Fontenelle Forest

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.

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)

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.

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!

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!

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.

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

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.

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!

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.