Heron Haven Nature Center

It was my first visit and I’d just seen the boardwalk while driving by. It was beautiful and the perfect place to walk or sit at one of the many sitting spots and enjoy being in nature. Since it’s winter/fall at the time I’m writing this, I would recommend coming in the spring or start of summer to see the plants in full bloom and more wildlife :)

Such a beautiful serene place you would never know existed right in the middle of the chaos of Omaha. I have been coming here for quite awhile now & when I'm overwhelmed with the stress that is Omaha - I make a stop here and it's like you are transported to a completely different place.
Trails are very easy & would say anyone could walk them - young or old. The pond/lake is beautiful - filled with various water fowl year round. There is a blind that overlooks the water & also a boardwalk that takes you out onto the water. Both are worth the time to visit.
In the warmer months you can expect to enjoy watching frogs and turtles explore the area.
Plenty of bird activity to enjoy & surprisingly the sounds of the busy city just melt away and are drowned out by the beautiful sounds of nature.
Truly a gem of a place tucked away & those who take the time to stop and enjoy will be rewarded with an unexplainable peace.

A hidden away spot in busy surroundings. Ponds, herons, perching birds, butterflies & mosquitos abound in summertime. A beautiful planted garden also awaits you with loads of flowers. Be sure to bring a camera or a great cellphone with you so you can capture the moment!

This was the longest these kiddos have been quiet in days! Not even a noise as they tip toed, yes you read that right, tip toed through to try to not scare any animals! It is an excellent learning place as well as a great place to just stretch your legs! We had a great time here and hope to be back!

Great little spot to watch wildlife. You may want to bring binoculars if you want a closer look. It was a little smaller than I thought it might be, but very well kept and pleasant.

This place is such a hidden gem! I've driven by this place for years and never knew it was there. I can't wait to visit in the spring! There is a butterfly garden that looks like it's beautiful then. Nice trails to walk, a hide for taking pictures of the animals on the water. I went into the building and talk with Sam. He showed me the little museum of artifacts they have there. Everything from bird nests and eggs to dragonflies and a deer pelt. Sam was super friendly and told me about the history of Heron Haven. I wasn't expecting a private tour or as much detail as I got but really enjoyed every second of it. You can tell the volunteers really love the area and are passionate about sharing it with others. Please visit and donate to their cause!

This hidden gem in NW Omaha is a great spot for bird watching and also has educational butterfly and caterpillar gardens. A helpful volunteer at the boardwalk told us about the history of the center and we watched several geese take off and land at the larger lake. The trails are mulched and the parking lot is gravel.

Beautiful trails and viewing areas! I saw a ton of creatures in their natural habitat. There were fish jumping, frogs blending in, birds chirping, herons, geese, and I saw a mink swimming too! They had free seeds to take and plant, including a start to a chokecherry. They have a photo contest for those interested!

Went here with my son's preschool. I really like the layout. They have packed a lot of neat little trails and ponds in to a pretty small area. We ended up seeing a few herons. There were also a lot of frogs and geese. The nature center had interesting displays for the kids to check out also.

Don’t blink or you will drive right past this delightful slice of nature just off Maple Street at 114th in Omaha, Nebraska. Well kept trails guide you to various bird blinds, including one with steps to help elevate children over the greenery.

The butterfly and caterpillar gardens bring even more wildlife to this oasis.

I hiked all of the trails. It only took about a mile total for three trails. Bring the kids. They will love shorter walks and eye-catching nature at their level.

Beautiful little park hidden off of Maple Street! Cute, scenic trails and lots of fauna and water for native species to rest in the city. Definitely the perfect stroll to get away without getting away and to learn!

Lovely place for an afternoon stroll of various wild life. Numerous trails to chose from. Available classes for youth, beautifully laid out and mapped out. Very easy to find and location. Easy and convenient parking. Perfect destination within the outer line of city limits. Highly recommend to any and all hiking, park hobbyist, a family days trip, and or a perfect place for an afternoon picnic date! Check it out

Beautiful place for a nature walk in the city. Literally in the middle of a neighborhood and you'd never know. Spent about an hour moseying the trail and boardwalk. We saw frogs, ducks, geese, fish and beautiful flowers Arby's plants in the butterfly garden.

We LOVE "escaping" to Heron Haven. Muted sounds of Maple - but it's quiet and peaceful. If you hold still long enough you might even see groundhogs or beavers!

Wonderful place to see wildlife and flowers. Easy walking even for an old lady like me.

My favorite place, wish we had more spots like this in Omaha

Who would know that you could find a cool place like this in the middle of the city! If you like nature you will like this! Your kids are goi g to live the trails. Lots of frogs, turtles, rabbits, ducks, geese, herons, and so many birds!!

This place is so awesome. Short and sweet trails but you can stay as long as you like. Gorgeous butterfly garden and BONUS: a separate caterpillar garden!! 🦋🐛 Plenty of little trails to explore and water to gaze at. Love the boardwalk and lookout.

Heron Haven is a great hike for toddlers. The short trails take you around to various lakes and photo blinds that allow you to see the birds and turtles from fairly close up. The board walk was a favorite for my littles as the ducks and geese came right up underneath us. There are numerous benches throughout to sit and enjoy the view or rest if needed. They also have QR codes throughout to scan and learn about nature as you go!!

Beautiful serene and would never know your right off 120th and Maple
A hidden gem