Helen Boosalis Trail

Nebraska

3 Reviews

The Helen Boosalis Trail runs for nearly 4 miles across the city from the Indian Village neighborhood to the Edgewood Shopping Center. The urban pathway connects several residential neighborhoods and retail properties on a separated trail along busy State Route 2.

Travelers will enjoy scenic views as the trail passes through 40th and Highway 2 Park near the trail's midpoint. Connections to the Rock Island Trail and Old Cheney Road Trail allow for a longer bike, run, walk or skate.

The trail is named after Helen Boosalis, who, upon becoming mayor of Lincoln in 1975, was the first female mayor of a city with a population of more than 100,000. She was no stranger to politics at the time, having served as president of the League of Women Voters and as a city council member for 16 years. She broke barriers again in 1986 as the Democratic matchup against Republican Kay Orr for the Nebraska governorship—the first time in U.S. history when the two major party candidates for governor were women. Though she lost the race, she continued in leadership roles at a diverse range of state and national organizations for the rest of her career.

Parking and Trail Access

Parking for the Helen Boosalis Trail is available at the Alamo Shopping Center at the intersection of S. 56th Street and State Route 2 (Nebraska Highway), as well as at 40th and Highway 2 Park near the trail's midpoint.

Close contender for my second favorite trail

January 2025 rivet_compass9b

For starters, this trail is literally right next to my house. It’s definitely my most used and easily accessible trail. But more than that, it’s also fun to ride. It starts as a branch off from the Old Cheney Trail and heads west (as well as slightly north). It’s very relaxing and nature-scenic despite being next to Nebraska Parkway (formerly Highway 2). As another reviewer noted, it sits slightly lower, so you don’t feel that you’re next to 50 mph traffic and you don’t hear all that noise right in your face. It’s also the best way to get to my favorite, the Rock Island Trail. And if you continue past Rock Island, it continues west right up to basically 14th St., which provides the only western bike route to connect you to the Bison Trail that leads to Pioneer’s Park.

my most used trail

July 2020 grimmchaz79

I like the accessibility of this trail. The wide path, and easy inclines make for a nice trek to start my longer rides on.

Good Commuter Link

February 2011 crhilton

This trail provides a good commuter link. It's partially separated, so some intersections have underpasses and others do not. Those with underpasses provide a street crossing: Which makes it connective and means you have a good way around when the underpass floods.

The section west of highway 2 was repaved in 2008 or 2009, and is now a nice smooth ride. Only the last few hundred feet near the department of roads is in poor shape.

This trail is often a good alternative to the old cheney trail, even though it takes you out of the way.

You are right next to highway 2, but there's a pretty good distance to the trail and the trail sits below the highway at most points. So the traffic noise is fairly low, and the only crossings are major intersections.