If you've seen someone with outdoor family photos, you can bet that they were taken at Chalco! This is a gorgeous lake with great trails. You can count on seeing very brave deer if you come at dusk. Our favorite part is the off-leash dog park. There is a TON of room for dogs to run and a variety of landscaping. It's a beautiful walk for people and pups! read more

Chalco Hills Recreation Area - Recreation Centers Near Me - Omaha, Nebraska

Beautiful loop around a lake (I believe roughly 6-5-7.0 miles if you don't take any cut throughs). I ran around 8 am on a weekday. Surprisingly it was somewhat busy with walkers and bikers and runners. The trail is beautiful and a mix of forest and lake as well as some surprisingly tough inclines! I noticed there were several different parking lots and at least one area to put boats in. There were plenty of restrooms along the trail which I thought was helpful too. The trails were clean as well besides a few spots of feces. My only complaint is the complete arrogance of a few cyclists, particularly of the older generation. They had zero regard for others and expected the pathway to be completely available for them despite being wide enough to accommodate opposite direction traffic. read more

See all

The weather got nice for a February weekend and I chose to go for a run at Chalco. I arrived around 11, there was plenty of parking near the visitors center and it was easy to navigate to the trail. This was my first time running here but luckily the trail is easy to follow as it is paved around the lake. There was no debris on the pathway and it wasn't crowded despite the good weather! There are bathrooms and portapottys spaced around the park. read more

Love this park! Very relaxing! Love that you can rent self propel bikes. We always see deer when we go! read more

Chalco Hills Recreation Area - Recreation Centers Near Me - Omaha, Nebraska

It's a great place to go for a walk and experience nature, and also a gorgeous place for family photos! I'm a photographer and I use this location a lot because of the many different types of scenery. I almost always see deer out and about as well. And they have a dog park! read more

See all

This park is a very large area around a lake with many walking paths and picninc areas, but there wasn't much else to see/do. I guess I must just be used to the adventures that one can have at Fontenelle Forest or Neale Woods Nature Center, and when I came to Chalco Hills I was a tad bit disappointed. It wasn't a total bust though, as there were very nice paths to walk (although they were cement and a little more city-feel than we would have liked) and a bridge that takes you over the water (although it is mostly fenced in and you can't really get a good view of the water) Overall, I would say this place would be good to have a family picnic/or when you bring your own activities, but not a good place for an adventure-seeking hiker or nature buff. read more

See all

Been in their walking trails multiple times. Super clean and well maintained. Tail is paved that I went on but there are other trails that aren't paved you can do. Love the views and being outside. We even saw multiple deer and a pelican! Beautiful. read more

See all

We like to go here to walk our dog unfortunately dogs may not be off leash here There are always a few frie

We don't have mountains in Omaha, but we have parks. And these little recreation parks with man made lakes attached are what we need to use as filler for some of those outdoors desires that one may have whilst living in Omaha and the general very flat Midwest. Chalco Hills has miles of trails for running biking and general strolling. There's also areas for fishing in the lake and shallow lake activities like kayaking and paddle boarding. It's been a fun experience to take my dog here to explore and experience more than just the general suburban neighborhood walk. The recreation area expands even more for activities for families and beyond for things like boating and picnicking. read more

See all

Nice, clean park with a lake and trail. There's several activities you can do here, I ran and my family had a picnic and enjoyed the nice weather. There were a lot of people there fishing and kayakers in the water. I saw several picnic table areas and benches, and a boat ramp. The running trail is in good shape, pretty shaded for the most part. I ran the whole loop and it was 4 miles around I believe. There were restrooms but they were locked up and no water fountains so plan accordingly. read more

See all

My dogs love this place. My oldest gets so excited as we get closer. He loves to run and smell everything. My youngest is just happy to stroll and take in the beauty of it all. His favorite activity is to launch a surprise attack when his brother least expects it. Great place to get the energy out of your 4 legged friends read more

Chalco Hills Recreation Area - Enjoying nature - Recreation Centers Near Me - Omaha, Nebraska

See all

This recreation area is probably one of my favorites I have ever been to here in Nebraska. I absolutely LOVE the variety of activities one can do here at Chalco. I've watched my niece play soccer on the soccer fields here, played on one of the playgrounds with my nephew, went hiking with my sister and nephew, and walked one of the trails along the lake with my boyfriend the morning of my birthday. Each time I visited it felt so nice to be amongst nature and nature loving individuals. The soccer fields are well kept and there is ample parking for parents and guests. The playgrounds have a plethora of equipment and fun cement animal structures that make it fun for children to use their imagination for play! It was so neat to see him be creative and use his imagination. The most recent time I've had the pleasure of visiting this area was just last month on the morning of my birthday. I wanted to see deer out and about and this is the place to go and see them! It was a short two mile trail walk but absolutely beautiful! We got there around 730am and there were a handful of people there walking, biking, fishing, and running at that time. It was comforting to see like minded people enjoying the weather, the nature around us, and the recreation area. The side we enjoyed our morning walk was new to me. I had never seen the side of the park with the lake. There were benches sporadically placed along the edge of the water and also a little covered area that you could walk out on to and enjoy the view. I noticed other playgrounds and buildings that I'm sure you could request to rent or reserve. If you haven't ventured out to Chalco before I highly suggest that you do!! There is something for everyone here, especially if you love the outdoors, seeing wildlife doing their thing, or if you just need some time to yourself to relax and recover from work or life. Do this for yourself and embrace the beauty of this place! read more

I love Chalco Hills -- sometimes I find it a little difficult to figure out where we can and cannot go, but recently I had an amazing time and could not believe the amount of deer I was able to see. It's always nice and peaceful and the scenery is absolutely beautiful read more

Epic dog park. Very clean. Love the off leash part. Also tons of private picnic areas, and the crowd that goes here is pretty chill!

Chalco Hills is a lovely in park in Sarpy County about 12 miles from downtown Omaha. It covers 1,189 acres, part of which includes Wehrspann Lake. I had planned to take my dogs to the off-leash dogs park area until I found out it was only partially fenced. So instead we went into one of the picnic areas. In times of social distancing, it's a good idea to go to a big park. There are 7 miles of concrete trails with plenty of room. My leashed dogs preferred to walk in the grassy verge, leaving lots of room for other walkers and cyclists. The amount of dog droppings on the side was very disgusting, I must say. There could be a whole rant on the irresponsible behavior of pet owners. There's a creative playground near the vault toilets at this particular picnic spot. It was off limits to children when I was there due to social distancing and disinfecting issues. There are picnic tables and a water source. The path I was walking skirts the lake. I plan to go a little farther each time we walk. read more

A fantastic place to go walking/running/biking/fishing or simply spend a day out in nature with your family. Very kid friendly area that feels 100% safe. There is always people out having a good time here. The area is well maintained. No trash, dog poop, or heavy over growth. It's a great place to get out and enjoy the sun while getting a little exercise. Cool weather days are always a great time to go. The park is still busy enough to feel safe, but quiet enough to allow peaceful thinking. read more

What a fantastic area. Nothing bad to say. A ton of room to ride bikes, run, and fish. I believe the water is a no wake zone, but I always see a ton of people fishing. This park is huge so it rarely gets crowded since everything is spread out. Great place to get out and relax. Plenty of shade to have a picnic or relax while reading a book. read more

Chalco Hills/Wehrspann Lake has been a go to place for year. It has a great bike path, walking trail around the lake with many different picnic areas for cookouts, some with covered pavilions. I see people fishing there all the time, so it must be stocked with good catches. The visitors center houses the NRD's Natural Resources Center which features conservation exhibits and nature displays. read more

See all

Chalco is a gem of a park dominated by Wehrspann Lake. The lake is good for fishing, and I have seen some ice fishing happen here in the winter. There is a 6.5ish mile trail around the lake that is paved and marked. Beware that the mile markers include the spur into the park loop... it is not 8 miles around! : ) The trail sweeps through open prairie and brush and through wooded areas. There is a connector across a causeway at the west end of the lake that will give you some routing options. The park has several access points on all sides, a boat ramp, and several picnic points to just relax if you like. There is a sizable deer herd out here.... I have seen over 40 at one time. There are also plenty of water critters... not sure of what I have seen from a distance. lol Mink, otter, beaver? All of them?? read more

This is a great park with miles of nice trails. Well maintained, neat and clean. The hiking trail (paved and about 6 feet wide) goes through trees for much of the distance and is sheltered from the wind. Great area for hiking - lots of parking and convenient to nearby neighborhoods. Even though it's near busy areas like the Interstate, you wouldn't know it while you are hiking. Bonus - Chargepoint EV charging station (2 plugs) at the headquarters, and the charging is free. read more

I run on the trail about four times a week. The trail is about 7 or 8 miles all around and is quiet, peaceful and safe. Just be careful of bikers though as some do not announce their presence. Nice scenery, the upkeep of the park is good. An upgrade of the picnic tables and benches along the trail are needed as they are old and showing rust. In the winter, I really wish they would plow the trails more quickly. Overall, probably the best park in Omaha. read more

Such a wonderful day to volunteer for Bark for life/ relay for life cancer event! This whole area is a sight to see and makes me want to travel this way more often. The trails are really clean and maintained. They even have off track paths you can take to wonder more into the forest.... They have informational signs in front of trees and plants to educate you on some of the things they have growing here. Alot of wildlife to see here as well!!!! read more

I love this park! Last Thursday I roller skated on the paved tail that goes around the lake. Other than dealing with one spot on the trail that was full of loose dirt and sand, this trail was smooth and safe. This isn't my favorite tail to skate on but when I want a place for many activities or to just be with nature, this is my go to spot. I saw a family of deer, many types of birds, ducks, a small snake, a turtle, families fishing and other people enjoying the trail. At other times I also enjoy kayaking and picnicking here. read more

Best place in the city for a nice walk and lake views. No swimming, but boating is okay. Lots of places to sit and relax.

New to town but my dog and I have enjoyed walking on the many paths at Chalco. Often see deer.

I have come here with my husband and his side of family to take family photos. Many spots you can find to take pictures at. Not like the parks that the houses around there photobomb your pictures. read more

Deer everywhere. Great place to take the kids, if you wanna be in town and feel like your out in the country here ypu go.

Love the dog exercise area! Or should I say, my dogs did. My female corgi loves to run off-leash because she has more energy than the rest of us. The off-leash area of Chalco Hills allowed her to run circles around us while exploring nature. My male corgi loved it too but he prefers to stay by me. It was so quiet when we went...no other people or dogs around. Make sure your dog is obedient though. You don't want to let a dog loose that won't come when you call or it might run away. There's a lot of tall brush and trees surrounding the trail where a less-obedient dog could get lost easily. Also, prepare for ticks. read more

There are shade trees along the trails and wildlife. We like to go biking there. We see a lot of people fishing there. Once we went and the Nebraska Hot Air Balloon was there with the balloons! read more

My favorite lake for cycling or walking. There are enough hills and turns to make it interesting and it doesn't get too crowded. You will see deer and turkeys routinely. I also enjoy the trees being marked for educational purposes. read more

Please keep your dogs on leashes when outside of the dog park. The grass and dirt nature trails are leashed areas. When an unleashed dog runs up out of nowhere to my dog and the owner is far behind, she sees it as a challenge and gets into fighting mode. Let's all enjoy the trails together by following the leash rule! :) read more