I've been visiting Fontenelle Forest since the early 80's, but it has been almost five years since the last visit. Buying entry tickets was fast and easy with friendly service. The boardwalk systems has expanded since our last visit so it is possible to do several miles just on boardwalk. The dirt trails are better marked than our last visit. With all the recent rain the forest was very green, with lots of flowering plants. We visited the raptor area for the first time and enjoyed seeing the various birds and reading about their history. We'll be buying a membership and hope to hike the trails this fall and winter. read more

I was pleasantly surprised to see how busy it was during a week day! The space in the nature center if very well organized and is set up for a great flow of customers. I ended up going for a hike which was very nice! The paths are well maintained and well marked. Definitely recommend if you need an outdoor fix! read more

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We had a fantastic time exploring Fontenelle Forest! Walking along the main boardwalk trail was peaceful and beautifully maintained, making it an incredibly scenic and accessible way to take in the trees and nature. Bird sanctuary was really well maintained! It was cool to see all the owls, hawks and falcons up closer. read more

Fontenelle Forest - Community Service/Non-Profit Near Me - Bellevue, Nebraska

First time visitor Free parking Entry fee based on member non member membership kid prices Friendly staff - explained all the look for and what to expect Shop Raptor refuge Exhibits Downstairs rattlesnake turtle kid friendly area Adventure treetop wasn't open while there but it was certainly a neat spot to zip like climb cargo nets do obstacles and in a forest setting, there is also an acorn area for kids to play in a acorn inspired playground Forest filled with trails flat hilly wraps around well defined - each trail with a little of history - boardwalk leads to overlooking the Missouri Plenty of signs to figure where you are at - very safe for solo and group travelers The raptor refuge was a pleasant surprise and also sad as multiple birds have had some type of Incident occur that would not allow them to go back into the wild but really glad they are taken care of by passionate staff individuals Steve shared with us Aero - great storyteller indeed Really would recommend to anyone who just wants to explore the outdoors and see a little bit of everything from water to bridges and tree line paths and hear the silence to enjoy the scenery Due note if you have to leave, you are able to come back (so yes to in and out privilege) read more

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When we were choosing to purchase the Fontenelle Forest TreeRush tickets, we were originally hoping to head to a competitor (who we had tried before) but I'm super glad we ended up at TreeRush! We had purchased our passes ahead of time because we were a party of 8 and wanted to make sure we were all together. We bought the family pack which includes climbing gloves, which are a requirement. If you have 4 people attending, this is your best deal. They do also offer some "try it" deals that seem to be a good value. So keep your eye peeled if you're looking to save some cash. After check in, the staff sends you to the harness area where you get strapped in and watch a short safety video. Then a guide teaches you about your mechanism as you're responsible for all your moves on the course. (You can call for staff if you need assistance while on the course. They had a lot of available staff.) The kids did a ton of different courses. I did the black first (with the kids, who left me in the dust). It is highly recommended that you don't do black first, but here I was ... well I completed the entire course so I guess there's some bragging rights but next time I'll stick to the other [easier] courses. read more

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If you haven't been to Fontenelle, it's a great visit! I had suggested to friends that moved to Omaha recently that we go to walk around with our kids for a change of pace. Staff were both friendly and knowledgeable. They were able to give us good directions and answer any and all questions we had. We walked a little bit but spent a majority of our time at the playground. Our children did it fun but it definitely is structured to be for older/more agile children (not toddlers). I wish they had more opportunities outside for smaller kiddos. Inside in the basement was also fun. Our kids spent a great deal of time putting together crafts with the provided materials and played with the toy sets on the shelves. Lastly, it was a cool opportunity to see the rescued raptors outside in their enclosures. read more

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A beautiful scenic escape from hustling bustling Omaha going into Fontenelle Forest, it will greet you with tons of wildlife and a lot of new information on what lives around Omaha! It's $15 for adults and that gets you the full experience with all the hiking trails and fun indoor information center. In the information center there is a rescue aviary and reptiles, there is a tortoise that is 50+ years old! Definitely worth the $15 just to see the tortoise! The service was more than exceptional, the workers were very informative and helpful! We wanted to see the best trails for the gloomy weather and got a fun (and safe) adventure that took us about 1.7 miles around and we saw the Omaha Skyline and the river! I cannot recommend Fontenelle enough, it is so gorgeous and worth the trip to Bellevue! read more

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Fontenelle Forest is really beautiful. What a peaceful space to be in with so much greenery and wildlife to see. A cool playground for kids, fun hiking trails, and a wooden trail if you don't feel like hiking. A bird sanctuary with beautiful birds that are being well taken care of and the inside of the building is just as lovely. I didn't spend much time here as we were on a field trip and it was kind of rainy. With all this said it is buggy (obviously ) and I would be sure to say there is potential for ticks but I didn't get any. I'm not really the outdoor girlie so I spent most of my time inside. Staff is friendly, helpful, and knowledgeable! Definitely worth a visit! read more

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This is such a nice place to take a quick break from the city! My daughter LOVES birds. So even though I didn't think we would see a lot of birds in February, we made a visit. Well - the forest is FULL of birds. We saw three different kinds of woodpeckers, plus nuthatches, juncos, a yellow something-something (she could tell you), and a group of turkeys. It was really nice. They also have an area there for raptors who have been injured and can't survive in the wild. We have been members here for years, because generally if you are planning to visit something 2 or 3 times a year it is probably worth having a membership. That way you can stop in for a couple hours and not have to set aside a day for it. To me, that's a great value. A nice thing about this forest is that it's right here in the city. We usually head over to John's Grecian Delights over in the nearby almost-empty Southroads Mall either before or after our hike. read more

Fontenelle Forest - These barred owls - and other raptors here - were rescued but no longer able to survive in the wild - Community Service/Non-Profit Near Me - Bellevue, Nebraska

We were at Fontanelle Forrest tonight for a Fundraiser/Silent Auction..the food was on point and the servers were AMAZING ...beautiful building and gorgeous scenery..until a walnut fell on Dean's forehead ...(we must have missed the helmet zone) it was a very large space with a gift shop and many items for auction..outside seating area set up...with benches and high tops and servers bars and buffet..perfect evening experience ...(except for the bump on the forehead..we left early to ice it) read more

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Fontenelle Forest is very neat, even in winter! We went at the end of Winter (going on Spring) and we could definitely see how the location was great, even covered in snow. We walked around the wooden boardwalks, read all the plaques, and took a few off-the-path hikes - one down to the river. We had a lot of fun and will be returning in Summer or Fall when everything is full of color and alive. Still though, if our only option was to return again next winter, I'm sure we would! read more

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Our family loves Fontenelle Forest and has a season pass- great place to go for walks on the wooden paths in nice weather. They have a bald eagle and some other predator birds that my son likes to see and a great downstairs area with lots of montesorri and sensory toys for small kids! There is a certain time of day that they feed the rescue birds if you have science minded kiddos. The downstairs area has blocks, coloring papers, pinecones, and more. There is also a new playground on the trails which opened up with some pretty big slides for the older kids. I've heard the trails can be a great place for bird watching. read more

Whether you're coming for a field trip, a beer festival, or just want a leisurely walk, it's a great spot Omaha is lucky to have. There are so many fun exhibits for student, and independents alone! For the price, it's more affordable for the zoo with just slightly less animals. There are the ropes courses which look fun, but I would definitely not bring my littles ones yet. My favorite visit was with my friend who took the forest for more of a hike, and we got a great work out in. I look forward to coming back for more adventures with my kids! read more

I have to stop for an update after getting to enjoy the tree rush adventure! WOW!!!! This was out of this world! The team alone made us feel so comfortable and Geoff the instructor was great. I loved the blue courses a lot and would love to come back to try Nighthawk. The bird refugee is amazing and the info they give about the birds is great. It is heartwarming to know they have a safe haven. read more

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Fontenelle forest is definitely a hidden gem in the Omaha area for nature lovers. Long, scenic tours on either a paved path or more rugged terrains gives all levels of hikers and walkers a chance to be outside. Young and old will both find something to enjoy on their visit here. This was our third time coming since covid hit and we were thrilled to see the basement kid's activity has finally reopened! Our son loved seeing the turtles, snakes and frogs they have in small habitats as well as all the ways to "explore" nature from inside on a colder day. Lastly, while we did not participate in the ropes course, their TreeTop ropes course (additional cost) is something I would highly recommended if you're looking for an added adventure! It is $11 per adult, $8 per child (2-17) or $70 for a family year-long membership which is very cost effective if you plan to return a second or third time. read more

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Fun times in the forest! I was skeptical after realizing there was an admission to get in, but in the end, it was totally worth it. I started the day by checking out the popular boardwalk loop that overlooks the river. This is definitely a family-friendly loop (wheelchair and stroller accessible as well). I trecked a bunch of random trails the rest of the day. It was a fun adventure and a great way to get out of the city and into the woods. Be sure to grab a map before you head out though :) Not as appealing to me, but equally as impressive, was the nature center/animal exhibits. Seemed to be a hit with the kids. I will most likely be buying a yearly pass! read more

Fontenelle Forest - Community Service/Non-Profit Near Me - Bellevue, Nebraska

I don't know if I should even admit how many years it took me to actually, finally, check out this spot. Let's just say too many. I got a little nervous by the full parking lot. But this place is huge. We barely even passed any others on the various trails. Some were wearing masks, some weren't. You can purchase your tickets online, which is cool. So no need for money to exchange grubby hands or to have someone touching your credit card. The staff, all wearing masks, were super pleasant, friendly, and helpful. Every staffer we encountered was truly delightful. I recommend going to the main parking lot and entrance unless you've been here a lot. Pick up a map and wear some good walking shoes. There's a TON to see here! All kinds of trails and nature. Even in winter it's cool. So if you want to get outside a bit in the pandemic, come here. read more

This is definitely a hidden gem especially if you are stationed at Offutt, AFB {it's literally a short ten minute drive from the back gate.} My family enjoys going here every few weeks to get some fresh air together. You can either do a more leisure walk on the boardwalk {honestly my fav} or go all in by hiking on the various trails. We usually grabs Dunkin donuts/coffee before hand to enjoy on our walk since it's on the way there as well. I highly recommend Fontenelle Forest for anyone looking to reconnect with nature in the Bellevue area. read more

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Beautiful views of the zoo and love nature...The walking paths are in good shape ..Very peaceful and serene..Love this place .

This is a fantastic hiking place in Bellevue/Omaha area! As a mom, I LOVE the boardwalk trail so that I can easily use a stroller on it. The dirt trails are also super fun without a stroller and there are lots of different paths, and you can hike for a ways! I'm especially excited for the playground that is coming this year! There is also an area with caged birds that are really fun and interesting to look at! read more

This place is amazing. Did this hike in Nov. so the leaves were still falling off the trees with the breeze. My phone said it was 43 degrees but with the winds, it felt like it was it was in The 20's! Only did about 2-3 miles and got lost for a bit, but got back on easily. The lakes and the small river looked beautiful. I would love to come back in the Spring or Summer to see all the green foliage and colorful flowers. Also ran into some deer, rabbits, and many types of birds. Great place for kids of all ages. There are flat trails, and some steep trails. Something for everyone. There is also an obstacle course for the brave. read more

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Step into Fontanelle Forest and it doesn't even seem like you're even in the typical Nebraska.. Me and my girlfriend and a couple buddies hiked for 2 hours and it felt like we just barely scratched the surface of this place. Has an abundance of hills for you to get a good workout on and offers some great viewpoints that reminded me of parts of the Pacific Northwest. Bring a daypack, some bottles of ice cold water and a mid-hike lunch and immerse yourself in a rare gem in the Omaha area!! read more

Fontenelle Forest - Some trail about 15 mins into the actual hiking! - Community Service/Non-Profit Near Me - Bellevue, Nebraska

Fontenelle forest is a very beautiful place in Omaha. There is a bit of scenery for everyone: water views, forest views, river views, animal sightings, ect. They have a very detailed map online. It is very easy to follow so you know exactly where you are. Trails are also easily marked, but some paths are more trodden then others. If you want to be adventurous, you can take one of the longer trails. If you want to keep it simple, you can stay on the wooden paths which are very easy to walk on and navigate. The trees are beautiful and the colors are vibrant. Even the green of the river makes you feel you are in the marsh. Its pretty awesome. There are many activities too. You can go to the petting zoo or ride the zipline (which comes at an extra cost). However, it costs $11 to enter. I have never been to a forest preserve which you had to pay for entry. Usually, it is just walking into the forest and the extra activities such as the zipline costs more. However, here, you pay for entry plus more for the zipline. Overall, I am glad we came. It was very nice and beautiful, but I probably wouldn't come back due to the price. I'm sure there are other forest preserves in the area that don't cost money and are nice too . read more

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As a Colorado native, this is BY FAR my favorite place in Omaha since moving here. I got an annual membership and have been hiking 4 or 5 times now and still haven't even scratched the surface of the numerous hiking trails that are available. Once it gets warmer, I plan to be out here all the time. The park does a fantastic job on their trails providing bird/animal watching spots (especially along the river) and I've never had an issue with trails not being maintained. The raptor pavilion is a neat exhibit and I love that all the birds they have are recovering from injuries and being nursed back to health by the Fontenelle team. As an added bonus, check out the ropes course! It's amazing, though pretty pricey. Maybe a one-time thing. Pro-tip: Prepare to get muddy! read more

What a beautiful area. Many trails to explore, excellent nature center with small playground in the basement and rehabilitation for owls, hawks, etc. They also have some great events throughout the year. We recently attended their fairy fare where you could build fairy houses in the forest, get your face painted, be given a fairy name, dance, make wands and more. I can't wait to check it out throughout the changing seasons. read more

I would love to give this place four stars because the scenery and trails are beautiful and well maintained, but the price knocks it down to 3 stars for me. I'm an adult who loves to hike and explore the outdoors, but not for $8-11 per person (kid vs adult pricing). Sure they have a nice visitor center and a raptor refuge, but what I come for is the trails. (Maybe a separate cost for those attractions would be nice?) I would really like to see more affordable hiking in the Omaha area. Iowa does have nice hiking just 25 minutes outside of Bellevue, and for a fraction of the price ($3 per carload). read more

Fontenelle Forest is amazing for people that want to get outdoors but don't want to go on a road trip to do so. In the middle of the city is multiple locations to go walk the boardwalk, the trails or explore waterways and bird watching. We have a membership and a key fob so we visit on a regular basis, like once a week or so. If the trails are muddy and we just want a quick nature fix, we hit the boardwalk. Last week while on the boardwalk, we must of seen 50 Woodpeckers and Bluejays. We love exploring the other areas like the Wetlands, Neale Woods and Camp Wakonda. I really hope you get the chance to get out and enjoy this hidden gem in the middle of our city! read more

I hate to sound like a teenager but this place is Super cool! It is a Forrest so there is natural nature all over. Bugs insects snakes birds things that bite. Bring bug spray. If you forgot they have some in the gift shop. The trail can get muddy, hilly and small. Take a map thru have them when you pay the entrance fee. I've only been once but I am considering buying the membership. They have a very nice bird sanctuary. We got a tour from a friendly guide. Definitely a must see. read more

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Love at first visit!! My family and I attended the Holiday at Hogwarts a few weeks ago and we absolutely loved it!! It was myself, sister, brother in law, his older nephew, my niece and 4 year old nephew. We all love Harry Potter and we wanted to check it out and see what fontenelle forest had to offer. Well we were certainly delighted! The event was held throughout the building and on the grounds on the wooden trails. It was so cute how they put everything together, providing items to make your own wand, make bookmarks, try your hand at Harry Potter trivia, going on a scavenger hunt to find all of the horcuxes and harry potter items. I loved walking through the forest on the wooden trails, being close to nature, and seeing more of what Nebraska has to offer. One of my favorite parts of fontenelle forest were probably the raptor cabins towards the front. It was neat to see hawks and owls in such cute cabins rehabilitating there. In their 'owlery,' just like Harry Potter, there was someone there sharing with us about owls and even had a cute little one perched on her arm. We also got to have some butter beer, watch a fire show, and there was a parade of costumes too!! I'm so glad we had such a fun and valuable time at this beautiful place!! I can't wait to go again and attend another one of their events! read more

Took advantage of a nice day by going here. The welcome center and bird refuge was interesting. While there are trails, the view was pretty limited. I was hoping to get a better view of the river or landscape. It's a nice walk and the ziplining looked like fun if you have kids. read more

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We love going here with our family. We usually hike around and play at the park. We love the hills and little escape from the hustle and work. We also love feeding the ducks and fish here. You are not supposed to feed them bread, but instead more healthy foods. We love it and really enjoy coming here! read more

At first we were skeptical of the seemingly small indoor nature center exhibits for the price they charge. We are use to fantastic ones in our own community that are expansive and free. However, when we saw the raptor sanctuary we were thrilled to know the cost of the center supports the care of these birds of prey. The trails are beautiful and several have limited views of the river. read more

I like the forest, but I object to paying an entrance fee (about $10) to walk in the woods. I understand if someone is using the visitor center then they should pay an entrance fee, but everyone coming into the fontenelle forest even for a walk must pay a fee. There should be a way for people to walk in the woods for free and only pay an entrance fee if entering the visitor center. I would not recommend this place to others just because of the entrance fee. read more

Really great place. Love the raptor rescue. They had several birds out today. It was very neat and informative. They offered free military entrance today. The hiking is great. Lots of trails. Great fun in the great outdoors. Bring the whole family. read more

Wonderful front desk staff . Clean facility with lots to look at inside . Beautiful and peaceful walk ways . Great place for the family to explore which also include the birds of prey . read more

Fontenelle Forest - Community Service/Non-Profit Near Me - Bellevue, Nebraska

For $8 this is a great way to spend a day. I am newer to Omaha and was impressed by the size of the park and the endless trails. If you are not a trail person there is a 1 mile boardwalk. Lots of play areas for the kids. The staff there loves their jobs and are very friendly. So grab the kids or go by yourself, either way it is a fun time. read more

What a beautiful hike I had today. I was worried coming from Colorado that this wouldn't be enough to get the blood flowing. Flow it did! I was out over 3 hours and worked up a great sweat while on what turned out to be my 7.2 mile loop. I saw white tailed deer, woodpeckers, hummingbirds, turtles in both box and snapping variety, butterflies of all sorts. I hadn't been here since I was a kid and I must say I really appreciate this place so much more now. read more

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There's a small indoor area upstairs with a few live critters for viewing and a kid's area downstairs with learning activities and a jungle gym. There's also a small sitting room down there with books and a large window for bird watching. The trails outside (or the forest itself actually) are the main attraction. For a quick stroll there's a boardwalk that loops back around to the museum, or you can go "off roading" with miles of trails and make a day of it. Since it was just me and my two youngest kids we stuck with the boardwalk. Another children's area is just bit down from the museum with a tree house and a couple of other things for the kid's play on. Here and there along the walk are plaques with history and information about the area. While we didn't see anything more interesting than squirrels on our brief walk, the scenery was beautiful and it made for a nice outing. (There's another building currently under construction. The guy at the desk said it will contain "raptors". Unfortunately for my 5 year-old son, not the "raptors" he envisioned, but "birds of prey". Looking forward to it's completion and our next visit!) read more

Fontenelle is an absolutely beautiful place to spend a day. There are more trails (aside from the boardwalk) than you could trek in a week & they're all pretty well maintained. The trails that are deeper in the forest are where the real fun is (a couple go all the way down to the Missouri River), just be sure to grab a map at the nature center before setting off on your adventure. I live in the area, so we got a family pass in order to save money on admission (absolutely worth it- $45/year & it's considered a tax deductible donation). You can also purchase a fob to enter the forest after the nature center has closed (although you're still expected to be gone by sundown) for $10. read more

The nature center has a pretty decent museum and gift shop, but the real attraction is the trails, of course. The Boardwalk is a great place for a nice brisk,fairly easy walk to get the blood flowing and offers some great views of the river. If you have more time, there are miles of unimproved trails, ranging from easy to moderately strenuous, with lots of great scenery. You're less likely to see deer there than you were a few years ago, but the lower-story vegetation is recovering after being stripped by years of severe overpopulation, and so far the trade-off seems worth it. Fontenelle Forest also offers lots of great classes, day camps, and events for kids and adults alike. read more