While Omaha isn’t known as a hiking destination, that doesn’t mean we still aren’t home to our fair share of hiking trails! Omaha just happens to be surrounded by beautiful bluffs, rolling hills, peaceful lakes and sparkling rivers—each offering a variety of trails for you to explore. And because we have one of the best parks departments in the country, each trail has been impeccably maintained for your family’s enjoyment.
We rounded up some our favorite local hiking and walking destinations below, including both rural and urban treks through Omaha’s beautiful scenery. So, grab your hiking shoes, some sunscreen and a bottle of water and hit the trail!
We’ve organized this list by distance from the center of downtown Omaha. To see exactly where each trail starts, we encourage you to click the address under each trail header to see a Google map.
Entrance Fee: $10 for adults and $5 for children ages 3-12
For a gorgeous urban hike, don’t miss Lauritzen Gardens! The space is a beautiful green and floral oasis, allowing visitors to view hundreds of unique plant species and engage in fun, socially distanced workshops and events. Meander through the scenic gardens, and then stop by the cafe for a snack! One of our favorite places to hike within the gardens is their Woodland Trail, a century-old forest of bur oak offering views to the north and south of the Missouri River Valley.
Fontenelle Forest
1111 Bellevue Boulevard, Bellevue
Entrance Fee: $11 for adults, $10 for seniors, $8 for children. Children two and under are free.
Wabash Trace Trail
4102 Harry Langdon Boulevard, Council Bluffs
Entrance Fee: $2 daily or $20 for an annual pass
Heron Haven, located near Woodlyn Park in West Omaha, is a spring-fed wetland sanctuary featuring one of the last oxbow wetlands of Big Papillion Creek. In addition to being a great place to hike, Heron Haven is an important educational and research asset to local biology and ecology students at local universities. The hiking trails here are a favorite for families, offering flat trails and a little boardwalk over the pond.
Entrance Fee: Free
The OPPD Arboretum is an outdoor education area located at 108th and Blondo Streets and is open to the public from dawn until dusk. The area is surrounded by a paved trail as well as a woodchipped trail—giving you plenty of options when it comes to exploring the entire arboretum. Along the way, don’t forget to stop by the Substation Overlook, the Outdoor Classroom, the Transmission Line Demonstration, The Electrical Safety Education Area and more!
Entrance Fee: Free
Tranquility Park is one of the most popular spots for hiking in the Omaha area, and it’s not hard to see why! Tranquility Trail is Omaha’s first approved off-road trail system, offering more than 9 miles of hiking trails with a good mix of terrain. Enjoy everything from tight switchbacks through pine trees to wide, open grassland climbs and speed-building swooping descents!
Entrance Fee: Free
Zorinsky Lake is one of Omaha’s most popular recreational areas, boasting a 225-acre lake surrounded by 770 acres of public access land. One of our favorite Zorinsky Lake activities—in addition to actually swimming in the lake—is hiking! There is a trail, dubbed Zorinsky Lake Trail Loop, that runs along the entire edge of the lake, offering more than 7.8 miles for walking or biking. Because the trail is mostly flat, it’s a favorite for families and those walking dogs.
Entrance Fee: $5 per vehicle
The Hitchcock Nature Center in Honey Creek is a wonderland of things to do all year long. Not only do they offer fun hands-on activities for kids, but they also offer a 45-foot-tall observation tower that gives visitors a unique birds-eye view of the rolling hills. They are open every day of the year for hiking, camping, picnicking, bird watching and more. Click here to see a map of the 10 miles of trails throughout the nature center!
Entrance Fee: Free
Paddle boarding, kayaking and swimming await at Standing Bear Lake! The day-use facility is located on the northwest side of Omaha and is a serene paradise all year long. Here, you’ll find 3.3 miles of hiking and cycling trails (which includes an amazing bridge trail section), a picnic area, shaded shelters, a playground and the lake, which is perfect for a quick splash!
Entrance Fee: $6 per vehicle
Located halfway between Omaha and Lincoln, Eugene T. Mahoney State Park is a popular outdoorsy retreat for residents of both cities. While the park is well known due to its water park and other summer attractions, we love exploring the area’s miles of scenic wooded walking trails! Click here to explore all the hikes you can find in this state park and map out your route.
Entrance Fee: $6 per vehicle
Nestled among the rolling hills of the Platte River Valley, Schramm Park State Recreation Area is a spectacular spot to spend a summer day. Along with offering the state’s first fish hatchery, the park boasts several well-maintained wooded trails that are open all year long. One of the longer routes, which is very popular with local hikers, features a suspension bridge that offers beautiful views of the park. While you’re there, don’t miss the opportunity to tour the Schramm Education Center, a state-of-the-art facility that allows visitors to learn all about Nebraska’s aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems.
Entrance Fee: $8 for adults, $7 for seniors and $6 for children three and older
Photo courtesy of the Lee G. Conservation Park & Wildlife Safari
Situated just 30 minutes outside of Omaha, the Lee G. Conservation Park and Wildlife Safari is home to more than 350 animals and 53 species from all over the world. The park is a partner with Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo and allows animals to thrive in a more natural habitat while researchers study their lives and behaviors. Unlike other zoos, you can take a fabulous drive-through tour of the park and witness animals in their natural state in a little Nebraskan safari! In addition to their driving tour, they also offer 2 miles of hiking trails for you to explore! Hike through Wolf Woods or head over to Frog Lake; both offer gorgeous views, educational opportunities and a fun walk for all levels of hikers to enjoy.
Take a Hike!
Where are your favorite places to hike in the Omaha area? Tell us all about them in the comments below.