Now that my kids are a little older, we’re starting to venture beyond Heron Haven and other easy trails near Omaha that we’ve loved. There are a lot of hiking trails in Nebraska and Iowa that are within two hours of driving for us, so we won’t run out of new-to-us trails for a while.
Trails Near Omaha - Within 30 Minutes
Looking for a quick hiking getaway from Omaha? Below is a list of trails that are within about a 30-minute drive from the city.
Lewis and Clark Monument Park
Where: Council Bluffs, Iowa
Details: 5 miles of trails. Part of the Loess Hills.
Distance from Omaha: 15 minutes
Learn more about this park
Fairmount Park
Where: Council Bluffs, Iowa
Details: 3 miles of trails. Part of the Loess Hills.
Distance from Omaha: 15 minutes
Learn more about this park
Vincent Bluff State Preserve
Where: Council Bluffs, Iowa
Details: 1 mile of trails. Part of the Loess Hills.
Distance from Omaha: 15 minutes
Learn more about this state preserve
Folsom Point Preserve
Where: Council Bluffs, Iowa
Details: The Nature Conservancy does not maintain trails but hiking permitted throughout. Part of the Loess Hills.
Distance from Omaha: 15 minutes
Learn more about this preserve
Schramm Park State Recreation Area
Where: Gretna, Neb.
Details: 4.5 miles of trails. Schramm is also home to an archeological dig site (free) and an educational center (additional fee).
Distance from Omaha: 20 minutes
Learn more about this state recreation area
Fontenelle Forest
Where: Bellevue, Neb.
Details: 19 miles of trails. Also home to the Raptor Woodland Refuge and TreeRush Adventure.s
Distance from Omaha: 20 minutes
Learn more about this forest
West Oak Forest
Where: Oak, Iowa
Details: 3 miles of trails. Part of the Loess Hills.
Distance from Omaha: 20 minutes
Learn more about this forest
Hitchcock Nature Center
Where: Honey Creek, Iowa
Details: 10 miles of trails. Has a great visitor's center and lookout tower. Part of the Loess Hills.
Distance from Omaha: 25 miles
Learn more about this nature center
Pony Creek Park
Where: Pacific Junction, Iowa
Details: 2 miles of trails. Part of the Loess Hills.
Distance from Omaha: 25 miles
Learn more about this park
Platte River State Park
Where: Louisville, Neb.
Details: 17 miles of trails, including one that leads to a small waterfall.
Distance from Omaha: 30 minutes
Learn more about things to do at this state park
Mile Hill Lake
Where: Glenwood, Iowa
Details: 1 mile of trails. Part of the Loess Hills.
Distance from Omaha: 30 minutes
Learn more about this county park
Glenwood Archaeological State Preserve
Where: Glenwood, Iowa
Details: 3 miles of trails. Part of the Loess Hills.
Distance from Omaha: 30 minutes
Learn more about this state preserve
Hikes Within A One-Hour Drive From Omaha
Once you've explored all the nearby trails around Omaha, time to venture further afield to these trails. Included in this list are a lot of trails throughout the beautiful Loess Hills.
Old Town Conservation Area
Where: Missouri Valley, Iowa
Details: 10 miles of trails. Part of the Loess Hills.
Distance from Omaha: 35 minutes
Learn more about this conservation area
Sawmill Hollow Wildlife Area
Where: Missouri Valley, Iowa
Details: 1 mile of trails. Part of the Loess Hills.
Distance from Omaha: 40 minutes
Learn more about this county wildlife area
Murray Hill Scenic Overlook & Brent’s Trail
Where: Little Sioux, Iowa
Details: An 8-mile route through Loess Hills State Forest ending at Gleason-Hubel Wildlife Area (a half-mile is on county land at the northern start of Brent's Trail). Part of the Loess Hills.
Distance from Omaha: 50 miles
Learn more about this trail, one of the newer ones to open in the Loess Hills in recent years.
Loess Hills State Forest
Where: Pisgah, Iowa
Details: 38 miles of trails. Part of the Loess Hills.
Distance from Omaha: 50 minutes
Learn more about this forest
Willow Lake Recreation Area
Where: Woodbine, Iowa
Details: 6 miles of trails. Part of the Loess Hills.
Distance from Omaha: 55 minutes
Learn more about this county recreation area
Pawnee State Recreation Area
Where: Lincoln, Neb.
Details: 6 miles of trails
Distance from Omaha: 55 minutes
Learn more about this state recreation area
Pioneers Park Nature Center
Where: Lincoln, Neb.
Details: 8 miles of trails. The nature center has small animals on exhibit, but the bison and elk on the preserve are the highlights.
Distance from Omaha: 55 minutes
Learn more about Pioneers Park
Trails That Are One To Two Hours From Omaha
Pack some road trip snacks before taking off to these trails. They're more than an hour's drive from Omaha, so at least two hours round-trip. But, I've been to some of these trails and they're worth it!
Branched Oak State Recreation Area
Where: West Oak, Neb.
Details: 2 miles of trails, plus the Hans Burchard Arboretum. It's a little generous to call these hiking trails, but the lake is pretty, at least.
Distance from Omaha: 1 hour
Learn more about Branched Oak, including what to expect if you camp there.
Waubonsie State Park
Where: Hamburg, Iowa
Details: 7 miles of trails. Part of the Loess Hills.
Distance from Omaha: 1 hour
Learn more about this state park
Preparation Canyon State Park
Where: Moorhead, Iowa
Details: 6 miles of trails. Part of the Loess Hills.
Distance from Omaha: 1 hour
Learn more about Preparation Canyon State Park.
Whiting Woods Recreation Area
Where: Castana, Iowa
Details: 2 miles of trails. Part of the Loess Hills.
Distance from Omaha: 1 hour and 20 minutes
Learn more about this county park
Southwood Conservation Area
Where: Smithland, Iowa
Details: 3 miles of trails. Part of the Loess Hills.
Distance from Omaha: 1 hour and 20 minutes
Learn more about this county conservation area
Fowler Forest Preserve
Where: Smithland, Iowa
Details: 1 mile of trails. Part of the Loess Hills.
Distance from Omaha: 1 hour and 20 minutes
Learn more about this preserve
Sioux City State Prairie Preserve
Where: Sioux City, Iowa
Details: 2 miles of trails. Part of the Loess Hills.
Distance from Omaha: 1 hour and 30 minutes
Learn more about this prairie
Bacon Creek Park
Where: Sioux City, Iowa
Details: 3 miles of trails. Part of the Loess Hills.
Distance from Omaha: 1 hour and 30 minutes
Learn more about this park
Curtin Timber
Where: Anthlon, Iowa
Details: This county park is a 210-acre undeveloped public wildlife area with abundant wildlife and wildflowers. Part of the Loess Hills.
Distance from Omaha: 1 hour and 30 minutes
Learn more about this park
Oak Ridge Conservation Area
Where: Oto, Iowa
Details: 5 miles of trails. Part of the Loess Hills.
Distance from Omaha: 1 hour and 30 minutes
Learn more about this conservation area
Indian Cave State Park
Where: Shubert, Neb.
Details: 22 miles of trails, and home to an interesting living history area that features re-enactors on seasonal weekends.
Distance from Omaha: 1 hour and 30 minutes
Learn more about this state park
Mount Talbot State Preserve
Where: Sioux City, Iowa
Details: No actual maintained trails, but hiking is permitted throughout. Part of the Loess Hills.
Distance from Omaha: 1 hour and 40 minutes
Learn more about this state preserve
Stone State Park
Where: Sioux City, Iowa
Details: 11 miles of trails. This is a unique state park located in a city and home to the Dorothy Pecaut Nature Center, a great place to visit with kids. Don't miss the outdoor nature playscape. Part of the Loess Hills.
Distance from Omaha: 1 hour and 40 minutes
Learn more about this state park
Ponca State Park
Where: Ponca, Neb.
Details: 22 miles of trails
Distance from Omaha: 2 hours
Learn more about the trails at Ponca State Park
Five Ridge Prairie State Preserve
Where: Westfield, Iowa
Details: No actual maintained trails, but hiking is permitted throughout. Part of the Loess Hills.
Distance from Omaha: 2 hours
Learn more about state preserve
Broken Kettle Grasslands Preserve
Where: Westfield, Iowa
Details: The Nature Conservancy does not maintain trails but hiking is permitted. Part of the Loess Hills.
Distance from Omaha: 2 hours
Learn more about this preserve
Knapp Prairie
Where: Westfield, Iowa
Details: The Nature Conservancy does not maintained trails but hiking is permitted. Part of the Loess Hills.
Distance from Omaha: 2 hours
Learn more about this prairie
Hillview Recreation Area
Where: Westfield, Iowa
Details: Five miles of trails, though the Nature Conservancy does not maintain trails but hiking is permitted. Part of the Loess Hills.
Distance from Omaha: 2 hours
Learn more about this county park
Bryce Hallmark
Monday 5th of October 2020
Where is the top picture taken? I love the open rolling tops of the hills but never see where this is at. Please help! Thanks!
Kim
Monday 5th of October 2020
It's found at Preparation Canyon in the Loess Hills of Iowa. While there are a few Loess Hills trails on this list, and Hitchcock Nature will have fairly similar terrain, I'd highly recommend Preparation Canyon.
Rebecca Stromquist
Sunday 6th of September 2020
I love this post! However, I'm noticing as I try to research about these hikes, there is very little information out there for many of the Loess Hills area hikes. Why aren't these trails on All Trails, and why are there no park maps? My family will kill me if I take them on an excursion and we get lost or can't find it!
Kim
Friday 11th of September 2020
It's frustrating. From my experience, county park trails in the Loess Hills are hit-or-miss with maps. My most recent hike was at West Maple Forest in Mills County, Iowa. No map available, but luckily, it's a small enough place that we couldn't possibly get lost. State Parks within the Loess Hills are much better about maps and signage on trails.
Jennifer Brommer
Saturday 18th of April 2020
What a fantastic overview of trails! I love one-stop shopping when it comes to finding recommendations on these types of things.
Katy F.
Wednesday 15th of April 2020
There's no better time to hike than now! What a great list!
Kim
Thursday 16th of April 2020
I absolutely agree! Social distancing at its best, plus fresh air.