MoPac Trail
Encyclopedia
The MoPac Trail is a rail trail
in Nebraska
. It is a bicycling, equestrian and walking trail built on an abandoned Missouri Pacific Railroad
corridor which runs for 26 miles (42 km) from Lincoln, Nebraska
to Wabash, Nebraska.
until 1984. The four-mile (6 km) portion of the MoPac Trail within the Lincoln city limits was purchased by the city in 1989. Two years later, an additional 22 miles (36 km) of former MP railway corridor was purchased by the Nebraska Trails Foundation and the Great Plains Trail Network; this portion of the trail is commonly referred to as the MoPac East Trail. The deed to this land was then transferred to the Lower Platte South Natural Resources District. The MoPac East section opened in 1994, and is part of the national American Discovery Trail
network.
There are planned western and eastern extensions of the MoPac Trail. To the west, an extension will be built to connect it with other trails in the vicinity of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln campus. To the east, the MoPac will be connected with a trail extending south and west of Omaha
. This planned extension will cross over the Platte River
near South Bend, Nebraska
. As of 2010, the portion from Springfield, NE on Nebraska Highway 50 is completed and extends southward towards to the Platte River. The bicycling and pedestrian bridge across the Platte River is complete, however the trail ends at on the West side of the river. Therefore, the current gap in the trail is from near Wabash, NE to near South Bend, NE.
The west trailhead of the MoPac East section is located two blocks south of 84th and O Street in Lincoln. The westernmost four miles (6 km) of the trail are paved; the remainder is crushed limestone.
Rail trail
A rail trail is the conversion of a disused railway easement into a multi-use path, typically for walking, cycling and sometimes horse riding. The characteristics of former tracks—flat, long, frequently running through historical areas—are appealing for various development. The term sometimes also...
in Nebraska
Nebraska
Nebraska is a state on the Great Plains of the Midwestern United States. The state's capital is Lincoln and its largest city is Omaha, on the Missouri River....
. It is a bicycling, equestrian and walking trail built on an abandoned Missouri Pacific Railroad
Missouri Pacific Railroad
The Missouri Pacific Railroad , also known as the MoPac, was one of the first railroads in the United States west of the Mississippi River. MoPac was a Class I railroad growing from dozens of predecessors and mergers, including the St. Louis, Iron Mountain and Southern Railway , Texas and Pacific...
corridor which runs for 26 miles (42 km) from Lincoln, Nebraska
Lincoln, Nebraska
The City of Lincoln is the capital and the second-most populous city of the US state of Nebraska. Lincoln is also the county seat of Lancaster County and the home of the University of Nebraska. Lincoln's 2010 Census population was 258,379....
to Wabash, Nebraska.
History
The corridor that is now the MoPac Trail was part of the Missouri Pacific Railroad's Omaha Belt LineOmaha Belt Line
The Omaha Belt Line was a long railroad that circumnavigated Omaha, Nebraska, starting in 1885. The organization behind the line, called the Omaha Belt Railway, was incorporated two years earlier, in 1883...
until 1984. The four-mile (6 km) portion of the MoPac Trail within the Lincoln city limits was purchased by the city in 1989. Two years later, an additional 22 miles (36 km) of former MP railway corridor was purchased by the Nebraska Trails Foundation and the Great Plains Trail Network; this portion of the trail is commonly referred to as the MoPac East Trail. The deed to this land was then transferred to the Lower Platte South Natural Resources District. The MoPac East section opened in 1994, and is part of the national American Discovery Trail
American Discovery Trail
The American Discovery Trail is a coast-to-coast hiking and biking trail across the mid-tier of the United States. It starts on the Delmarva Peninsula on the Atlantic Ocean and ends on the northern California coast on the Pacific Ocean, and is signed on over of trail. This includes the doubled...
network.
There are planned western and eastern extensions of the MoPac Trail. To the west, an extension will be built to connect it with other trails in the vicinity of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln campus. To the east, the MoPac will be connected with a trail extending south and west of Omaha
Omaha, Nebraska
Omaha is the largest city in the state of Nebraska, United States, and is the county seat of Douglas County. It is located in the Midwestern United States on the Missouri River, about 20 miles north of the mouth of the Platte River...
. This planned extension will cross over the Platte River
Platte River
The Platte River is a major river in the state of Nebraska and is about long. Measured to its farthest source via its tributary the North Platte River, it flows for over . The Platte River is a tributary of the Missouri River, which in turn is a tributary of the Mississippi River which flows to...
near South Bend, Nebraska
South Bend, Nebraska
South Bend is a village in Cass County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 86 at the 2000 census. As you approach the town on Nebraska Highway 66, a sign announces "South Bend Next 4 Exits"--a reference to the four streets that lead in from the highway. The main landmark is a pedestrian...
. As of 2010, the portion from Springfield, NE on Nebraska Highway 50 is completed and extends southward towards to the Platte River. The bicycling and pedestrian bridge across the Platte River is complete, however the trail ends at on the West side of the river. Therefore, the current gap in the trail is from near Wabash, NE to near South Bend, NE.
Trail guide
Communities along the MoPac Trail currently are (from west to east):- LincolnLincoln, NebraskaThe City of Lincoln is the capital and the second-most populous city of the US state of Nebraska. Lincoln is also the county seat of Lancaster County and the home of the University of Nebraska. Lincoln's 2010 Census population was 258,379....
- Walton
- EagleEagle, NebraskaEagle is a village in Cass County, Nebraska, in the United States. As of the 2000 census, the village population was 1,105.-Geography:Eagle is located at ....
- ElmwoodElmwood, NebraskaElmwood is a village in Cass County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 668 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Elmwood is located at ....
- Wabash
The west trailhead of the MoPac East section is located two blocks south of 84th and O Street in Lincoln. The westernmost four miles (6 km) of the trail are paved; the remainder is crushed limestone.