We’re still fairly new to the Omaha area, so getting out and exploring new nature areas is key survival mode for this mama. We love nature and hiking and finding new trails for exploring!
“If Happiness is the goal—and it should be, then adventures should be a priority.”
—Richard Branson
3 Favorite Hiking Trails in Omaha, NE
3110 Cornhusker Rd Bellevue, NE 68147
This was a wonderful, quiet, free, shady trail. When you pull into the parking lot there is a small playground, baseball diamond, large grassy area, and a port-o-potty. The entrance to the trails is almost right where you turn into the parking lot – we almost didn’t see it. Swanson Park trails are made for mountain biking, but was definitely fine for walking or doing a trail run. The trails were narrow, so not good for a stroller, but the terrain wasn’t too hilly, so it was easy for the kids. There was a lot of shade and some trail markings, so perfect for a calm adventure.
We were able to stay on a fairly obvious main trail, but the maps going into the hike were hard for me to decipher (length, elevation, and there weren’t lots of markings on the trail). We hiked for about 45 minutes before turning around and heading back. Great, easy trail for kids, just watch for bikers.
10600 Blondo St
Omaha, Nebraska 68111
The Arboretum is an outdoor education area, so you can see different types of trees that are recommended for use in the Omaha area, understand safety when it comes to planting various trees near different power lines, and how those trees can conserve energy. For my boys, exploring trees among power plants was pretty cool.
There is a mixture of paved trails and wood chip trails. If you are a mom with a stroller with good tires, the wood chip area was definitely wide enough for a stroller, and there are some narrow paths for kids to run on alongside the wider trail. Do you have little ones who are constantly asking questions? Many trees are marked with their names, which is fun for the kids and bonus, I didn’t have to pretend to know what kind of trees they were.
This would be a great place for an easy (free) walk or a picnic with friends. Although I’d note that the “restroom” is a port-o-potty, but the entire loop isn’t much more than a mile.
11809 Old Maple Rd. Omaha, NE. 68164
The hiking trails are open daily, but you need to make an appointment if you want to go inside the office/education center. They have a donation box with envelopes if you wanted to make a contribution. Also, note there isn’t a restroom available when the nature center is closed.
At first we weren’t seeing any of the animals that the Haven boasts about, which is what drew me to this area of the city. The trails are very easily marked, most parts would be okay for a stroller with sturdy wheels. There is a nice boardwalk over the wetland. We saw a few Canadian geese, turtles, and fish swimming. There is a small butterfly garden with beautiful flowers, and as we hiked along the trail we found a few blinds which my kids got a charge out of.
Towards the back of the Haven is a photography blind. We were so lucky to see a heron, wood duck, so many bullfrogs and toads, and we got to see a MINK! That was so cool! I was definitely impressed, but could also easily see that this could be a location where you’d see a lot of wildlife, if you might not see anything too interesting. I think it was another easy and perfect trail for kids.
