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Council Bluffs, IA Birding Trails and Maps

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Looking for the best Birding trails around Council Bluffs?

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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Name
Length
Most Popular

144th Street Trail

8.5 mi

State: NE

Asphalt, Concrete

84th Street Trail

6.35 mi

State: NE

Concrete

Bellevue Loop Trail

8.9 mi

State: NE

Concrete

Big Papio Trail

9.88 mi

State: NE

Concrete

Bob Kerrey Pedestrian Bridge

0.6 mi

State: IA, NE

Concrete

Boulevard Trail

3.1 mi

State: NE

Asphalt, Concrete

Bull Creek Pathway

0.6 mi

State: IA

Concrete

Burt Street Trail

0.8 mi

State: NE

Asphalt

Deerfield Lions Trail

1 mi

State: NE

Concrete

East Military Trail

0.8 mi

State: NE

Concrete

FEVR Trail

1 mi

State: NE

Asphalt, Concrete

Field Club Trail

1.8 mi

State: NE

Concrete

Flanagan Lake Trail

5.2 mi

State: NE

Concrete

Great American Rail-Trail

3743.9 mi

State: DC, IA, ID, IL, IN, MD, MT, NE, OH, PA, WA, WV, WY

Asphalt, Concrete, Crushed Stone

Huntington Park Trailway

0.84 mi

State: NE

Concrete

Indian Creek Trail (IA)

3.5 mi

State: IA

Concrete

Iowa Riverfront Trail

6.5 mi

State: IA

Asphalt, Concrete

Jack Sutton Drive

0.5 mi

State: NE

Concrete

Keystone Trail

15 mi

State: NE

Concrete

Lake Manawa Trail

7.5 mi

State: IA

Asphalt, Concrete

Accordion

Marv Holubar Trail

2 mi

State: NE

Concrete

MoPac Trail (Springfield)

13 mi

State: NE

Crushed Stone

MoPac Trail East

21.7 mi

State: NE

Crushed Stone

MoPac Trail West

5.3 mi

State: NE

Concrete

Murdock Trail

4.7 mi

State: NE

Concrete, Crushed Stone

North Atlantic Trails System

5 mi

State: IA

Asphalt, Concrete, Gravel

Omaha Riverfront Trail

20.1 mi

State: NE

Asphalt, Concrete

Piney Creek Park Trail (NE)

0.9 mi

State: NE

Asphalt

Platte River Connection

1 mi

State: NE

Crushed Stone

Prairie Queen Trail

4.2 mi

State: NE

Concrete

Railroad Highway Trail

2 mi

State: IA

Concrete

Red Oak Trail

1.2 mi

State: IA

Concrete

Ridge Road Trail

3 mi

State: NE

Concrete

Rock Island Old Stone Arch Nature Trail

3.75 mi

State: IA

Asphalt, Crushed Stone

Shanda Dixon Trail

1.7 mi

State: NE

Concrete

Skyline Trail (NE)

2.97 mi

State: NE

Asphalt

Sorensen Parkway Trail

4.8 mi

State: NE

Asphalt

South Omaha Trail

3.6 mi

State: NE

Concrete

Standing Bear Lake and Recreation Area Trail

4.4 mi

State: NE

Concrete

Stanton Greenbelt Trail

1.5 mi

State: IA

Concrete

Steamboat Trace Trail

21.4 mi

State: NE

Crushed Stone

Superior Street Trail

4.42 mi

State: NE

Asphalt

T-Bone Trail

19.6 mi

State: IA

Asphalt

Turner Boulevard Trail

1.7 mi

State: NE

Asphalt

Valley View Trail

7.2 mi

State: IA

Concrete

Veterans Memorial Trail (IA)

5 mi

State: IA, NE

Concrete

Wabash Trace Nature Trail

63 mi

State: IA

Asphalt, Concrete, Crushed Stone

Walnut Creek Lake Trail

3.1 mi

State: NE

Concrete

Wehrspann Lake Trail

6 mi

State: NE

Concrete

West Papio Trail

22.9 mi

State: NE

Concrete

Western Historic Trails Center Link

1.9 mi

State: IA

Concrete

Westin Hills Trail

1.9 mi

State: NE

Concrete

Zorinsky Lake Trail

7.4 mi

State: NE

Asphalt, Concrete

Trail Image	Trail Name	States	Length	Surface	Rating
	144th Street Trail 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...	NE	8.5 mi	Asphalt, Concrete	1 reviews
	84th Street Trail 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...	NE	6.35 mi	Concrete	1 reviews
	Bellevue Loop Trail 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...	NE	8.9 mi	Concrete	6 reviews
	Big Papio 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,...	NE	9.88 mi	Concrete	1 reviews
	Bob Kerrey Pedestrian Bridge The Bob Kerrey Pedestrian Bridge—named for the former Nebraska senator who helped secure much of its funding—opened in September 2008 as the first dedicated pedestrian bridge to connect two states....	IA, NE	0.6 mi	Concrete	1 reviews
	Boulevard Trail 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...	NE	3.1 mi	Asphalt, Concrete	0 reviews
	Bull Creek Pathway The Bull Creek Pathway is a short neighborhood path with a lot of use. The multi-use pathway runs parallel to Bull Creek and links Harl-Holt Park to Washington Elementary, Schuler Elementary and...	IA	0.6 mi	Concrete	0 reviews
	Burt Street Trail In the heart of Omaha, the Burt Street Trail provides an east-west route between N. 20th Street and N. 30th Street paralleling its namesake roadway. Along the way, it traverses the Creighton...	NE	0.8 mi	Asphalt	1 reviews
	Deerfield Lions Trail 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...	NE	1 mi	Concrete	0 reviews
	East Military Trail This recreational trail travels along the south side of E. Military Road. The concrete path connects neighborhoods on the east side of Fremont to Johnson Park. The park is home to a fishing lake...	NE	0.8 mi	Concrete	0 reviews
	FEVR Trail The FEVR Trail borrows its name from the Fremont Valley & Elkhorn excursion line, that ran trains on 17 miles between Fremont and Hooper. The FEVR line is intact but the trail shares right-of-way with...	NE	1 mi	Asphalt, Concrete	0 reviews
	Field Club Trail 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...	NE	1.8 mi	Concrete	1 reviews
	Flanagan Lake Trail 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...	NE	5.2 mi	Concrete	1 reviews
	Great American Rail-Trail The Great American Rail-Trail highlights some of the country’s most iconic landmarks, well-known geography and storied history across a 3,700-miles-plus route between Washington and Washington....	DC, IA, ID, IL, IN, MD, MT, NE, OH, PA, WA, WV, WY	3743.9 mi	Asphalt, Concrete, Crushed Stone	3 reviews
	Huntington Park Trailway Running through a quiet neighborhood in the western reaches of Omaha, the Huntington Park Trailway (also known more simply as the Huntington Trail) offers a nice concrete path, ideal for residents...	NE	0.84 mi	Concrete	2 reviews
	Indian Creek Trail (IA) 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...	IA	3.5 mi	Concrete	1 reviews
	Iowa Riverfront Trail 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...	IA	6.5 mi	Asphalt, Concrete	2 reviews
	Jack Sutton Drive The Jack Sutton Drive is a concrete path lying along Jack Sutton Drive. The trail extends between Luther Road and the Johnson Crossing Academic Center, and affords students of the adjacent...	NE	0.5 mi	Concrete	0 reviews
	Keystone Trail The Keystone Trail is a popular urban-to-rural corridor for commuters and recreationalists of all stripes: college students, business professionals, families and others who desire access to Omaha's...	NE	15 mi	Concrete	12 reviews
	Lake Manawa Trail 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...	IA	7.5 mi	Asphalt, Concrete	1 reviews

Accordion

Marv Holubar Trail 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...	NE	2 mi	Concrete	0 reviews
MoPac Trail (Springfield) 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...	NE	13 mi	Crushed Stone	16 reviews
MoPac Trail East The MoPac Trail follows the former Missouri Pacific Railroad's Omaha Belt Line (hence "MoPac"). This eastern segment of the rail corridor offers a rural experience, heading east from the outskirts of...	NE	21.7 mi	Crushed Stone	14 reviews
MoPac Trail West 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...	NE	5.3 mi	Concrete	4 reviews
Murdock Trail The Murdock Trail, named after the businessman who donated the land to the City of Lincoln, travels east-west for nearly 5 miles through northern Lincoln and its Havelock neighborhood. The trail runs...	NE	4.7 mi	Concrete, Crushed Stone	3 reviews
North Atlantic Trails System 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...	IA	5 mi	Asphalt, Concrete, Gravel	0 reviews
Omaha Riverfront Trail The Omaha Riverfront Trail is currently open in three sections along the Missouri River in Nebraska's largest city. In the south, the trail begins at Missouri Avenue/US 275's approach to the South...	NE	20.1 mi	Asphalt, Concrete	6 reviews
Piney Creek Park Trail (NE) This trail provides a safe place to walk, roll or jog within the Elkhorn neighborhood on the west side of Omaha. The concrete path sits in the Piney Creek greenbelt, which also the site of a small...	NE	0.9 mi	Asphalt	1 reviews
Platte River Connection 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...	NE	1 mi	Crushed Stone	6 reviews
Prairie Queen Trail The Prairie Queen Recreation Area offers a beautiful outdoor space for residents of Papillion, which lies southeast of Omaha. Looping around the lake at its center is a paved pathway, which offers...	NE	4.2 mi	Concrete	1 reviews
Railroad Highway 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...	IA	2 mi	Concrete	0 reviews
Red Oak Trail The Red Oak Trail is a concrete biking and walking trail that runs through a series of lightly-wooded fields around the edge of the local high school and cemetery in the small city of Red Oak, Iowa....	IA	1.2 mi	Concrete	0 reviews
Ridge Road Trail As its name suggests, this recreation path lies along Ridge Road in west Fremont. The trail is 8-foot-wide concrete, with intermittent tree cover, and is a flat run, walk or ride. The Ridge Road Trail...	NE	3 mi	Concrete	0 reviews
Rock Island Old Stone Arch Nature Trail The Rock Island Old Stone Arch Nature Trail travels nearly 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,...	IA	3.75 mi	Asphalt, Crushed Stone	5 reviews
Shanda Dixon Trail 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...	NE	1.7 mi	Concrete	0 reviews
Skyline Trail (NE) In just under three miles, the Skyline Trail takes users across a variety of settings - suburban residential, main street commercial, and agricultural. The trail is found in Elkhorn, on the west edge...	NE	2.97 mi	Asphalt	1 reviews
Sorensen Parkway Trail The multiuse trail sits alongside the Sorensen Parkway, extending from the scenic Fontenelle Boulevard west to N 90th Street and Military Road. It provides a recreational path for residents of the...	NE	4.8 mi	Asphalt	1 reviews
South Omaha Trail 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...	NE	3.6 mi	Concrete	5 reviews
Standing Bear Lake and Recreation Area Trail Extending north from the 144th Street Trail, the Standing Bear Lake and Recreation Area Trail spans over four miles around Standing Bear Lake and the surrounding neighborhoods and parkland. A popular...	NE	4.4 mi	Concrete	3 reviews
Stanton Greenbelt Trail A concrete pathway that encircles the small community of Stanton, Iowa, the Stanton Greenbelt Trail gives residents a convenient recreation trail right in their backyards. The trail forms a semicircle...	IA	1.5 mi	Concrete	0 reviews
Steamboat Trace Trail 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...	NE	21.4 mi	Crushed Stone	28 reviews
Superior Street Trail The Superior Street Trail is primarily a commuter route following its namesake thoroughfare from US 6 (Cornhusker Highway) in Lincoln to the Highlands neighborhood on the western edge of the city. The...	NE	4.42 mi	Asphalt	1 reviews
T-Bone Trail The T-Bone Trail stretches nearly 20 miles between Audubon and Pymosa township in western Iowa. The paved pathway follows a former railroad right-of-way and offers beautiful countryside views. On the...	IA	19.6 mi	Asphalt	9 reviews
Turner Boulevard Trail 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...	NE	1.7 mi	Asphalt	0 reviews
Valley View Trail 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...	IA	7.2 mi	Concrete	0 reviews
Veterans Memorial Trail (IA) 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...	IA, NE	5 mi	Concrete	1 reviews
Wabash Trace Nature Trail Notice: On April 9, 2020, the East Nishnabotna bridge on the north side of Shenandoah was damaged by a fire. Over 50 feet will have to be completely torn off and rebuilt. There is no through access:...	IA	63 mi	Asphalt, Concrete, Crushed Stone	29 reviews
Walnut Creek Lake Trail 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,...	NE	3.1 mi	Concrete	2 reviews
Wehrspann Lake Trail The Wehrspann Lake Trail loops around its namesake reservoir in the Chalco Hills Recreation Area on the southwestern outskirts of Omaha. There are benches and picnic spots along the paved pathway to...	NE	6 mi	Concrete	1 reviews
West Papio Trail 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...	NE	22.9 mi	Concrete	4 reviews
Western Historic Trails Center Link 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...	IA	1.9 mi	Concrete	0 reviews
Westin Hills Trail 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...	NE	1.9 mi	Concrete	1 reviews
Zorinsky Lake Trail 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...	NE	7.4 mi	Asphalt, Concrete	2 reviews

Accordion

More Council Bluffs bike trails

Accordion

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More Council Bluffs running trails

Recent Trail Reviews

West Papio Trail

Look forward to extension to Flannagan Lake trail

May, 2021 by kjbusacker

I love riding the West Papio, both north and south from Zorinsky Lake, where i usually connect. The north end is more scenic with trees. It's a shame the West Papio does not connect yet to Flannagan Lake. I see they are working on the Cleveland Blvd road, so that should be a solution once done.

Platte River Connection

Still closed as of April 24th 2021

April, 2021 by joel_ratliff2000

Closed for several years now. We saw the entrances in South Bend wired up and signs saying stay out but then members of the Middle island community using the bridge as their leisure ground. So basically it’s gated access to keep everyone out except those who live on Middle Island.

T-Bone Trail

Love this trail

April, 2021 by rtkarg

First time riding a paved trail and I love it! Very well maintained and an absolute delight. Had such a wonderful time this was my first 50 mile ride. I did not want to quit. Look forward to many more rides on this wonderful trail!

Accordion

Great American Rail-Trail

best trail ever

March, 2021 by tpassarelli_tl

wonderful trip across America

Zorinsky Lake Trail

Beautiful trail to walk and run. Gorgeous trees and water. We see many deer everytime we go winter or summer. We've even seen coyotes, eagles, bull snakes and many water fowl. Terrible for biking because of the bad asphalt and so many walkers.

February, 2021 by susanna.clinton

Beautiful trail to walk and run. Gorgeous trees and water. We see many deer everytime we go winter or summer. We've even seen coyotes, eagles, bull snakes and many water fowl. Terrible for biking because of the bad asphalt and so many walkers.

Prairie Queen Trail

December, 2020 by pamela.beranek

Nice concrete trail all around the lake. About 4 miles easy grade. It’s nestled in a neighborhood. Can eat at Caniglias pizza afterwards!

Standing Bear Lake and Recreation Area Trail

nice easy walk

November, 2020 by pksmith963

Nice walking or biking trail. Even better now that the floating bridge is completed so you don’t have to ride on 144th.

Walnut Creek Lake Trail

wonderful place!

October, 2020 by teganzp

Nice peaceful walk with nature. Wonderful lake and families taking advantage of it! Everyone should visit Walnut Creek Recreation

Walnut Creek Lake Trail

Beautiful!

October, 2020 by teganzp

This was my first trail walk since moving to Omaha. It’s a beautiful place which helps you not notice how far you have gone. People walking, jogging, and bicycling— all very polite to everyone else.

Platte River Connection

Closed

September, 2020 by jerryklnk

I got to the east end of the bridge and it was blocked by heavy construction equipment and some workers told me the bridge is closed. Obviously.

Platte River Connection

Bridge closed and barricaded

September, 2020 by Workman

As a ‘through rider’ I had to ride all the way from State Route 50 out SR 31, to find out that the trail to the bridge is closed and the bridge is barricaded. Don’t bother going. It has been closed from flooding since March 2019 and the Lower Platte South Natural Resources District does not seem to be in any hurry to open or repair the bridge. The detour would be to ride the 4 1/2-5 miles back to the SR 50 bridge at Louisville.

MoPac Trail (Springfield)

Highest hopes for this trsil

September, 2020 by gatescreates

This trail let me down running from Springfield. It just ended after 4 miles. No signs, no nothing. Had me running on a dangerous highway with no direction. Never again.

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