Nebraska offers plenty of wide open spaces for outdoor enthusiasts, and there are many different outdoor activities in Omaha and surrounding areas. Cycling, cross-country skiing, horseback riding, ice skating, fishing, rollerblading, golf and bird watching are just some of the many great outdoor activities here. Wabash Trace Natural Trail, Eugene T. Mahoney State Park, Fontenelle Forest, Glenn Cunningham Lake and dozens of public golf courses are ideal places to have fun in Omaha.
Omaha is known for the Cox Classic PGA Tournament, and there are at least 36 public golf courses here. The courses include not only nine and 18 hole courses, but also 27 hole ones. During the spring and summer, several annual golf tournaments are held that the public can attend.
Glenn Cunningham Lake is popular for fishing, boating, and picnicking. The lake's recreation area has asphalt trails for cycling and hiking. Some trails at the Glen Cunningham Lake allow horseback riding.
Fontenelle Forest features both woodland and floodplain areas. It is located beside the Missouri River and hiking, bird watching, and wildlife viewing are popular pastimes here. There are also educational displays, rooms for events and receptions, and a boardwalk with wheelchair access.
Eugene T. Mahoney State Park offers camping, a water park and hiking trails. It's a popular place for year round outdoor activities. The park often has ice skating and ice fishing during the winter months. It's located in Ashland beside the Platte River.
Wabash Trace Natural Trail is made from converted railroad tracks with the tracks removed and a limestone surface added. The project was built with volunteer labor and donations and covers the old Wabash Railroad route from Omaha to St. Louis. Cities along the trail include Council Bluffs, Mineola, Silver City, Malvern, Shenandoah, Coin, Imogene, and Blanchard. It is popular for cycling, horseback riding, and walking, as well as cross-country skiing in the winter.
