Community Spotlight
Take a hike...View an exhibit…See an animal
Not many communities can lay claim to the fact that a bona fide forest sits in its
backyard – but Bellevue can. High on the banks of the Missouri River at Bellevue’s
eastern edge is the 1,300-acre Fontenelle Forest and on its campus, a new nature
center. The forest is easily one of the most scenic locations in the Midwest. Towering
oaks and maples provide a canopy of shade for hikers along the forest’s trails that
wind up and over Loess Hills as well as through marshland and wetlands. An abundance
of deer and other wildlife skirt in the and around the paths as if to drop in, if
only for a moment, to say “hello.”
The Katherine and Fred Forest Learning Center is the first structure to greet visitors
as they enter the forest. Opened in 2000, the center is a hub of educational offerings
and exhibits year round.
About two miles from the forest’s visitor’s center is the Gilbert and Martha Hitchcock
Wetlands Learning Center. The center provides two classrooms and visitor services
and is adjacent to the Gifford Memorial Boardwalk which leads 3/8 miles to a two
story observation tower on the edge of the Great Marsh.
Fontenelle Forest has a long and fascinating history. Archeological finds reveal
that delivers Native American Cultures once flourished at the site. While the forest’s
past is intriguing, the future for this land holds even more promise. The Fontenelle
Forest Nature Association and community Fontenelle Forest calls home is dedicated
to preserving this wondrous habitat for many generations. The forest’s nature center
includes a Forest Discovery Room and gift shop.
Fontenelle Forest is open daily except for Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s
Day. Located at 1111 North Bellevue Blvd. call 402.731.3140 for more information
or visit www.fontenelleforest.org