Lincoln’s Wild Side: Trails, Parks, and Outdoor Escapes

by Sriyani Tidball • photos by Tom Tidball

Lincoln, Nebraska isn’t just a capital city — it’s a city built for the outdoors. With over 150 miles of interconnected trails and thousands of acres of green space, it offers locals and visitors the chance to escape into nature without ever leaving town. Whether you’re an avid cyclist, a casual walker, a birder, or a family out for weekend adventure, Lincoln’s outdoor offerings invite exploration.

A City Connected by Trails

Since the late 1970s, Lincoln has prioritized trail development, creating one of the most extensive urban trail systems in the Midwest. Lincoln Parks and Recreation has worked diligently over the past decades to make Lincoln unique in this area. Today, nearly 150 miles of crushed limestone and paved pathways crisscross the city and extend far into the countryside — even all the way to Kansas. Major routes converge at the Jayne Snyder Trails Center in Union Plaza, which doubles as a community gathering hub.

BikeLNK, the city’s bike and e-bike share program, makes it easy for anyone to hop on and explore. Whether you’re commuting, heading to an event, or simply riding for fun, the trails are never far.

Wilderness Park: Nature in the Raw

Just five miles south of downtown lies Wilderness Park, a 1,500-acre floodplain forest where you can truly lose yourself in nature. It offers more than 30 miles of unpaved trails for hiking, biking, birdwatching, horseback riding, or quiet contemplation. QR-coded maps and signage help visitors navigate its dense woods, winding creeks, and wetland areas. The park requires no permits or entry fees — just a sense of adventure.

Pioneers Park & Nature Center

On the city’s western edge, Pioneers Park blends formal gardens and memorials with wild prairie and woodlands. At its heart is the Pioneers Park Nature Center, a sanctuary where over 600 acres of tallgrass prairie, woodlands, and wetlands provide a home for bison, birds of prey, and countless native species. Ten miles of trails wind through the landscape, passing interpretive centers, gardens, and rescued wildlife exhibits. Seasonal concerts at the Pinewood Bowl amphitheater and hands-on learning experiences — like a recreated 1890s prairie schoolhouse — make this park a year-round favorite.

Spring Creek Prairie Audubon Center

A short drive from Lincoln, Spring Creek Prairie is a serene preserve of more than 1,000 acres of tallgrass prairie. With over 235 bird species recorded, it’s a top destination for birders. Walking trails lead past wildflowers, wetlands, and remnants of pioneer wagon ruts. Admission is free, and guided tours are available for groups. Open sunrise to sunset, it’s a perfect spot for quiet reflection and prairie immersion.

Urban Walks and Lakeside Views

Lincoln’s green spaces flow smoothly into its neighborhoods and campuses. Holmes Lake is a favorite recreation area offering a 2.3-mile walking path around the lake, fishing and boating access, and skywatching events at Hyde Observatory, a community-based astronomical facility.

Nearby, the University of Nebraska-Lincoln City Campus invites walkers to enjoy sculptures, gardens, and the Antelope Valley Project, which leads seamlessly into Sunken Gardens, the Rose Garden, and citywide trails.

For something more urban, the Historic Haymarket blends brick-lined streets, galleries, and restaurants with nearby trails connecting to Oak Lake and the Saltdogs’ baseball stadium. It’s a walkable way to enjoy downtown with easy access to art, architecture, and great food.

Other Noteworthy Trails:

•  Rock Island Trail: Tree-lined escape from 29th and A Street to Densmore Park.

•  Highlands Trail: Smooth 3-mile loop in the northwest linking homes, parks, and businesses.

•  MoPac Trail: A former railway now stretching east through fields and forest all the way to Wabash.

•  Nine Mile Prairie: 200 acres of protected tallgrass just north of town, ideal for quiet hiking.

•  Helen Boosalis Trail: An urban four-mile trail linking neighborhoods, shopping, and nature.

Nebraska Statewide Arboretum

On UNL’s East Campus, this expansive arboretum anchors a network of gardens across the state. It features native plants and trees, seasonal displays, and labeled plantings for those who want to learn as they wander. After a stroll, pop over to the UNL Dairy Store for a scoop of handmade ice cream.

Plan Your Path

Lincoln’s trail and park system is easy to navigate and designed to encourage movement, exploration, and connection with nature. Find your next route or discover new ones at www.gptn.org or lincoln.ne.gov. Whether you’re looking for solitude or shared experience, or watching fireworks on the 4th of July, the great outdoors in Lincoln is just a few steps away.