Fun Things to Do During Your Visit to the Forest

Planning a fun-filled visit to Omaha soon? Put Fontenelle Forest on your to-do list!

Discover the Forest by exploring over 1,500 acres and 17 miles of maintained trails, just minutes from downtown Omaha. Fontenelle Forest is a perfect escape for nature lovers of all ages. The activities below are just a few of our favorite ways to spend time at the Forest.

1. Hike the trails.

Explore 1,500 acres of land and 17 miles of maintained trails at Fontenelle Forest. Walking our trails is an experience unlike any other in the Omaha metro area. Hikers can explore a range of vastly different ecosystems, from deciduous forest to oak savanna, prairie and wetlands. For a more remote hiking option, check out our Neale Woods property in North Omaha, a 560-acre nature reserve that is home to abundant plant and animal life. 

2. Stroll the Riverview Boardwalk.

Observe wildlife and enjoy scenic views of the Missouri River while strolling Fontenelle Forest’s one-mile, ADA-accessible boardwalk. Open daily, year-round, the Forest provides an excellent opportunity to experience the changing of the seasons and beautiful fall foliage.

3. Explore local history through our new exhibit.

Fontenelle Forest is celebrating the 200-year anniversary of the Fontenelle Trading Post, with the Nebraska’s Deep Roots exhibit located in the Baright Gallery. This new experience tells the story of how the Fontenelle Trading Post came to be and what a trading post during the 1800’s may have looked like. Click here to learn more. 

4. See amazing non-releasable birds of prey in the Raptor Woodland Refuge treetop exhibit.

Thirty feet above the forest floor, this canopy-level exhibit provides visitors with an opportunity to observe many species of birds of prey in a unique, treetop environment. Visitors can learn facts about each raptor species and raptor conservation. Open daily, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

5. Let your little ones explore and play in Habitat Hollow.

Habitat Hollow is an indoor, nature-based play area where children learn about animals on display and make nature discoveries as they explore the Hollow.  This space is designed to teach your child to engage with and develop a love for the natural world. Reopening in 2024, Acorn Acres will feature natural playscapes for children of all ages and abilities to enjoy outdoors. 

6. Bring some binoculars for birding.

Discover an abundance of bird species while exploring the Forest, no matter the time of year. Fontenelle Forest is a premier Audubon-designated premier birding location with over 246 recorded species. The Wetlands is a favorite birding spot or you can sit back and take in the view from our Bird Room in the lower level of the Nature Center. 

Plan your visit today!

Visitors of all ages can also learn about nature during one of our many guided hikes, children’s day camps, or various other nature-inspired programs and events throughout the year. The Forest is open daily, year-round.

Become a Member & Save!

If you are planning to visit the Forest more than once each year, you may want to consider becoming a member.

A Fontenelle Forest membership pays for itself in just a few short visits and provides tons of cool benefits,
including a full 12 months of free admission to Fontenelle Forest and Neale Woods.

Learn more and become a member