Category: Area walks

Lincoln Year Round Walk featured in magazine for renters

A resource for renters in the Lincoln area, Rent.,  asked about our Lincoln walk, available year-round to any walker that would like to see Lincoln on foot. Here’s their article 4 Unique Things to Do in Lincoln, NE | Rent. For those visiting Lincoln, there are a lot of other things to do, so check out the article!

Rent is a subsidiary of Redfin.com

June 11th Walk location has changed!

Due to construction, we’ll be starting our walk near the Iowa Western Community College campus, at College View Elementary School. College View’s address is 1225 College Rd, Council Bluffs, IA 51503, adjacent to the IWCC campus. Be sure to arrive early enough to register and pay the $4 walk fee (exact change appreciated) so that the group can set out promptly at 5:30 p.m.

May – June 2024 newsletter and upcoming events

Here’s the May – June 2024 newsletter for you to look over: May-June 2024 Newsletter

We have a few events coming up in quick succession, so here’s a quick run-down for you:

  • May 16 – Little Italy Tour, starting at 5:30 p.m. from The Arch in the Gene Leahy Mall at 11th and Farnam Streets in downtown Omaha. Registrations were due May 14th, but email us at netrailblazers@gmail.com to see if there’s a cancellation. The event is free.
  • May 18 – Agate Fossil Beds walk by the Northwest Nebraska Volksmarch Club, starting near Harrison, Nebraska. Registration from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. $4 per person walk fee.
  • May 19 – PLAWKing event starting at 2 p.m. at 39th & Marcy Streets in Omaha. Come walk part of the Field Club Trail while picking up litter. Keep Omaha Beautiful will provide supplies, but you might want to bring sturdier gloves of your own. The event is free.
  • June 1 – Bennington Lakes Lee Frantz Memorial Walk at Prairie View Lake Recreation Area , just south of Hwy. 36 on N. 180th Street. Registration from 9 a.m. to noon, group walk setting out at 9:30 a.m. $4 per person walk fee. 
  • June 8 – Yanney Park, 2020 W 11th St in Kearney, NE. Registration from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. $4 per person walk fee.

September – October 2023 newsletter, plus a month’s worth of events

Our latest newsletter can be found here: September/October 2023 newsletter

And here’s a quick look at upcoming events for the next month:

  • Friday, September 15 starting from the Plymouth County Historical Museum in LeMars, Iowa, 10 a.m. to noon start times, 5k and 10k routes available, $3 fee. Dogs and strollers welcome on the trail.
  • Wednesday, September 20 starting from the Leahy Mall, 6 p.m. start of “How Sweet It is!” walking tour. Registrations have closed for this event, but email netrailblazers@gmail.com to be put on the wait list. No fee to attend. Dogs not allowed. Not suitable for strollers.
  • Thursday, September 28 starting from Tom Hanafan Park in Council Bluffs. 5k Group Walk starting at 10 a.m. $3 fee. Dogs and strollers welcome.
  • Saturday, September 30 starting from Arbor Day Farm in Nebraska City. 5k Group Walk starting at 10 a.m. $3 fee. Dogs and strollers welcome on the trail.
  • Saturday, October 7 starting from Peak Performance in Omaha, 9 a.m. to noon start times, 5k and 10k routes available, $3 fee. 5k Group Walk starting at 10 a.m. $3 fee. Dogs and strollers welcome on the trail.
  • Saturday, October 14 starting from St. James Methodist Church in Bellevue, NE, 10 a.m. start time for 5k or 10k group walk. . $3 fee. Dogs and strollers welcome on the trail.

Now, for the fine print: 

  • You must come 15 minutes early for all group walks to fill out paperwork and pay required fees. 
  • Details, such as starting point addresses and walk ratings can be found on our website at: 2023 Walk Calendar

Pop Up Group Walk on Saturday!

Saturday, August 5, 2023 at 8:00 a.m.  Let’s explore the new trails at Hitchcock Nature Center, just north of Council Bluffs, Iowa! 
The group walk will start promptly at 8 a.m. from the Loess Hills Lodge. Come 15 minutes early to pay and to sign paperwork. Remember that there is a $5 per car park entry fee in addition to the $3 per person walk fee.
 
We will hike a couple of new trails, Prairie Pass and Lotus Loop, approximately 3.3 miles of moderate difficulty. There is an option to go to the ski hills, which adds 1.6 slightly more difficult miles. Recommend sturdy shoes, walking sticks, water and insect repellent. This walk has great views, but expect some hilly hiking. Camping available. This walk is not stroller friendly but leashed dogs are allowed.
 
Hitchcock Nature Center is located at 27792 Ski Hill Loop, Honey Creek, IA.
 

Omaha Downtown Walk – OSB Only for a while!

Our Historic Downtown year-round walk is temporarily available only by using the Online Start Box method. The physical start box was thrown away by the new operators of the motel where the box had been housed for many years. We are searching for a new home for a physical start box, closer to the start point of the walk. We’ll also be rolling out a new route in mid-August, to celebrate the completion of The RiverFront’s vision of linking the Gene Leahy Mall with Heartland of America Park and Lewis and Clark Landing. 

In the meantime, please see the link on the AVA website to access registration via the Online Start Box. 

May-June newsletter, June Walks and looking ahead to September!

Our May-June newsletter is available here: May-June Newsletter  Remember,  only club members receive the full newsletter shortly after publication. Want to become a club member? Print out this application and mail it in with your payment.

If you get our “Trail Mail” e-newsletter, all of the following information will sound familiar. “Trail Mail” is open to anyone who wants to receive our irregular e-newsletter with updates on walks and upcoming events. Sign up via the website pop-up or send an email to netrailblazers@gmail.com.

Saturday, June 3rd, 9:30 a.m. start time for 5k and 11k Group Walk for National Trails Day. Seymour Smith Park, 6802 Harrison Street, Omaha, NE 68127
 $3 fee to walk. Leashed dogs are welcome. Seymour Smith Park at 72nd and Harrison Streets in Omaha will be the starting point of our exploration of the Keystone and Papio Trails. We’ll start walking as a group at 9:30 a.m.  Your choice to walk 5 km or 11 km on flat, paved trails, suitable for strollers and great for leashed dogs. Meet in the southeast corner of the big parking lot (the northern one) a few minutes early to sign the waiver and pay the $3 fee. This qualifies as a Volksmarch for AVA/IVV credit.

Saturday, June 24th, 10:00 a.m. start time for 5k Group Walk to honor Bonnie Christensen during Chuck Wagon Days. Adair City Park, 401 – 449 4th St, Adair, IA 50002

Join Iowa’s Walking Club in Adair, Iowa, for a 5K group walk and a chance to remember charter club member Bonnie Christensen. $3 fee for all walkers; this qualifies as a Volksmarch for AVA/IVV credit. Registration will begin at 9:30 a.m. at Adair City Park. The walk is being held in conjunction with Adair’s annual Chuck Wagon Days, and the park will be hosting multiple events.

The walk will begin promptly at 10:00 to avoid conflict with the Chuck Wagon Days Parade that begins at 10:30 and passes by the park. The walk will pass by an honor roll of Adair veterans who served in WWII, through residential areas, venturing briefly into Guthrie County and through downtown, past City Hall, and past the Methodist Church where Bonnie was a member and sang in the choir.

The park’s main entrance will be closed. From I-80 Exit 76, head north on 5th Street (White Pole Road) past the main park entrance. Continue north on 5th Street and take the next right (Stuart Street), then turn right at 4th Street to enter the park. Look for the blue and white Iowa’s Walking Club banner. Restrooms and parking are available in the park.

Monday, September 4, 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. Pleasant Valley Rock School House – 150 Year Celebration Walk, 3.7 miles SE of Table Rock, Nebraska on Railroad Drive/628th Ave

Help celebrate this one-room schoolhouse’s 150th anniversary by walking the route many children walked to and from school on the day before the traditional school year started. Lunch will be available with beer and brats, water, and polka music in beer tent. Walking sticks and bug spray strongly recommended due to the terrain. $3 fee for all walkers; this qualifies as a Volksmarch for AVA/IVV credit.

Take NE-50 S to Vine St in Table Rock, then take Railroad Drive for 3.7 miles to 628 Avenue. School will be on the right. More complete driving directions at https://my.ava.org/event-view.php?sn=124361

Regional Roundup September 15 – 17, 2023, hosted by GDMVA: Iowa’s Walking Club. See the flyer posted on our website for all details and walks and to sign up for meals and t-shirts by August 18th. Preregistration for the walks is NOT necessary. The host hotel for this weekend is Grand Stay Hotel & Suites, 2679 Rock Ridge Drive, Rock Valley, IA.

Friday, September 15, 10 a.m. to noon, Plymouth County Historical Museum
335 1st Ave SW, Le Mars, IA 51031 (part of the Regional Roundup)

The Trailblazers will host the walk in Le Mars, Iowa, the Ice Cream Capital of the World! You can walk this walk at any time during the Roundup, by going to the host hotel and registering, but we will be staffing the walk in person on Friday, September 15th from 10 a.m. to noon. Please finish by 3. The museum is open for visitors from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.

April updates to upcoming walks

Now that National Walking Week is done (and it was great!), we’re looking ahead to our remaining April and upcoming May walks. We’ve got a few updates to share:

Saturday, April 22nd at Arrowhead Park in Neola, IA is Earth Day! Pottawattamie County Parks is waiving all entrance fees in celebration. Just bring your $3 walk fee, a hiking stick for the hills and insect repellent for grassy areas. If you’d like to stay after the group walk at 10 a.m., bring a sack lunch and a drink (labeled!) and we’ll store in the fridge for you. Complimentary bottled water is also available.

Sunday, April 30th is the deadline to register to receive a free t-shirt at the Saturday, May 20th walk in Chadron State Park in Chadron, Nebraska. You’re welcome to register after that date or to just walk-in between 8 a.m. and 11 a.m. (MDT) – we’d love to have you, but you won’t get a t-shirt with that $3 walk fee. Register here: https://forms.gle/NfpBHvSHqRUrXjdA9

Tuesday, May 2nd is a courtesy deadline to register for the Thursday, May 4th Little Italy walking tour setting out at 5:30 p.m. from the Performance Arch at the Gene Leahy Mall (11th & Farnam). Our hosts are providing genuine Italian snacks and you really want them to make enough! Let them know here: https://forms.gle/F5ANvMKfbnNaoDJy8  There’s no fee for the walk.

Saturday, May 13th is our Mother’s Day Walk at Cunningham Lake, Entrance 3 (N. 96th Street). Show up between 9 a.m. and noon. The walk fee is $3. All mothers will be receiving a small gift. This is a great family walk, with paved trails and great scenery, suitable for strollers and leashed dogs, as well.

October Walks

The long-term weather forecast for October is warmer and drier than normal, so that means a great walking forecast.  Here’s a rundown (or should that be walkdown?) of October walking events.

  • Sunday, October 4th – Hitchcock Nature Center, 27792 Ski Hill Loop, Honey Creek, IA 51542. Check in is from 9 a.m. to noon. The trail is rated 3B (pretty hilly and dirt under your feet), so be sure to come early enough to be off the trail by 3 p.m. Hiking sticks are strongly recommended. In addition to the $3 walk fee (exact change or check made out to NWFT), each vehicle load of people needs to bring $3 in exact change to feed the kiosk as an entry fee to the Nature Center. eRegister by 9 p.m. Saturday or fill out a Start Card at the check in table. COVID-19 protocols are in place and must be followed.
  • Monday, October 5th – NO CLUB MEETING.
  • Thursday, October 15th – End date of 20 Iowa Parks in 2020 program. Flat, hilly or in-between, there’s a walk waiting for you! Early October is the perfect time to enjoy these parks, with no crowds, few bugs and the best weather for getting in a quick 5k or 10k.
  • Saturday, October 17th – Walk for Wildlife (sponsored by Iowa’s Walking Club). Jester Park Nature Center, 12130 NW 128th St, Granger, IA 50109. Register at the Outdoor Recreation Center building between 10:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. (Since they can’t get into the building to set up before 10:30 a.m., give them a few minutes to set up, please!)
  • Saturday, October 24th – Wyuka Cemetery Walk (sponsored by Lincoln Volkssport Club). City Impact Building, 1035 N 33rd St, Lincoln, NE 68503. Register between 8:45 a.m. and 11 a.m., be off the trail by 1 p.m. Historically, this is a pretty flat trail, so you should be able to make good time on the trail. This walk is FREE to all walkers. This is the final walk for the Lincoln Volkssport Club and this walk is their gift to the walking community. Let’s show them some love and come out in droves!

What’s a derecho, anyway?

According to Merriam-Webster, a derecho is: “a large fast-moving complex of thunderstorms with powerful straight-line winds that cause widespread destruction.”  The National Weather Service says that a long-lasting line of storms producing winds in excess of 58 mph and greater and leaving damage for 240 miles or more is a derecho.  One of those occurred Monday morning, August 10th, popping up just west of the Omaha-Council Bluffs area just after sunrise and ravaging the landscape as far east as Indiana.

Four of the Iowa State Parks in our 20 Iowa Walks in 2020 program were affected by the derecho:

  • Big Creek – no power, limited services, some trail closures
  • Lake Macbride – closed
  • Ledges – no power, limited services, modern toilets affected, trails open 
  • Palisades – Kepler – closed

Before heading to one of those four parks, contact it directly for an updated status. Use this link to navigate to the park of interest: Iowa’s State Parks