Omaha Area Trail Runner's Guide
"Of all of the paths that you take in life, make sure a few of them are --- john muir
dirt
There are some incredible dirt and grass trails to be run in the omaha area. This guide, created by local trail runner david reddel, is intended to highlight the best of what the omaha metro has for the off road trail runner. it is true that omaha has an extensive paved trail system and many of us train on it regularly. You will find a page in this guide that will point you to all the information you need to access those trails. the focus here however is dirt. whether you are new to omaha, new to trail running or a seasoned veteran, be encouraged to get out, find these trails and experience the joy, challenge and beauty of trail running and the trail running community. The greater omaha area trail runners (goatz) are a great resource. i have been a goat for many years and i would encourage you to be a part of the goatz family. respect the trails. respect others on the trail. run. love. repeat!
black elk-neihardt park 4+ miles/25 minutes north of Omaha
Located in blair, nebraska, black elk-neihardt park offers rolling single track for bikers and runners. a mix of trail through dense woods and open prairie, it is an opportunity to see the best of nebraska. the course is home to the "what the hill" race put on by the greater omaha area trail runners (goatz).
entry is free insider tip: drive past the old dana college on college drive and park next to the tower of the four winds in the park. The single track is just off the parking lot. as you come up the "what the hill" to the shelter, take a right and check out the cross that sits on top of the hill. connect with the goatz on their facebook page to find a trail runner that can show you around.
check out blairnebraska.org for more information
calvin crest 6+ miles/fremont, nebraska
Located at the calvin crest camp conference and retreat center, the trails are on private property but are accessible. Please follow the center's rules concerning the trails. these beautiful trails sit along the platte river and weave through forests, dropping down to flow past the platte river.
entry is free insider tip: take hwy 77 north towards fremont. Turn west on Hwy 109. turn north on county road 13. take this road to thecamp and park by the baskteball courts.the trailheads are accessible from the lot. Connect with the goatz on their facebook page to find a trail runner that can show you around.
photo by jeff morrick
check out calvincrest.org for more information
chalco hills recreation area 15+ miles/southwest omaha
Located just one mile west of i80 and hwy 370 in southwest omaha, chalco is a local gem used by trail runners and bikers alike. entrances can be found off of hwy 370 and a north entrance on giles road. around lake wehrspann are miles of rolling single track and fire break trails. a favorite loop will take you around the edges of the park for about 7 miles. the lodge is a great spot to meet up with running friends.
entry is free insider tip: park at the lodge or the south parking lot off of hwy 370 but always lock up and secure valuables in your vehicle. get ready to see deer and turkey on your run! run year around at chalco. winter provides a wonderful experience, as fat tire bikers pack down the single track. late summer finds the single track a bit weed covered, but the fire breaks are open and scenic. a fantastic park to run with your dog.
visit www.papionrd.org for maps and more information
chalco hills south 4+ miles/southwest omaha
Located just one mile west of i80 and hwy 370 in southwest omaha, chalco is a local gem used by trail runners and bikers alike. entrance to the south side can be be found off of the south side of hwy 370. a large gravel lot connects to trails that go around the small lake. this is a dog park, so expect to see dogs off leash. wide grass paths wander through open prairie and single track can be found in the trees along the fenceline.
entry is free insider tip: park at the 370 south gravel parking lot but always lock up and secure valuables in your vehicle. lots of geese on this run in the Fall and the spring. run year around at chalco. winter provides a wonderful experience, as fat tire bikers pack down the single track. late summer finds the single track a bit weed covered, but the grass paths are open and scenic. a fantastic park to run with your dog.
visit www.papionrd.org for maps and more information
lake cunningham north 10+ miles/Omaha
Located in a 500+ acre park in north central omaha, the single track trails are just north of glenn cunningham lake and bennington road. open prairie and rolling hills greet you as you run on single track maintained and shared by runners and horseriders. This has been the home of the GOATZ trail race in past years.
entry is free insider tip: take north 96th street past lake cunninghame to pawnee road.turn east and park at the archery range. trailheads are accessible from the archery range, but do not go into the archery range. Connect with the goatz on their facebook page to find a trail runner that can show you around.
check out explorethec.com for more information
lake cunningham 12+ miles/Omaha
Located in a 1,000+ acre park in north central omaha, the single track trails around the lake are a long standing favorite of local runners. forests, open prairie and lake views are waiting for you. these trails are the home to the goatz trail race and are a very popular location for weekend runs.
entry is free insider tip: take blair high road north off of i680 turn east on state street and turn into the main entrance of the park. park in the large paved lot next to the boat ramp. the trailheads are accessible from the lot. make a point to run past the iconic lighthouse close to the parking lot. Connect with the goatz on their facebook page to find a trail runner that can show you around.
hitchcock nature center 20+ miles/30 minutes from omaha
Located four miles north of crescent, Iowa on Hwy 183, hitchcock is nestled in the loess hills of western iowa. home of the hitchcock experience trail races, it is a favorite spot for weekend long runs by local trail runners. it is a single track paradise, with a mix of challenging climbs, treed valleys and open prairie. elevation gains of 150-200 feet per mile are common.
day pass is $5 and annual is $20
insider tip: run Fox ridge from the lodge to Fox ridge overlook for a spectacular view. run year around at hitchcock. winter brings snow and ice and trekking poles are helpful. spring can be muddy in spots and summer brings humidity and bugs. Fall sees many runners looking for the change in colors.
visit www.pottconservation.com for maps and more information
lake manawa 7+ miles/across the river from Omaha
Located just west of lake manawa in council bluffs, iowa, these trails are nestled in woods along the missouri river. Used by bikers, the single track is winding and flat, but still provides great running. The east trail is a bit more than 5 miles and the west side is about 2 miles.
entry is free insider tip: from hwy 275 in council bluffs, take west shore drive south around lake manawa. turn right at catfish road and park in the lots next to the missouri river.the trailheads are accessible from the lot. Connect with the goatz on their facebook page to find a trail runner that can show you around.
check out iowadnr.gov for more information
mopac trail 13+miles/springfield to south bend
the mopac trail is a rails to trails route that starts in springfield and meanders to south bend, where it crosses the platte river via a pedestrian brdige. It is crushed limestone and you can go all the way to lincoln once you cross over the platte river.
entry is free.
insider tip: the mopac trail is accessible in many spots from springfield to the pedestrian bridge over the platte river. a favorite starting point is the parking lot next to the platte river going south on hwy 50 right before the bridge that crosses over to louisville. you can run north or south from the trailhead accessible from the lot. Connect with the goatz on their facebook page to find a trail runner that can show you around.
omaha trail system 120+ miles/omaha
the omaha trail system is a paved trail system that covers much of the omaha metro area. when single track is muddy or snowy, or you want to add paved trails to your training, this system of trails is excellent.
entry is free
Connect with the goatz on their facebook page to find a trail runner that can show you around.
check out parks.cityofomaha.org/parks/trails for more informati on
platte river state park 15+ miles/ 15 minutes south of Omaha
Located in a large wooded area along the platte river, the trails at platte river are challenging and beautiful. trail runners will share the trails with bikers and hikers. most of the trails are wooded and constant rolling hills will keep you engaged. situated between lincoln and omaha, it is a favorite place on the weekends for a long training run. a state park permit is required insider tip: from central omaha, take hwy 50 south to louisville. turn right (west) on hwy 66 and go approximately 2 miles to the park entrance. take the park road to the observation tower and park there.the trailheads are accessible from the lot. do not miss the trail to the waterfall! Connect with the goatz on their facebook page to find a trail runner that can show you around.
photo by amy erlbacher-anderson
check out outdoornebraska.gov for more information
schramm park state recreation area 6+ miles/20 minutes south of omaha
Located on hwy 31 approximately 6 miles west of louisville, this park is ideally situated between lincoln and omaha. It is an incredible loop system of single track that traverses the rolling hills along the platte river. It may be a bird watching santcuary, but for trail runners, it is one of the best places to run in the area. dogs are welcome if on a leash.
a state park permit is needed but see below insider tip: park at the aquarium in the large paved parking lot for free. otherwise, if you want to park next to the trailhead, you will need a state park permit that can be obtained at the aquarium. run across the swinging bridge. run/power hike up the original "what the Hill" on the east side of the park. these trails are open all year and are well groomed. no need to share the trails with bikers, as they are not allowed. listening to the geese fly overhead in the fall is a treat!
visit www.outdoornebraska.gov/schramm for maps and more information
swanson park 4+miles/bellevue, nebraska
swanson park is a park designed for mountain bikers, but many trail runners use the 4+ miles of single track. Rolling through woods, the trails are well marked. be ready to share the dirt with bikers.
entry is free. insider tip: From Omaha, take Hwy 75 south from I-80 to the Cornhusker Rd. exit. Go west on Cornhusker to approximately 34th St. Look for a brick sign on the north side with scrolling red letters for the Fire Department Training Center. Turn north and the parking lot is about 50 yards down the road on the left.the trailheads are accessible from the lot. Connect with the goatz on their facebook page to find a trail runner that can show you around.
photo by alison larsen
check out bellevue.net for more information
tranquility park 10+ miles/Omaha
Located in a large park in northwest suburban omaha, the trails at tranquility are very popular with local trail runners and bikers. The goatz trail runners have a long history with these trails, which extend both north and south of fort street between 120th street and 132nd street. forests, prairies and creeks are waiting.
entry is free insider tip: take 12oth street north from west maple road. turn west on fort road and take the first left into tranquility. park in the gravel lot. the trailheads are accessiblefrom the lot. another option is to park at boondockers located on the corner of 120th and fort and run from there to the trailheads. the goatz have a wednesday weekly run that starts at boondockers after work. Connect with the goatz on their facebook page to find a trail runner that can show you around.
check out parks.cityofomaha.org for more information
wabash trace nature trail 63 miles/council bluffs, iowa
Located in council bluffs, iowa, this rails to trails experience is a real gem. crushed limestone trails will take you 63 miles through woods, open farmland, four counties and nine towns to the missouri border. a popular place for runners and bikers, the wabash trace is home to many different races and fkt attempts. this flat but scenic route is a favorite for many.
entry is $2 insider tip: take hwy 92 east off of i29 in council bluffs, iowa. turn right on wabash avenue and go past lewis central high school. The wabash trace nature trail parking lot will be on your right.The the trailheads are accessible from the lot. Connect with the goatz on their facebook page to find a trail runner that can show you around.
check out wabashtrace.org for more information
walnut creek 10+ miles/papillion, nebraska
Located in papillion, nebraska, walnut creek sports single track in all parts of the 450 acre recreation area. tight and winding single track in the north valley. wide grass trails on the west side that are home to the omaha metro cross county course. spectacular views and smooth trails make this park a favorite for many.
entry is free insider tip: take south 96th street on the east side of the park and turn into the parking lot on gold coast road. the trails are accessible from the parking lot. do not miss the "tree of soles" on the single track on the west side. It's a graveyard of old running shoes hanging from a tree. Connect with the goatz on their facebook page to find a trail runner that can show you around.
check out papillion.org for more information
walnut grove 3 miles/Omaha
Located on q street just west of millard south high school, walnut creek is a rolling, tree lined park that showcases a 5K single track cross country course used by many local high schools. the course is marked in the fall and is a loop course through the hills and around the pond of this city park. watch out for walnuts on the course!
entry is free insider tip: take Q Street to approximately 150th street and turn north on walnut grove park road. park near the main shelter. trails are accessible from the parking lot. Connect with the goatz on their facebook page to find a trail runner that can show you around.
check out parks.cityofomaha.org for more information
zorinsky lake 13+ miles/southwest omaha Located in west omaha between 156th Street and 180th street just north of q street, zorinsky is a very popular loop for bikers and runners on paved trails. but few are aware of the miles of single track that wind around the lake. With the new addition of fire breaks around the perimeteer of the lake in 2022, more runners will find zorinsky to be a go to for dirt trail running.
entry is free insider tip: park at fleet feet running store and find your way down to the single track that connects you to zorinsky. dogs on a leash are allowed. single track crosses the paved trails at times, so be alert for bikes. as of early 2022, the fire break areas are still rough but runnable. connect with the single track on the west side that has been marked by local runners with ribbons. There are not any good maps available yet, but stay tuned!
Restrooms knowledge of the availability of restrooms before you run is essential. If you run trails long enough, there will come a time when mother nature calls and you are unprepared. Here is a run down of restrooms. Five star experience: inside and modern Hitchcock (inside the lodge when open) chalco (inside the lodge when open) Platte River (inside the visitor center by the tower when open) Schramm (inside the aquarium when open)
grin and bear it: outside pit toilets chalco (Hwy 370 lot, windmill lot and playground lot) Chalco south (gravel parking lot) cunningham (campground) hitchcock (lower and upper campground) schramm (next to fish hatchery) walnut creek (east side and west side parking lots) zorinsky (168th street north and south parking lots, boat ramp)
you are on your own: maybe porta potties in the summer Black Elk chalco chalco south cunningham cunningham north manawa mopac tranquility wabash zorinsky
Water regardless of season, always bring your own water or other hydration. many of these locations have water in the summer and early fall, but get turned off for the winter. summer water stops: chalco (pumps at windmill and playground area) cunningham (pump at campground) hitchcock (campground pump/spigot at lodge) wabash (council bluffs/silver city trailhead) walnut creek (east side parking area) platte (near tower) zorinsky ( fountains at restrooms)
trail difficulty It is nebraska and iowa. We get it. No mountains. no never ending switchbacks on technical terrain. but do not be fooled. There are trails here that will provide a challenge. There are also smooth, buttery single track that will make you smile. here's a summary.
it is no colorado but... Hitchcock - short steep hills and constant rolling hills. be prepared to gain at least 2,000 feeet in a 10-12 mile run. power hiking hills is a reality. Platte river - wave after wave of rolling single track will put some burn in the legs. You can easily rack up 2,000 feet of gain on a long run adventure. calvin crest - winding through the woods, this 5+ mile loop will suprise you with its decent elevation gain dropping down and back up valleys along the platte river.
rolling, rolling, rolling... Black Elk Chalco Cunningham schramm walnut creek walnut grove zorinsky
flat footing ... chalco south cunningham north manawa mopac swanson tranquility wabash
Greater omaha area trail runners (goatz) i highly recommend becoming a goatz runner. They are the best source of trail running information, knowledge and community in the omaha metro area. You can can find them on the web at goatz.org or become a part of the online community at their facebook page. go run!
(c) 2022 David reddel all rights reserved