Walnut Creek Lake

Walnut Creek Lake Address:
I-80 Exit 439, E. 5 mi., S. 1 mi., W. 3/4 mile
Papillion Nebraska
Park Size: 450 Acres. Lake Size: 105 Acres

Walnut Creek Lake is part of the Papio Missouri River Natural Resources District, and is a worthwhile location for a walk, a bike ride, fishing, RV camping, or a picnic. You won’t find trash cans here. Bring it in, take it out! The main entrance to this recreation area has a playground for kids, both the main entrance and the boat launch entrance have bathrooms. No, they are not flush toilets, but they are better than nothing.


Confused by the address? From Omaha head South on 84th Street till you get to Highway 370. Turn right. Keep going till you see the sign for Walnut Creek Lake (it’s on the left side of the highway). If you take a left here and drive past the main entrance to Walnut Creek Lake, don’t worry, you can go a bit further until you reach Schramm Road, turn right, and you’ll get to the boat launching entrance to Walnut Creek Lake.

Walnut Creek Lake Trail is three miles long, about ten feet wide, concrete surface, and nice and smooth! Signs advise hikers that is about a one hour walk.  The trail has a few steeper slopes in some areas.

Along the trail we did see a good sized snake (don’t they always look big?). We did not see it till next to it, and it let out a warning rattle as we passed by. Research tells us there are 29 species of snakes in Nebraska, including four venomous snakes: timber rattlesnake, prairie rattlesnake, copperhead and Massasauga.

If you are patient enough (and lucky enough) you may get a few pictures of airborne waterfowl at this Nebraska lake. If not, you can just sit back on one of the many benches along the trail and enjoy the outdoors.