MayaZier

Oh happy day! Summer is approaching, so you know what that means: it’s time to put on your hiking boots and hit the trails.

Although Nebraska does have five national parks and connections with five historic trails, we also have some amazing trails close to Omaha that are perfect for summer. 

Starting off with the place we all went on a grade school field trip … Fontenelle Forest. This beautiful forest is located at 1111 Bellevue Blvd. N, Bellevue. They have 17 miles of trails for you to explore with hundreds of different animals living in this safe habitat. Fontenelle Forest is a sanctuary to many endangered species, so you are likely to find some kind of rare animal while on your hike. 

Neale Woods Nature Reserve is owned by Fontenelle Forest with 7 miles of trails. It is located at 14323 Edith Marie Ave., Omaha. It has trails along the Missouri River and even has views that will make you cry. 

Don’t be fooled by the name, but Standing Bear Lake is a wondrous place that has a 3-mile hiking trail, and probably no bears. It is located at 6404 N 132nd St., Omaha. You are welcome to bike, run or even walk your dog around this scenic lake. 

Schramm Schramm, this park ain’t no scam. Schramm Park is home to a fish hatchery and birdwatchers. They have trails that range from 1.5 to 3 miles. Visitors can feed the fish, explore the trails along the bluffs and also rent camp sites. You can find Schramm at 20874-21146, NE-31, Gretna. 

Hummel Park has a 2.2 mile trail that takes about an hour to complete. It is open to walkers, runners, birdwatchers, dog walkers and more. It is located at 3033 Hummel Park Rd. Also, if you’re not in the mood to hike, they have a beautiful lookout with picnic tables and slides. 

These are just a few of the amazing hiking trails in the metro area. Don’t be shy to try them out. 

Getting outdoors is great for your health, and who knows, you might make the next huge animal discovery.