Wilderness Park 🇺🇸

Welcome to Wilderness Park, a 1,472-acre conservancy tucked into southwest Lincoln, Nebraska. As the city's largest park, this heavily wooded haven seamlessly blends dense trees with open prairieland. When you visit, you will encounter dynamic landscapes shaped by the unrestricted flow of Salt Creek and its tributary, Beal Slough. Keep your eyes open for local wildlife, ranging from deer, foxes, raccoons, and opossums to frogs, hawks, owls, songbirds, and squirrels.

Outdoor enthusiasts can explore a vast, clearly signed network of dirt walking paths, single-track biking trails, and dedicated horse trails. You can also travel along the 6.5-mile crushed-limestone Jamaica North Trail, which runs mostly inside the park. Beyond its natural beauty, Wilderness Park holds fascinating history. As you wander, look for remnants of early developments—including old concrete dams, metal pipes, and a stone entrance archway at 1st and Calvert streets.

You can even spot the historic railway trestle that crosses above the Jamaica North Trail, marking the site of an 1894 derailment. It is a peaceful, historic escape designed for every traveler.

What to see at Wilderness Park

• Lincoln's largest park featuring 1,472 acres of woods and prairieland
• Expansive trails dedicated to dirt hiking, single-track biking, and horseback riding
• The 6.5-mile crushed-limestone Jamaica North Trail passing through the park
• Rich wildlife viewing including deer, foxes, owls, hawks, and songbirds
• Historical ruins, old concrete dams, and a stone entrance archway

Visiting tips

Plan your trek carefully around seasonal weather, as spring and fall stream overflows can flood low-lying terrain and make trails impassable.

How long: 2-4 hours · Best time: Midsummer or midwinter

How to get there & what’s nearby

Wilderness Park is easy to reach on Lincoln’s public transport, and pairs naturally with Sheldon Museum of Art and Lincoln Children's Zoo. For where to stay, the weather and full itineraries, see our Lincoln travel guide.