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Oak Creek Trail

Oak Creek Trail: Valparaiso to Brainard Through the Bohemian Alps

The Oak Creek Trail is a rail trail of about 12 miles between Valparaiso and Brainard, by way of Loma, through the rolling hills known as the Bohemian Alps. It follows a former Union Pacific branch line along the Bates Branch of Oak Creek, then climbs to a ridge line for the run into Brainard. The Lower Platte South Natural Resources District owns and maintains it, and it has been a National Recreation Trail since 2007.

Trail status: As of early October 2026, the Lower Platte South NRD says all NRD-owned trails, wetlands and wildlife areas are closed until further notice. Check lpsnrd.org or call the NRD before you go. The trail also closes each year during the November firearm deer season.

Trail at a Glance

  • Length: About 12 miles of trail in a 13-mile railroad corridor (guides give 12 to 13.2).
  • Surface: Crushed limestone, with a separate natural-surface horse trail alongside the whole route.
  • Uses: Biking, walking, running, horseback riding, cross-country skiing and wildlife watching. Leashed dogs are welcome.
  • Owned by: Lower Platte South Natural Resources District, Lincoln.
  • Counties: Saunders County at Valparaiso; Butler County for Loma and Brainard.
  • Also part of: the American Discovery Trail, and the planned route of the Great American Rail-Trail.

Trailheads, South to North

  • Valparaiso — Nebraska Highway 79 and W. 3rd St. Parking, including room for horse trailers, a restroom and water.
  • Loma (about the midpoint) — parking off County Road W in the center of town, with a restroom near St. Luke's shrine.
  • Brainard — County Road 30 and S. Lincoln St., with a small trailhead park, covered picnic shelter and water.

What You'll See

Native prairie, oak woodland and farm country, with a line of bluebird houses along much of the way. Near Valparaiso the trail crosses North Oak Creek on a 147-foot steel truss bridge built in 1908; other creek crossings are on wooden bridges. At Loma, the trail passes St. Luke Czech Shrine, the hilltop church of the Czech community that settled these hills; the Bohemian Alps take their name from those settlers. Geocachers know the route for its "Oak Creek Challenge Trail" of more than 100 caches.

History of the Railroad

The Omaha & Republican Valley Railroad built the line northwest from Valparaiso through the Bohemian Alps in the late 1870s, on its way to Stromsburg, and it became part of the Union Pacific in 1898. Union Pacific ran it as a branch until 1993, when the rails were pulled and the corridor was rail-banked. The Lower Platte South NRD opened the trail in 1996, and it was named a National Recreation Trail on May 31, 2007. Loma had a brief moment of fame in 1995 as a filming location for the movie To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar.

Nearby Places

Related Trails and Corridors