OWC Walks

#2640 Sunday February 15, 2009 – Southeast Lake Manawa, Iowa There are no picnic shelters, so dress warmly. Park restrooms are locked in Winter. Take L Street east from Omaha across Soth Omaha Bridge to Iowa. This is also US Highway 275. At the intersection with the South Expressway (Iowa 192; you can also get to this point via I-80 from Omaha taking the second southboudn Exit 3 in Council Bluffs), turn right and follow the road (North Shore Drive, via Comanche and Navajo Streets) with Lake Manawa 10 or 15 yards to your right. Eventually the road leaves the shore behind. About 1/2 mile later, turn right into Lake Manawa State Park. About 0.6 or 0.7 miles into the park, locate a small parking lot on the left side of the road marked Nature Trail. We will meet at the parking lot at 2 pm.

#2623 Wednesday, July 2, 2008 – Swanson Park to Loveland Meet before 7 PM at the picnic table at Swanson Park visible to the south of the curve on Harney St. You can park on Harney St. just east of 88th St. We will walk about 3 miles with a couple of hills. [sunset 9pm].

#2624 Saturday August 2, 2008 – Preparation Canyon & Prairie Rose. Meet Saturday at 9am at Florence Library (30th & Bondesson) and for members wanting to carpool from Bellevue, 8:15am at Southroads, N.E. corner of the parking lot. Don't plan on returning to Bellevue (or Florence) before 4pm. Leader: Dave 291-7185
BIG Walk, 7-9 miles broken into 2 or 3 separate walks.

Come out on a day when it will stay light past 8:40pm and explore the scenic hills of Iowa from the Little Sioux to the West Nishnabotna River Valley. This will require nearly three hours driving to visit both hiking sites, about 180-190 miles on the road. But you will get the chance to walk two hours in Preparation Canyon State Park followed by picnic snacks, then an hour of walking at Prairie Rose State Park (Iowa does not charge for walking in their state parks). Hikes will be led by Dave G, who will provide a cooler of softdrinks, so reservations -- while not required -- are politely requested by Dave to have enough drinks. Preparation Canyon is one of the hilliest walks we do, but Prairie Rose is nearly flat with just a few gentle hills. Come prepared to walk and take pictures, but don't snooze in the cars. The rides between Little Sioux on I-29 and I-80 south of Harlan are some of the most scenic drives in all of Iowa. We need only two drivers from Florence as long as we get between 4 and 9 total walkers, including the drivers.

#2625 Wednesday August 13, 2008 – Wednesday Evening Walk Joslyn Castle. Meet at 6:00 PM in parking lot near entrance of Joslyn Castle, 3902 Davenport St. About a 2 mile walk on sidewalks ending at Joslyn Castle for an optional short tour inside. [Sunset 8:26pm]

#2626 Sunday September 7, 2008 – Somerset Park Meet at 2 pm at the parking lot of this brand-new park, on the west side of Wenninghoff Rd. Take 72nd St to Sorensen Parkway; go west past 78th St to Wenninghoff Rd; turn north (right) on Wenninghof, and just past the roundabout (traffic circle) is Somerset Park on the left. Park at the end closer to the playground. Short, flat walk.

#2627 Wednesday, September 10, 2008 – Platte River Footbridge Meet at 7pm at the parking lot just north of footbridge on State Road 31 about 1.1 miles east of Schramm SRA. 2-3 miles, flat View sunset (7:54pm) over the Platte River.

#2628 Sunday, September 14, 2008 – Schramm Park SRA Meet at 2 pm at the Park (on Hwy 31 a few miles southeast of I-80 from Nebraska Crossing; you can park at the Aquarium if you have no Parks Sticker). Three miles, some hills.

#2629 Sunday, September 21, 2008 – Louisville Lakes SRA Meet at 2 pm at Hobby Lobby parking lot, 13780 Millard Ave (north of Q St), to carpool (State Park stickers required). Flat, about 2-3 miles.

The September 28 walk has been pre-empted by the grand opening of the Missouri River Pedestrian Bridge. Please attend the Grand Opening at 1pm at Playland Park, Council Bluffs. Call the Walks Chairman or Carole and Wayne (phone numbers in the OWC Roster) for details.

#2630 Sunday, September 28, 2008 – Wabash Trace WALK CANCELLED (see above notice about Bob Kerry Pedestrian Bridge grand opening). Look for this annual walk in Fall 2009.

#2631 Sunday, October 5, 2008 – Mahoney State Park Meet at the Water Tower, in the parking lot for the Lodge-Restaurant at 2 pm. 3 to 4 mile walk along trails, some hills, options to scale the observation tower as well. The leaders have reserved a cabin, and will host a cookout afterwards.

#2632 Sunday, October 12, 2008 – Lake Zorinsky Meet at 2pm at northeast corner of 168th St and the Lake, at parking lot near picnic shelter. Walk about 4 miles, flat, optional route through forested areas. For the past ten years, most Lake Zorinsky walks emphasized the west half, but this will be a loop around the east half, with lake views nearly all the way.

#2633 Sunday, October 19, 2008 – Big Papio Trail Center St <-> Pacific St Meet at 2pm at parking lot on north side of Center St. near 92nd St (West Center Park). Flat; round trip about 3 miles.

#2634 Sunday, October 26, 2008 – South half of Lake Wehrspann Meet at 2 pm at parking lot south of the lake and north of NE hwy 370, and west of Phillips 66 gas station. Mostly level 2.5 mile “back loop” at the south half of Lake Wehrspann.

#2635 Sunday, November 2, 2008 – Pioneers Park, Lincoln Meet at 1:30 pm CST at Hobby Lobby parking lot, 13780 Millard Ave (north of Q St), to carpool; 3-5 miles, flat. You can also rendezvous with the hike leader at the bronze bison statue at the northeast corner of Pioneers Park just off S Coddington Ave at 2:30 pm. The walk does NOT start there; we will just pause there briefly at 2:30 to pick up any walkers meeting us there. REPEAT REMINDER, FIRST DAY OF STANDARD TIME

#2636 Sunday, November 9, 2008 – Cunningham Lake Meet at 2 pm at first parking lot inside the park property from the entrance on State St. about a quarter mile east of 96th St. The snacks will be closer to the second parking lot. About 3 miles; rolling hills.

#2637 Sunday, November 16, 2008 – (far NE Omaha) Meet at 2 pm at Florence Library (30th & Bondesson) for a walk to be decided later based on weather conditions. It may be at Neale Woods, Dodge Park, or near Ft. Calhoun,. Phone no earlier than the Friday before the walk for actual location, or better yet, just meet at Florence Library and find out there.

#2638 Sunday, November 23, 2008 – Standing Bear Lake Meet at 2 pm at the parking lot north of the lake and south of the peninsula with numerous picnic shelters; enter from 132nd St. less than ¼ mile south of Military Rd. About 4 miles, mostly flat with a few easy hills.

#2639 Sunday, November 30, 2008 – Old Market Coffee Shoppe Meet at 2 pm at the parking lot at 8th and Douglas, N of the Heartland of America Park. Flat, but walk length and direction will be determined by weather and trail conditions that date. Bring a few dollars for coffee at the new Scooters coffeeshop SE corner of 11th & Howard Sts.