Working Out Cheap in Nebraska: A $36 State Park Permit, the Cowboy Trail, and 300-Plus Miles of City Trails in Omaha and Lincoln

You don’t need a gym membership to stay active in Nebraska. Omaha has more than 125 miles of paved city trails [7] and Lincoln about 185 miles [5][6], both free to use. A Nebraska-plated car gets into every state park for $36 a year [1]. And the Cowboy Trail, a rail-trail of about 200 miles, crosses the north of the state [4]. Here’s what each costs and how to use it.

Nebraska state parks: one sticker for the year

A park entry permit gets your vehicle into Nebraska’s state parks for the calendar year [2]. The 2026 prices [1]:

The sticker goes on your vehicle. You can buy it at the park, at Game and Parks offices and permit vendors, or online before you go [2]. A duplicate sticker for a second vehicle in your household is about half price [1][2].

Veterans and military

• Disabled veterans: Nebraska residents rated 50% or more service-connected disabled, or 100% non-service-connected disabled and receiving a VA pension, can get one Disabled Veteran’s Lifetime Annual Park Entry Permit at no fee. Applications are certified through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs office in Lincoln [3].
• Active-duty military: personnel stationed at a base in Nebraska, including National Guard members on active duty status, can buy an annual vehicle park permit for $5, in person with valid documents [2][3].

The Cowboy Trail

The Cowboy Recreation and Nature Trail follows the old Chicago & North Western rail line across northern Nebraska, from Norfolk to Valentine, about 200 miles [4]. The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission owns and runs it [4]. The surface is mostly crushed limestone, with short paved stretches through towns, and towns sit about 10 to 15 miles apart along the way [4].

The best-known stop is the old railroad bridge over the Niobrara River near Valentine, about a quarter mile long and 148 feet above the water [4].

You don’t have to ride the whole thing. Start in Norfolk, O’Neill, Long Pine or Valentine, walk or bike out for 30 minutes, and turn around [4].

Omaha: more than 125 miles of paved trails

The City of Omaha counts over 125 miles of paved trails, many of them connecting to trails beyond the city, and most are concrete [7]. The city publishes a metro trail map, “Paths of Discovery,” online and in print at community centers, libraries and bike shops [7].

Check the city’s trail status list before you head out. As of November 2026, the city lists the Keystone Trail closed from Q Street to Harrison Street since October 10, 2026, after flash-flood debris made the railroad bridges unsafe, with a posted detour [7]. The Field Club Trail is closed from Pacific Street to Martha Street from November 10 through December 4, 2026, for emergency repairs [7]. Many others, including the Big Papio Trail (South), the Bob Kerrey Pedestrian Bridge and the Boulevard Trail, were listed as open [7].

Lincoln: 185 miles of trails and six recreation centers

Lincoln Parks and Recreation manages 168 parks, 185.9 miles of trails, nine public pools and six recreation centers [5]. The trail system includes more than 144 miles of hard-surface and crushed rock trails, almost 27 miles of paved park trails, and 39 unpaved miles in Wilderness Park in southwest Lincoln [6]. Named trails include the MoPac, Rock Island, Billy Wolff, Murdock and Salt Creek Levee trails [6].

In Wilderness Park, the Yellow Trail is for hikers and bikers only, while the Red and Green trails are open to hikers, bikers and horseback riders [6].

The city also runs wellness and fitness classes for all ages and a series of free events [5]. Fees for recreation center fitness rooms change by season, so check the current program guide or call the center before you go.

Working out in a Nebraska winter

Cold, not heat, is the bigger risk for much of the year here. The CDC’s advice for being outside in extreme cold [9]:

• If you go out, cover your face, head and hands, and wear a waterproof coat and boots.
• Dress in loose layers.
• Stay dry. Wet clothing from sweat, rain or snow can chill you even above 40°F.
• Shaking, extreme tiredness, confused thinking and slurred speech are warning signs of hypothermia, which is a medical emergency.

On the coldest days, an indoor recreation center or a walk inside a mall is the safer choice.

How much to aim for

The federal Physical Activity Guidelines call for adults to get 150 to 300 minutes of moderate-intensity activity a week, such as brisk walking, plus muscle-strengthening activity on at least 2 days [8]. Three 40-minute walks on a city trail, a weekend bike ride and two short strength sessions at home would cover it.

Gear that helps

You don’t need equipment for any of the workouts above. If you want a little help, these are inexpensive and widely used. We chose them from the makers’ listings; we haven’t tested them ourselves.