There’s really no bad time to go hiking in Nebraska, in our opinion. Whether you’re looking at the new life of spring, the bright green of summer, the colorful leaves of fall, or the winter ground blanketed in snow, our trails are amazing year-round. If you’re looking for a great place to spend a relaxing day outdoors, you’ll definitely want to visit one of these scenic hikes in Nebraska to get lost in nature.  These are some of the best hiking trails in Nebraska!

  1. Tree Adventure at Arbor Day Farm (Nebraska City)

Arbor Day Farm There are some very fun stops along this wooded trail that kids and grownups will enjoy discovering. The trail includes a trip through the Treetop Village, which will give you a whole new vantage point to see nature from up high! For more information, check out the Arbor Day Farm website.

  1. Ash Hollow State Park (Lewellen)

Wikimedia/NPS Paths through the park lead to some interesting sights, including an ancient Native American shelter cave, a 100-year-old stone schoolhouse, and ruts made by the wagon wheels of pioneers. The Windlass Hill Trail located at the park is only about half a mile long, but it’s got beautiful wildflowers and is a nice relaxing trail. Find out more information at Alltrails.

  1. Boyer Chute National Wildlife Refuge (Washington County)

Wikimedia/MONGO Editor’s Note: The Boyer Chute National Wildlife Refuge is temporarily closed. Please check their website for re-opening info.Several miles of hiking trails cross through this nature area right on the Missouri River. It’s the perfect place for wildlife spotting. So many birds hang out in this area!

  1. Branched Oak State Recreation Area (Raymond)

Wikimedia/Ammodramus Branched Oak has something for just about everyone. It’s a pretty big place with miles of walking, biking, and horse trails to explore. For more information about things to do in the park, check out their website. If you’re looking for things to do outside in Nebraska, Branched Oak is sure to fit the bill!

  1. Chadron State Park (Chadron)

Journey to Western Nebraska Chadron State Park is a place you really have to see if you haven’t already. It’s a beautiful natural spot with a wide variety of trails for hiking and biking. Their page on Alltrails has more information about their trails.

  1. Chimney Rock National Historic Site (Bayard)

Wikimedia/Inklein You obviously can’t climb to the landmark’s pinnacle, but there are some pretty trails running through the park. You can’t beat this historic landscape! The National Parks Service website has more information.

  1. Halsey National Forest (Halsey)

TripAdvisor/SewardLawyer This pine forest in the middle of the sandhills is such a unique place to spend a day (or more) exploring on foot or on ATVs. The USDA website has more information.

  1. Holmes Lake (Lincoln)

flickr/RLEVANS A two-mile trail loops around this lovely lake. It’s an easy stroll and the park is very family-friendly. More information about the Antelope Creek Trail at Holmes Lake is available on Alltrails.

  1. Lewis and Clark State Recreation Area (Crofton)

flickr/Will Kirby Whether you’re visiting for a day or camping for a week, Lewis and Clark is packed with beautiful views and plenty of things to do, including some nice hiking. The Nebraska Game Parks website has more information.

  1. MoPac Trail (Lincoln and surrounding areas)

Wikimedia/Hanyou23 The MoPac Trail is popular with cyclists and runners; much of it is wooded and it feels like you’re far away from the city even though you’re not that far, geographically speaking! For more information on the trail, you can check out MoPac West and MoPac East on Alltrails.

  1. Neale Woods Nature Center (Omaha)

Wikimedia/ScottHW This forest in the city has a boardwalk trail or dirt trails if you feel like venturing a bit further into nature. The trail is a little over 3 miles and is extremely diverse! Find out more information about one of the best hiking trails in Nebraska at Alltrails.

  1. Pawnee State Recreation Area, Lincoln

Facebook/Pawnee State & Recreation Area Pawnee State Recreation Area encompasses more than 2,500 acres. It’s a completely fantastic place to watch wildlife while you’re hiking the extensive trails. Find out more information from Nebraska Game Parks.

  1. Rock Creek Station State Historical Park (Jefferson County)

Wikimedia/Ammodramus This historic spot features some wonderful restored structures from its old pioneer days, and you can still see wagon wheel ruts from Oregon Trail travelers! There are about four miles of hiking trails on the site that let you walk through a significant part of Nebraska’s history. Find out more information from the National Park Service.

  1. Smith Falls State Park (Cherry County)

Wikimedia/Ammodramus This park isn’t all about the waterfall - there are some beautiful wooded trails all around the park where you can enjoy some of Nebraska’s finest scenery. Smith Falls is the highest waterfall in the state, and this is one of the most scenic hikes in Nebraska. Find out more information from the Nebraska Game Parks.

  1. Two Rivers State Recreation Area (Waterloo)

flickr/zuwapa Two Rivers is a really fun place to camp - especially since the installation of ten converted caboose cabins - but it also offers up some great hiking trails. Find out more information about the just over two mile loop from Alltrails.

With such beautiful scenery all around us, it’s a wonder we ever spend any time inside!

Arbor Day Farm

There are some very fun stops along this wooded trail that kids and grownups will enjoy discovering. The trail includes a trip through the Treetop Village, which will give you a whole new vantage point to see nature from up high! For more information, check out the Arbor Day Farm website.

Wikimedia/NPS

Paths through the park lead to some interesting sights, including an ancient Native American shelter cave, a 100-year-old stone schoolhouse, and ruts made by the wagon wheels of pioneers. The Windlass Hill Trail located at the park is only about half a mile long, but it’s got beautiful wildflowers and is a nice relaxing trail. Find out more information at Alltrails.

Wikimedia/MONGO

Editor’s Note: The Boyer Chute National Wildlife Refuge is temporarily closed. Please check their website for re-opening info.Several miles of hiking trails cross through this nature area right on the Missouri River. It’s the perfect place for wildlife spotting. So many birds hang out in this area!

Wikimedia/Ammodramus

Branched Oak has something for just about everyone. It’s a pretty big place with miles of walking, biking, and horse trails to explore. For more information about things to do in the park, check out their website. If you’re looking for things to do outside in Nebraska, Branched Oak is sure to fit the bill!

Journey to Western Nebraska

Chadron State Park is a place you really have to see if you haven’t already. It’s a beautiful natural spot with a wide variety of trails for hiking and biking. Their page on Alltrails has more information about their trails.

Wikimedia/Inklein

You obviously can’t climb to the landmark’s pinnacle, but there are some pretty trails running through the park. You can’t beat this historic landscape! The National Parks Service website has more information.

TripAdvisor/SewardLawyer

This pine forest in the middle of the sandhills is such a unique place to spend a day (or more) exploring on foot or on ATVs. The USDA website has more information.

flickr/RLEVANS

A two-mile trail loops around this lovely lake. It’s an easy stroll and the park is very family-friendly. More information about the Antelope Creek Trail at Holmes Lake is available on Alltrails.

flickr/Will Kirby

Whether you’re visiting for a day or camping for a week, Lewis and Clark is packed with beautiful views and plenty of things to do, including some nice hiking. The Nebraska Game Parks website has more information.

Wikimedia/Hanyou23

The MoPac Trail is popular with cyclists and runners; much of it is wooded and it feels like you’re far away from the city even though you’re not that far, geographically speaking! For more information on the trail, you can check out MoPac West and MoPac East on Alltrails.

Wikimedia/ScottHW

This forest in the city has a boardwalk trail or dirt trails if you feel like venturing a bit further into nature. The trail is a little over 3 miles and is extremely diverse! Find out more information about one of the best hiking trails in Nebraska at Alltrails.

Facebook/Pawnee State & Recreation Area

Pawnee State Recreation Area encompasses more than 2,500 acres. It’s a completely fantastic place to watch wildlife while you’re hiking the extensive trails. Find out more information from Nebraska Game Parks.

This historic spot features some wonderful restored structures from its old pioneer days, and you can still see wagon wheel ruts from Oregon Trail travelers! There are about four miles of hiking trails on the site that let you walk through a significant part of Nebraska’s history. Find out more information from the National Park Service.

This park isn’t all about the waterfall - there are some beautiful wooded trails all around the park where you can enjoy some of Nebraska’s finest scenery. Smith Falls is the highest waterfall in the state, and this is one of the most scenic hikes in Nebraska. Find out more information from the Nebraska Game Parks.

flickr/zuwapa

Two Rivers is a really fun place to camp - especially since the installation of ten converted caboose cabins - but it also offers up some great hiking trails. Find out more information about the just over two mile loop from Alltrails.

What’s your favorite trail in Nebraska? Let us know in the comments.

Click here to check out our first list of 20 other popular hiking trails in Nebraska!

OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article.

Address: Arbor Day Farm, 2611 Arbor Ave, Nebraska City, NE 68410, USAAddress: Windlass Hill, 4055 US-26, Lewellen, NE 69147, USAAddress: Boyer Chute, Township 1, NE, USAAddress: 12000 W Branched Oak Rd, Raymond, NE 68428, USAAddress: 15951 Gold Rush Byway, Chadron, NE 69337, USAAddress: Chimney Rock, West Bayard, NE 69334, USAAddress: Nebraska National Forest, 125 N Main St, Chadron, NE 69337, USAAddress: Holmes Lake, Lincoln, NE 68506, USAAddress: Lewis and Clark Lake State Recreation Area, Crofton, NE 68730, USAAddress: Mopac Trail, Lincoln, NE, USAAddress: 14323 Edith Marie Ave, Omaha, NE 68112, USAAddress: Pawnee Lake State Recreation Rd, Nebraska, USAAddress: Rock Creek, United StatesAddress: Smith Falls, Valentine, NE 69221, USAAddress: Two Rivers State Recreation Rd, Waterloo, NE 68069, USA

The OIYS Visitor Center

Things To Do Outside In Nebraska May 12, 2021 Lisa Sammons What are some more scenic hikes in Nebraska? We’ve got so much natural beauty all around us that it really is a wonder anyone ever stays indoors here! The Saddle Rock Trail in the gorgeous Scott Bluff National Monument Area is a short-but-sweet hike that’s only about three miles long, but has stunning scenery. The Niobrara Loop Trail is another great Nebraska hike that has stunning views. What are some other things to do outside in Nebraska? The Sunken Gardens in Lincoln are absolutely beautiful! We also have a lot of very fun pioneer history-type sites, such as Chimney Rock. It’s amazing to drive through the state now in a gasoline-powered automobile or fly over in an airplane and think about people in the past trudging along in an ox or horse-pulled covered wagon. Funnily enough, Nebraska is often thought of as a flat state, but we’ve got plenty of really cool rock formations! Are there any swimming holes in Nebraska? We’ve got some excellent swimming holes! You’ll definitely want to check out the Sandy Channel State Recreation Area near Elm Creek. We’ve also got tons of lakes that are totally worth a visit on a hot summer’s day. It’s not a swimming hole or a natural water park, but Fremont Splash Station is a fantastic water park that is guaranteed to make you feel like a kid again.

The OIYS Visitor Center

Things To Do Outside In Nebraska

May 12, 2021

Lisa Sammons

What are some more scenic hikes in Nebraska? We’ve got so much natural beauty all around us that it really is a wonder anyone ever stays indoors here! The Saddle Rock Trail in the gorgeous Scott Bluff National Monument Area is a short-but-sweet hike that’s only about three miles long, but has stunning scenery. The Niobrara Loop Trail is another great Nebraska hike that has stunning views. What are some other things to do outside in Nebraska? The Sunken Gardens in Lincoln are absolutely beautiful! We also have a lot of very fun pioneer history-type sites, such as Chimney Rock. It’s amazing to drive through the state now in a gasoline-powered automobile or fly over in an airplane and think about people in the past trudging along in an ox or horse-pulled covered wagon. Funnily enough, Nebraska is often thought of as a flat state, but we’ve got plenty of really cool rock formations! Are there any swimming holes in Nebraska? We’ve got some excellent swimming holes! You’ll definitely want to check out the Sandy Channel State Recreation Area near Elm Creek. We’ve also got tons of lakes that are totally worth a visit on a hot summer’s day. It’s not a swimming hole or a natural water park, but Fremont Splash Station is a fantastic water park that is guaranteed to make you feel like a kid again.

The OIYS Visitor Center

The OIYS Visitor Center

We’ve got so much natural beauty all around us that it really is a wonder anyone ever stays indoors here! The Saddle Rock Trail in the gorgeous Scott Bluff National Monument Area is a short-but-sweet hike that’s only about three miles long, but has stunning scenery. The Niobrara Loop Trail is another great Nebraska hike that has stunning views.

What are some other things to do outside in Nebraska?

The Sunken Gardens in Lincoln are absolutely beautiful! We also have a lot of very fun pioneer history-type sites, such as Chimney Rock. It’s amazing to drive through the state now in a gasoline-powered automobile or fly over in an airplane and think about people in the past trudging along in an ox or horse-pulled covered wagon. Funnily enough, Nebraska is often thought of as a flat state, but we’ve got plenty of really cool rock formations!

Are there any swimming holes in Nebraska?

We’ve got some excellent swimming holes! You’ll definitely want to check out the Sandy Channel State Recreation Area near Elm Creek. We’ve also got tons of lakes that are totally worth a visit on a hot summer’s day. It’s not a swimming hole or a natural water park, but Fremont Splash Station is a fantastic water park that is guaranteed to make you feel like a kid again.