Spring Creek Prairie Audubon Center protects 1,160 acres of tallgrass prairie southwest of Lincoln, one of the largest intact tallgrass prairies in Nebraska. Wagon ruts from the Nebraska City–Fort Kearny Cutoff, the freight and emigrant road that from 1860 offered the shortest way from the Missouri River to Fort Kearny, cross the property and are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. About 4 miles of trails wind through prairie, woodland, wetland and creek habitat.
Visiting: trails are open sunrise to sunset all year; general admission is free. The visitor center, with exhibits, a nature store and binoculars to borrow, is open weekdays 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and weekends 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. (March–October) or 12:30 to 4:30 p.m. (November–February). Pets and bikes are allowed only on the one-third-mile Prairie Corridor trail. Group tours are $10 per person. See also the California Trail and Oregon Trail.
Contact: 402-797-2301.