Five Historical Reasons to Visit Omaha's Fontenelle Forest Trails

When I first started going to Fontenelle Forest, I went to enjoy the nature. I started on the barrier free boardwalk that is right behind the Fontenelle Forest Nature Center. There is a Barred Owl and Red Tail Hawk that have been there since I started walking there three years ago. They are not the only wild creatures in Fontenelle Forest but they are the most visible. There is a trail that can be taken from the barrier free boardwalk down to the Missouri River. It is a dirt trail and sometimes steep. However, the view of the Missouri River from the barrier free boardwalk or the edge of the river are quite beautiful. There is not a great deal of traffic along that part of the river and there doesn't seem to be much buildup on the Iowa side of the river.

There are signs all along the barrier free boardwalk that mention Lewis and Clark and their expedition. According to the National Geographic Website, they went along the Missouri River from the state of Missouri along the Nebraska and Iowa border and into South Dakota. The Missouri River, in both its past meanders and current situation can be seen in many parts of Fontenelle Forest. There are portions of the journals of Lewis and Clark throughout the barrier free boardwalk.

While there is some history by Fontenelle Forest's Nature Center, a great deal more of it can be found by taking the barrier free boardwalk and dirt paths by Fontenelle Forest's Wetland Learning Center. After finding the gravel road that leads to the Wetlands Learning Center, I discovered marshes, hidden lakes, Native American Burial Land, a hermit, and part of the Mormon Trail.

The barrier free boardwalk that can be taken from the Wetlands Learning Center leads to an observation tower by the Great Marsh. Taking the Marsh Trail from the observation tower leads to the sign that mentions the Mormons Ferry Crossing as they went along the Platte River. At that time, the 1840's, the Great Marsh was still part of the Missouri River. Answers.Com has more information. There is also a Mormon Hollow Trail that starts across the train tracks.