Neale Woods Nature Center
Trails open year round
Facility open on weekends from
mid-March through early November
Saturdays 8am-5pm & Sundays 12-5pm
402.453.5615
RV
/ Co R
r Road
N. Rive
Co Rd P40
D
Roc
RV
k Cr
eek
C
S
Grassland Under
Restoration
h
O
Unrestored
Grassland
S
N
MO
N
R
H
Ranger House
nc
Be
I
R
IVE
R
S
H
MI
S
S
O
URI
R
H
d P51
P
D
M
Washington - Douglas County Line
J
Koley
Prairie
J
J
T
Carl Jonas
Interpretive Center &
Ranger House
J
N
N. River Road
J
Nebraska
Prairie
Millard Observatory
Observation Deck
White Deer Lane
B
Knull Prairie
W
F
G
G
it h
Ed
NE
M
Jonas Prairie
Trails Key
Map
Key
I
O
E
V
Trail Name
Parking
ari
e
Ave.
www.fontenelleforest.org
402.731.3140
No Public Vehicles Road
Neale Woods Boundary
Miles
Bittersweet
.1
Columbine
.4
Deer
.2
Fox
.3
Gifford
.7
Hilltop
.9
History
.5
Jonas
1.0
Maidenhair
.3
Missouri River Ecology .8
Neale
.7
Nebraska
.4
Owl
.1
Paw Paw
.3
Raccoon Hollow
.8
River
1.5
Settlers
.9
Tallgrass Prairie
.1
Wagon
.1
Description
Prairie
Gently descending connector trail through mature woodlands
Numerous steep ups and downs; mature woodland with many wildflowers; overlooks Rock Creek
Steep hillside trail through mature woods
Mostly level with a few short ups and downs through mature woods
Hillside trail winding through tallgrass prairie valley; many wildflowers; great views of Omaha
Open hilltop with steep ascent and descent through mature woods into valley; great views
Loop; gentle climb
Traverses prairie, woods, lowlands & hilltops; steps on steepest portions; great view of Iowa hills
Steep path through mature woods along Rock Creek; many ferns and wildflowers
Level loop with interpretive labels and riverside benches; good introduction to floodplain ecology
Level along ridgetop to spectacular view of river valley, then descends and links to lowland trails
Open hilltop into valley; can spot Nebraska’s state flower, tree, grass, bird, insect and mammal here
Steep staircased connector trail through mature oak-hickory woods
Steep path near Rock Creek; passes through mature woodland; many wildflowers in spring
Level ravine trail follows old lumber road through mature woods to Rock Creek
Level trail along Missouri River and through young floodplain forest
Descends steeply from ridgetop into deep ravine; passes through mature forest
Easy walk through restored tallgrass prairie; nice view of Missouri River valley
Gradual descent along old farm road; passes through early successional woods
Welcome to Neale Wo ods!
This 600-acre conservation area is home to
abundant plant and animal life. We hope that
you enjoy your forest and prairie walk. Please
visit again to explore the wonders of the night
sky at our Millard Observatory, the largest public
observatory in the Omaha metro area. It opens
for regularly-scheduled Astronomy Nights from
September through May.
Become a member today
Neale Woods is owned and operated by
Fontenelle Forest, a pr iva t ely funded
non-profit organization. Become a member
today for 12 months access to Neale Woods and
Fontenelle Forest Nature Center.
Visit www.fontenelleforest.org or stop by the
Visitors Services Desk inside the nature center
(when open).
Rules
Stay on the trails.
Leave all plants and animals undisturbed for
others to enjoy; no collecting.
No hunting, fishing, camping, jogging,
bicycling, smoking or fires allowed.
Leave all pets at home including horses.
Motorized vehicles are not permitted beyond
the parking lot except for disabled persons’
access.
Carry your trash out with you.
Use caution when crossing North River Road
to the floodplain trails.
Prairie Restoration
The prairie is an important native ecosystem that
provides habitat for unique plants and animals.
Prairies once covered over 40% of the United States,
but only 1% still exist due to fire suppression and
urban development.
Although fire now has a negative reputation, it is
actually a natural process that hinders encroaching
plants, removes suffocating plant matter, stimulates
new vegetative growth and activates dormant seeds.
When the occurrence of fire is removed from a prairie
ecosystem (often due to an area's proximity to
humans), the area is quickly overrun by trees and
shrubs.
Currently, Fontenelle Forest has restored
and maintains four planted prairies. Each year, staff
and volunteers conduct a prescribed burn on one
prairie. Within days of a prescribed burn, new vegetation begins to pop through the blackened soil. Within
a few weeks, an unknowing hiker passing the prairie
doesn't even know that a fire occurred.
Neale Wo ods Trail Map
Neale Woods
14323 Edith Marie Ave.
Omaha, NE 68112
402.453.5616
www.fontenelleforest.org
Fontenelle Forest Nature Center
1111 Bellevue Blvd. North
Bellevue, NE 68005
402.731.3140