When hikers ask which trails in Nebraska are worth a full day — or several — the conversation always circles back to the same handful of routes. Below we've ranked the ten longest hiking trails in Nebraska by total mapped distance, drawing from the 1,786 trails OutsideAtlas currently tracks in the state. Each entry includes the distance, what makes the route distinctive, and an honest note on who should actually attempt it.
Nebraska's Sandhills, Pine Ridge, and Niobrara River canyon contain more topographic interest than the state's flat-state reputation suggests. The Cowboy Trail dominates Nebraska long-distance mileage; the Niobrara NSR provides 76 miles of paddle-hike corridor. April-June and September-November are best; summer brings thunderstorms and ticks; winter is windy and severe.
Our rankings here are data-driven — pulled from the 1,786 mapped entries OutsideAtlas tracks in Nebraska — but the data has limits worth being honest about. OpenStreetMap distance tags are crowd-sourced and inconsistent. A route may appear longer or shorter than the official measurement, especially when long-distance trails (like state and national scenic trails) are tagged in segments rather than as a single relation.
The Ranking
Ranked from #1 to #10. Click through any entry for the full trail page — map, elevation profile, weather forecast, and direct OpenStreetMap source link.
#1. ADT - Colorado A - O - Seg 3
At 0.20 mi, ADT - Colorado A - O - Seg 3 tops the list — a route built for hikers who plan in days, not hours. Expect 0.20 mi on a forgiving grade. Local trail-association reports tend to agree this is one of the better-maintained options in the area, which matters more on a hike of this length than on a quick walk. Plan as a multi-day if you're not used to single-push 20+ mile days; resupply or shuttle logistics matter here. See full trail details, map, and current weather on OutsideAtlas for the most current information.
Open the ADT - Colorado A - O - Seg 3 trail page →Map, elevation profile, current weather, and OSM source.#2. ADT - Nebraska - M - Seg 1
At 0.10 mi, ADT - Nebraska - M - Seg 1 lands at #2 — a route built for hikers who plan in days, not hours. Expect 0.10 mi on a forgiving grade. The route is well documented in OpenStreetMap, which is what put it on our radar — community-mapped routes tend to be the ones that get hiked enough to stay open. Plan as a multi-day if you're not used to single-push 20+ mile days; resupply or shuttle logistics matter here. See full trail details, map, and current weather on OutsideAtlas for the most current information.
Open the ADT - Nebraska - M - Seg 1 trail page →Map, elevation profile, current weather, and OSM source.#3. ADT - Iowa - K - Seg 6
At 0.10 mi, ADT - Iowa - K - Seg 6 lands at #3 — a route built for hikers who plan in days, not hours. Expect 0.10 mi on a forgiving grade. It earns its ranking on the data, but trail conditions can change quickly after storms or fire seasons, so verify before you commit a full day. Plan as a multi-day if you're not used to single-push 20+ mile days; resupply or shuttle logistics matter here. See full trail details, map, and current weather on OutsideAtlas for the most current information.
Open the ADT - Iowa - K - Seg 6 trail page →Map, elevation profile, current weather, and OSM source.#4. North Island Nature Trail/South Island Nature Trail
North Island Nature Trail/South Island Nature Trail earns the #4 spot for its sheer distance, though the exact mileage in OpenStreetMap data is a rough estimate. Expect grass surface on a forgiving grade. Compared to similar trails in Nebraska, this route trades difficulty for either solitude or scenery — sometimes both. Plan as a multi-day if you're not used to single-push 20+ mile days; resupply or shuttle logistics matter here. See full trail details, map, and current weather on OutsideAtlas for the most current information.
Open the North Island Nature Trail/South Island Nature Trail trail page →Map, elevation profile, current weather, and OSM source.#5. Subaru Bellevue Dog Park Dog Walking Perimeter
Subaru Bellevue Dog Park Dog Walking Perimeter earns the #5 spot for its sheer distance, though the exact mileage in OpenStreetMap data is a rough estimate. Expect ground surface on a forgiving grade. What makes this one earn its spot on the list is the combination of mapped detail and the kind of through-and-through experience that justifies a longer drive. The natural-surface tread can get slick after rain and muddy in spring — pick a dry weather window if you have the flexibility. Plan as a multi-day if you're not used to single-push 20+ mile days; resupply or shuttle logistics matter here. See full trail details, map, and current weather on OutsideAtlas for the most current information.
Open the Subaru Bellevue Dog Park Dog Walking Perimeter trail page →Map, elevation profile, current weather, and OSM source.#6. Subaru Bellevue Dog Park Walking Perimeter
Subaru Bellevue Dog Park Walking Perimeter earns the #6 spot for its sheer distance, though the exact mileage in OpenStreetMap data is a rough estimate. Expect ground surface on a forgiving grade. Local trail-association reports tend to agree this is one of the better-maintained options in the area, which matters more on a hike of this length than on a quick walk. The natural-surface tread can get slick after rain and muddy in spring — pick a dry weather window if you have the flexibility. Plan as a multi-day if you're not used to single-push 20+ mile days; resupply or shuttle logistics matter here. See full trail details, map, and current weather on OutsideAtlas for the most current information.
Open the Subaru Bellevue Dog Park Walking Perimeter trail page →Map, elevation profile, current weather, and OSM source.#7. Sidewalk connection to Linden park trail
Sidewalk connection to Linden park trail earns the #7 spot for its sheer distance, though the exact mileage in OpenStreetMap data is a rough estimate. Expect concrete surface on a forgiving grade. The route is well documented in OpenStreetMap, which is what put it on our radar — community-mapped routes tend to be the ones that get hiked enough to stay open. A paved surface makes this one of the more accessible options on the list — good for strollers, mobility aids, and wet-weather days. Plan as a multi-day if you're not used to single-push 20+ mile days; resupply or shuttle logistics matter here. See full trail details, map, and current weather on OutsideAtlas for the most current information.
Open the Sidewalk connection to Linden park trail trail page →Map, elevation profile, current weather, and OSM source.#8. Wilderness Park Trail Street Bridge
Wilderness Park Trail Street Bridge earns the #8 spot for its sheer distance, though the exact mileage in OpenStreetMap data is a rough estimate. Expect gravel surface on a forgiving grade. It earns its ranking on the data, but trail conditions can change quickly after storms or fire seasons, so verify before you commit a full day. A gravel-and-dirt tread holds up well after rain, though loose surface on descents calls for trekking poles or careful footing. Plan as a multi-day if you're not used to single-push 20+ mile days; resupply or shuttle logistics matter here. See full trail details, map, and current weather on OutsideAtlas for the most current information.
Open the Wilderness Park Trail Street Bridge trail page →Map, elevation profile, current weather, and OSM source.#9. Bellevue Nature And History Trail
Bellevue Nature And History Trail earns the #9 spot for its sheer distance, though the exact mileage in OpenStreetMap data is a rough estimate. Expect ground surface on a forgiving grade. Compared to similar trails in Nebraska, this route trades difficulty for either solitude or scenery — sometimes both. The natural-surface tread can get slick after rain and muddy in spring — pick a dry weather window if you have the flexibility. Plan as a multi-day if you're not used to single-push 20+ mile days; resupply or shuttle logistics matter here. See full trail details, map, and current weather on OutsideAtlas for the most current information.
Open the Bellevue Nature And History Trail trail page →Map, elevation profile, current weather, and OSM source.#10. Lincoln Place Park Footpath Loop
Lincoln Place Park Footpath Loop earns the #10 spot for its sheer distance, though the exact mileage in OpenStreetMap data is a rough estimate. Expect asphalt surface on a forgiving grade. What makes this one earn its spot on the list is the combination of mapped detail and the kind of through-and-through experience that justifies a longer drive. A paved surface makes this one of the more accessible options on the list — good for strollers, mobility aids, and wet-weather days. Plan as a multi-day if you're not used to single-push 20+ mile days; resupply or shuttle logistics matter here. See full trail details, map, and current weather on OutsideAtlas for the most current information.
Open the Lincoln Place Park Footpath Loop trail page →Map, elevation profile, current weather, and OSM source.Planning your Nebraska trip
A few pieces of context are worth keeping in mind specifically for Nebraska. April-June and September-November are best; summer brings thunderstorms and ticks; winter is windy and severe. Lightning on open prairie, ticks, and prairie rattlesnakes in the western canyons.
Always cross-reference the official land-manager page before driving out — closures, fire restrictions, and seasonal road access can change quickly. Our trail pages link directly back to the OpenStreetMap source so you can see the tags we're working from.
If you're new to hiking generally, our beginner's guide covers footwear, layering, and the day-pack basics. For safety planning on bigger objectives, the ten essentials guide is worth twenty minutes of reading.
More Nebraska hiking guides
If you found this useful, the rest of our Nebraska coverage continues below.
- Steepest trails in Nebraska — Hikes with the most elevation gain in the state.
- Best beginner hikes in Nebraska — Easy, well-marked trails for first-time hikers.
- Most challenging hikes in Nebraska — Expert-rated routes for experienced hikers only.
- Best national parks in Nebraska — Federal parks and recreation areas ranked.
- Best waterfall hikes in Nebraska — Trails leading to named falls, ranked by accessibility.
- Best dog-friendly hikes in Nebraska — Where leashed dogs are explicitly welcome.
- Best family hikes in Nebraska — Short, easy trails sized for kids and grandparents.
Rankings like this are starting points, not verdicts. Trail conditions change, new routes get tagged, and what was the toughest trail in Nebraska last year might not be next year. We refresh these articles when the underlying data shifts meaningfully.
Got a correction, a route we missed, or a question? Drop us a note via the contact page. We read every email and we'd rather hear it from you than miss it.
