Gifford Trail Loop (Neale Woods) Hiking Guide
Neale Woods is Fontenelle Forest's quieter northern property, 560 acres beside the Missouri River in north Omaha. The Gifford Trail is its signature loop, a mile of rolling ground through prairie reconstructions and woodland. Fontenelle says the trails here are generally more rugged than at its Bellevue property, and also more remote.
Permit: Neale Woods Nature Reserve is run by Fontenelle Forest and charges its own, lower daily admission: $7 per adult, $6 for 62 and over, $5 for ages 2-17, free under 2 and for members, plus sales tax. Pay online at FontenelleForest.org/NW, by phone (402-731-3140) or in cash at the Iron Ranger. A Fontenelle membership covers both properties.
The Gifford Loop
Fontenelle's October 2026 Neale Woods map lists Gifford at 1.03 miles with 200 feet of gain and 201 feet of loss, and describes it as a loop of varying terrain with moderate elevation changes. It passes through several of the reserve's prairie openings, which have been rebuilt with native plants and are in different stages of restoration, then ducks back into woods. The short Fox Trail, 0.42 miles with 116 feet of gain, branches off Gifford as a winding woodland loop if you want a bit more.
A Longer Circuit
Fontenelle suggests a longer loop that starts on Gifford, drops on Wagon to Raccoon Hollow and climbs back up Neale Trail. Using the map's trail table, that is about 2.8 miles: Gifford 1.03, Wagon 0.34, Raccoon Hollow 0.52 and Neale 0.91. Neale Trail is one of the steeper pieces, with moderate to steep changes as it drops toward the road, and near the old observatory you can see I-29. Settlers and Columbine add more moderate-to-steep woodland miles.
Admission and Hours
Neale Woods is at 14323 Edith Marie Avenue in Omaha, with a small free lot that fills first come, first served. A day pass is $7 for adults plus tax, paid online, by phone or in the Iron Ranger, since there is no staffed desk here. Hiking hours run from sunrise until sunset, and the parking area shuts at dark.
History of the Reserve
Edith Marie Neale, a local historian, donated the first tract to what was then the Fontenelle Nature Association in 1971. Her parents, David and Alice Neale, homesteaded the land beginning in 1856. In 1976 the artist and writer Carl Jonas gave his nearby property, and his house served as the Neale Woods Nature Center until it was removed in 2022; that ground is being restored to native prairie, and Jonas's memorial stands near the entrance.
Dogs, Fire and the December Hunt
Dogs and other pets are not allowed, only ADA service animals. Neale Woods holds most of Fontenelle's prairie reconstructions, so it sees regular prescribed fire, and the Forest closes affected trails on burn days and sometimes for days afterward. In December, when Fontenelle closes its Bellevue trails for the managed deer hunt, Neale Woods has stayed open, which makes it the place to hike that week.
Hiking tips for Gifford Trail Loop (Neale Woods)
- Add the Fox Trail loop for an extra 0.42 miles of woods without leaving the Gifford area.
- Try the Gifford-Wagon-Raccoon Hollow-Neale circuit for about 2.8 miles and more climbing.
- Bring cash for the Iron Ranger or buy your $7 pass online before you arrive.
- Come in December when Fontenelle's Bellevue trails close for the deer hunt.
- Check Fontenelle's alerts for prescribed-burn closures, which hit the prairie trails here most.
Nearby trails to explore
- Riverview Boardwalk (Fontenelle Forest)
- Oak Trail (Fontenelle Forest)
- Wehrspann Lake Trail (Chalco Hills)
Hike this trail with TrailMates
Neale Woods rewards a group that wants a quiet hour on the north Omaha bluffs. Post a Gifford loop on TrailMates, use the event's group chat to pick the time and decide whether to add the Neale Trail circuit, and meet at the Edith Marie Avenue lot. Download TrailMates on the App Store or Google Play.