon as the new green shoots appear and some days off of work allow me to return to this peaceful place.
This was an epically gorgeous ride. We started at the trailhead in Council Bluffs. I followed my map to Lewis Central Middle School and then it’s just right south of that and it got us there just fine. We did a day bike and went 22 miles to Malvern. We had stellar Bloody Marys and great food at Classic Cafe. I heard the place across the street had good ice cream too. Then we headed back and stopped in Mineola at Toby Jack’s Steakhouse for a beer. Great little place that is super use to bikers stopping in. Ended up back at the CB trailhead. If 44 miles is too much I think a bike to Silver City and back would be easier and you still get a pretty gorgeous ride.
You'll love the timbers, river, and bluffs along the way. Stop in Peru for a coffee then Brownville for a late breakfast or lunch. It's my favorite thing to do.
I recommend going on a weekday because the trail is pretty crowded friday-sunday. Enjoyable ride away from traffic, but nothing special.
the trail is still a little too deep in gravel north of Springfield, but seems great to me on the stretch from the Sarpy County fair grounds Heron Bay at the Platte river. great ride, lots of shade and saw no dog poop.
My husband and I enjoyed riding half of the Steamboat Trace Trail. We started by Nebraska city and rode to Peru. The first half had lots of shade which was nice since it was surprisingly hot and humid for an early September morning. We had to pedal against some wind when we got to the more open area through the fields, but it wasn't bad, and we were grateful for the wind on the way back since the temp. rose into the 80's. This ride will be most remembered for the large number of grasshoppers and woolly caterpillars found on the trail. We enjoyed seeing lots of monarchs too. Besides bugs, we did come across 2 angus cows and a calf that found their way over or under the fence and onto the trail. I suspected that this could be a possibility since I saw a cow pie on the trail on the way to Peru. I grew up on a farm so I wasn't too concerned and knew they would move out of the way, but thought I would give future bicyclists a heads up. The trail was in good shape for the most part. Every now and then we would encounter a section with rocks instead of crushed limestone so we had to watch where we were going. The only other thing to look out for is a few areas where they put metal poles so vehicles won't drive on the trail include a base for a pole, but no pole is in place.
I enjoy the trail, as long as the city keeps the grass/weeds cut. Be on the look out for broken glass in the area near 42nd & D st.
And yes be careful crossing at 50th St...I can say someone runs the light almost everytime I used the lights.
It would be nice if there was a bench between 50th-42nd St.
Skated the middle section and had the same problem as everyone else with getting lost. Needs way more signs. The northern section was very nice though! Nice views of the Missouri River and Carter Lake that overshadow the not-so-nice views of an oil refinery, wastewater plant, and trailerpark. I skated from the Carter Lake trailhead in the south to the top of the big hill near Ponca Road. Beware of gravel and sticks that cover the pavement in a few areas.
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