This page lists the many outdoor parks, lakes, outdoor fields, and activities in the Omaha metro area, not the greater Omaha region. This list does not include golf courses or Nebraska State Parks/Rec Areas (those will have separate posts).
Part of the Outdoors Series. See also the Eastern Nebraska, Western Iowa Outdoors list.
Amusement Parks, Unique Attractions
Yeah, we don’t have any roller coasters. We’re dealing with it.
- Boulder Creek Amusement Park (Omaha)
- Freedom Park (warship and submarine)
- Fun-Plex (Omaha)
- River City Star (riverboat cruises on the Missouri)
Farms, Ranches, Orchards
These locations are typically private owned and require admission.
- Bellevue Berry & Pumpkin Ranch (Bellevue)
- Ditmars Orchard (Council Bluffs)
- Pioneer Trail Pumpkin Patch and Apple Orchard
- Vala’s Pumpkin Patch (Gretna)
- Welch’s Pumpkin Patch (Council Bluffs)
Hiking
Also check the camping and hiking sections on the Eastern Nebraska, Western Iowa Outdoors page.
- Mostly Flat
- Mostly Hilly
- Fontenelle Forest
- Neale Woods Nature Center (managed by Fontenelle Forest)
Lakes
- Flanagan Lake
- Glenn Cunningham Lake
- Lake Manawa State Park (Council Bluffs)
- Lawrence Youngman Lake
- Levi Carter Park (north side of Carter Lake, in Omaha)
- Offutt Base Lake (Bellevue, military ID required)
- Prairie Queen Recreation Area
- Standing Bear Lake
- Walnut Creek (Papillion)
- Wehrspann Lake
- Whitehawk Lake
- Zorinsky Lake
Large City Parks
- Fairmount Park (Council Bluffs)
- Gene Leahy Mall (downtown Omaha)
- Halleck Park (Papillion)
- Heartland of America Park (downtown Omaha)
- Hummel Park (north Omaha)
- Lewis & Clark Landing (downtown Omaha)
- Memorial Park
- Neighborhood Park System
- Adams Park (North Omaha)
- Benson Park (central North Omaha)
- Elmwood Park (Midtown)
- Fontenelle Park (North Omaha)
- Hanscom Park (South Omaha)
- Mandan Park, Mt. Vernon Gardens (South Omaha)
- Miller Park (North Omaha)
- Spring Lake Park (South Omaha)
- Walnut Grove Park (southwest Omaha)
- Sports Fields Parks
- Council Bluffs Recreation Complex (Council Bluffs)
- The Intersections (planned for South Omaha, will open maybe 2023/24?)
- NP Dodge Park
- Papillion Landing (west Papillion)
- Papio Bay (east Papillion)
- Premier Sports Village (Bellevue, behind Offutt)
- Seymour Smith Park (south center Omaha)
- Tranquility Park (northwest Omaha)
- Tom Hanafan River’s Edge Park
Marinas
Not counting the marinas at lakes.
- Cottonwood Cove (Blair, NE)
- Dodge Park (largest in our area)
- Riverfront Marina (neglected by the City Of Omaha, sigh)
- Surfside Club
- defunct areas you might remember
- Bellevue used to have something at Haworth park, but it seems only the boat launch remains
- Sandpiper Cove near Miller Landing/Freedom Park
Plants & Animals
Also check the plants & animals section on the Eastern Nebraska, Western Iowa Outdoors page.
Trail Systems
Bike Trail map by MAPA is the best to learn biking and other trails.
- Big Papio Trail
- Bob Kerry Pedestrian Bridge (connects Nebraska and Iowa)
- Field Club Trail
- Happy Hollow Trail
- Keystone Trail
- Riverfront Trail (in sections above and below downtown Omaha, but connections are being made)
- South Omaha Trail (connects Field Club Trail to Keystone Trail)
- West Papio Trail
- Wabash Trace (starts just south of Council Bluffs)
