Find the top rated birding trails in Council Bluffs, whether you're looking for an easy short birding trail or a long birding trail, you'll find what you're looking for. Click on a birding trail below to find trail descriptions, trail maps, photos, and reviews.
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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.
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.
Smooth and beautiful ride. I took it to Harrison Street before heading back due to weather conditions. I enjoyed the quiet, scenic views with very little traffic noise, a few airplanes and mostly calm peaceful riding amidst the soy beans and the corn fields.
Being from North Carolina, I don't see concrete bike trails as nice as this. What a delightful experience to ride on quality concrete, a wide path and beautiful scenery. Some of the underpasses have a steep uphill, but other than that the ride is level and very smooth. I enjoyed the view of parks, golf courses and occasional dairy farms as I biked north from the Culvers restaurant where I parked. This is a great investment for the people of Omaha and I hope they appreciate what a great thing they have here.
Rode this trail a couple days ago and spent more time dodging huge piles of poop on the trail than enjoying my ride. The trail over-all condition from Springfield down to the Lied bridge is in decline. Too much deep gravel (especially from the Platte River bridge down to the Lied bridge - and again WAY too much poop on the trail.
This summer I’ve ridden (1) Flint Hills which I didn’t like at all due to large chunks of tire popping flint rock and poor overall condition, (2) Katy Trail twice which I liked a lot, then (3) Wabash Trace from Council Bluffs to Malvern and back. This was my favorite for trail condition, canopy, and the towns of Mineola, Silver City, and Malvern. I’ll repeat this ride several times this summer getting ready for RAGBRAI.
The trail is great—if you can find it. Signage is all but nonexistent and you end up in some pretty isolated (unsafe?) industrial areas if you’re brave enough to go looking for the southernmost section. Markings for the middle section, even for shared lanes around Heartland of America Park, are also either nonexistent or poorly located. Even the northern section, which is fantastic, is extremely easy to miss—and first-time riders are more likely to end up at the airport terminals or on another sketchy industrial detour than on the trail through Carter Lake. City planners need to get it together. It’s too good a resource to push people away because of laziness/negligence. For continuity’s sake, it’s best to stay on the east side of the river.
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