This spot is made for all hikers, adventurers, and those who may not want to hike, but want a quick…read moreday trip for some scenic views. Murray Hill Scenic Overlook is just an hour North of Omaha up I-29. I discovered Murray Hill after a few quick Google searches for hiking spots. Murray Hill is one of two trailheads for Brent's Trail, which is a challenging hike across 8 miles. Be careful though, this is not a loop trail so one trailhead to the next is 8 miles alone. We hiked 5 miles total, turning back at 2.5 miles. The 5 miles alone was a great workout and featured some amazing views. I can't recommend this scenic overlook enough! Can't wait to return in Spring!

A great place to do a little hiking with a beautiful view. Picnic table to eat lunch or supper…read morewhile enjoying nature and gazing over the hill for a quite breathetaking view.

First hike of the season turned into an amazing adventure! First, you will get lost unless you type…read morea physical address you find from their website. Don't type Loess Hills State Forest in your maps. You will find an "Hills Have Eyes" or "Wrong Turn" type of atmosphere. This is after you drive by the tarp covered shed with a spray painted sign stating, "Enter Here!!!" Ohhhhhhh snap!! The State Forest is comprised of 4 sections so do some research prior to going! We found an awesome trail (close to the overlook area) which runs by two ponds and was a total of 1.8 miles. Had some steep inclines and some open fields, it worked decent for 7kids who enjoyed the adventure. The overlook observatory area has its own trails and has great views extending miles out! Hint: take a picture of the map sign- it's easy to navigate! Bathrooms were accommodated at the trailhead!

Beautiful rolling hills and nature. A great place to take a walk while enjoying nature.read more

Absolutely gorgeous park with stellar views of Iowa and Nebraska!…read more Easy to navigate and offers a lot of great trails. Parking is all over with multiple trail head entrances. Offers peaks and valleys and I was lucky enough to see a sunset, and really enjoyed my time here. I would come back again.

We had a lovely hike thanks to all trails. Only a $5 fee and you have access to this beautiful…read morenature center. We took the chute and heritage trail loop. A little under three miles and brings you to the top of a ridge for panoramic views, deep forestry and ends with an awesome "chute" trail. The trails were marked clearly and maintained. I felt very safe and had service the whole time. It's also dog friendly. Can't wait to return for more adventures.

On my cross-country drive, this was a good area to stop in and I stumbled across Stone State Park…read moreand its adorable camping cabins. The cabins have to be booked for 2 nights so I had to book it the day-of. I barely made it in time to check in but I did - many thanks to the ranger for being patient! I recommend bringing cash if you try to same-day stay. The place was really adorable and cozy! There's an AC unit, a dehumidifier, a microwave, and a decent sized minifridge, along with a small table, bunk beds, and a futon. I was happy to be on a bed and just used my sleeping bag for sheets. As for the park, it has beautiful hills and sweeping views. I didn't take a longer hike but would absolutely not hesitate to stop by, for camping or hiking.

Beautiful state park. Lots of places to hike but also a lovely drive. Great views where you can see…read moreNebraska and South Dakota. There's a beautiful old building you can rent for events. Plenty of picnic tables for a day visit. There are campsites in the park too. Its a gem in northwest Iowa.

What a great not-so-little trail located in the heart of Westfield, Iowa! I had the pleasure of…read moretaking a stroll here the day after Thanksgiving as part of the #optoutside effort with my partner, whose folks live in the area. If you find yourself in this neck of the woods, I can't recommend this trail enough. Five Ridge Prairie features beautiful landscapes, and each ridge overlooks the rolling hills of the western side of the state. Even in fall, when things are much less green, and certainly not blooming, we really enjoyed this hike. It's a workout, too! Those ridges are no joke.

Wanting to get our dogs away from the fireworks over the 4th of July weekend, we booked a 2-bedroom…read morecabin a year in advance (holiday weekends sell out really quickly!!). We ended up in Wood Duck in the area of cabins not too far from the entrance and park headquarters office. Some fireworks could still be heard in the distance from Ponca but nothing on the scale of what it was like back home. The best place would have been the cabins further away in the Scout Hill Loop but those were already taken at the time I booked. Still, we were very happy with our cabin. The two bedrooms were on either end of the cabin with the kitchen, living room, dining area, and bathroom in the middle. Either end had a door and a small deck. I would advise to bring your own camp chairs to sit outside. Pots, pans, coffee maker, dish soap, shampoo, bar soap, silverware and utensils were provided but I'm glad we brought our own scrubbie, paper towels, conditioner, and plastic cups. The AC in the cabin worked great for anyone wondering. Our girls are old so we didn't do much hiking but rather stayed on the paved areas and drove thru the park several times making stops at scenic places along the way. I spent some time visiting the beautiful Resource and Education Center and attended a "Critter Corner" event designed mostly for kids but I enjoyed it, too. The knowledgeable young park staff showed various animal pelts, skulls, antlers, horns, and a few resident turtles and snakes. The Center also had some books, puzzles, souvenirs, snacks, t-shirts, and other items for sale. There's a convenience store, small grocery and couple restaurants in nearby Ponca in case you forgot anything or wanted to get a pizza. I also visited the Aquatic Center one hot afternoon. It was a real nice heated zero entry pool with a diving board and 100 foot water slide. We really enjoyed our stay and already plan to return for a long weekend in the fall.

Had my daughter's graduation in one of the cabins and rented cabins for out of town guest for both…read moredaughters graduation. They could not have been more appreciative of the park and cabins. They still talk about how much they loved staying there

Such a beautiful place to visit! I was there in May and it was absolutely gorgeous, although be…read morewarned cell reception was a bit spotty.

Best place to visit on Spring Break. My husband, four teenage sons, & I stayed in Woodland…read moreCarriage House. They provided everything we needed in the kitchen. The 4 beds were all big with really nice sheets. The great room was a perfect place to gather together. We hiked 2 miles our first day & 4 the second day--in calf-high snow. Absolutely stunning scenery. Super clean trails. Talk about thee perfect family vacation. Totally recommend.

We had a fantastic time exploring Fontenelle Forest! Walking along the main boardwalk trail was…read morepeaceful and beautifully maintained, making it an incredibly scenic and accessible way to take in the trees and nature. Bird sanctuary was really well maintained! It was cool to see all the owls, hawks and falcons up closer.

First time visitor Free parking…read moreEntry fee based on member non member membership kid prices Friendly staff - explained all the look for and what to expect Shop Raptor refuge Exhibits Downstairs rattlesnake turtle kid friendly area Adventure treetop wasn't open while there but it was certainly a neat spot to zip like climb cargo nets do obstacles and in a forest setting, there is also an acorn area for kids to play in a acorn inspired playground Forest filled with trails flat hilly wraps around well defined - each trail with a little of history - boardwalk leads to overlooking the Missouri Plenty of signs to figure where you are at - very safe for solo and group travelers The raptor refuge was a pleasant surprise and also sad as multiple birds have had some type of Incident occur that would not allow them to go back into the wild but really glad they are taken care of by passionate staff individuals Steve shared with us Aero - great storyteller indeed Really would recommend to anyone who just wants to explore the outdoors and see a little bit of everything from water to bridges and tree line paths and hear the silence to enjoy the scenery Due note if you have to leave, you are able to come back (so yes to in and out privilege)

Beautiful area to camp. 1st come 1st serve for sites. No known map for sites, tent area mixed…read morewith electric and basic.

I loved camping in the cabin. We walked around at night and had a wonderful camp fire. I wish I…read morecould have stayed longer but my other half was ready to leave back home. Some friends left later that night but we had fun together.

Out for a drive, curious where this place is, is what brought us here. A nice little place. Some…read morehistory boards offer information about Lewis and Clark adventures. There is a look out that you can see over into Omaha downtown and the Epply airfield. There is a trail that goes off the farthest lookout area - I didn't walk it, looks kinda tricky. I think you would want to come prepared to hike if you decide to check it out. There is a nice restroom area and several benches you could just relax and enjoy the views. Enjoyed checking it out!

I'm very disappointed in the person that pooped on the floor in the back of the bathrooms and wiped…read moreit on paper towels then left them on the grass for everyone to discover. I am traumatized to say the least. Why not just poop in the toilet right in front of you. The smell took me back to World War 1. Good heavens.