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Portal Recreation Area

4.3 ★★★★☆ 19 Google reviews · Running trail in La Vista, Nebraska · Posted hours

Runner's snapshot

Surface
Not reported
Distance
Not reported
Shape
Not reported
Shade
Not reported
Access
Posted hours

Confirmed from Portal Recreation Area's own listing, the park or land manager's website, and runner reviews. Blank cells mean we could not verify that fact — we would rather say "not reported" than invent one. There is no Easy / Moderate / Hard rating on this page on purpose: a one-word difficulty score tells you nothing about whether a trail suits your run. Surface, distance, shade and hours do.

Trailhead parking

What runners say about Portal Recreation Area

Pulled from public reviews of this trail (19 of them) — the things people bring up again and again, in their own words. Nothing here is written by us.

Brand new area. Love that they put in hiking trail. Unfortunately it was SO hot and there are no trees around the park yet. The water was not yet high enough to fish from anywhere other than the new wood deck. Boat access here. Wildlife is already calling this place home.

★★★★☆ — Alicia , Jun 2022

A little over 1.5 mile paved trail with an easy, slight incline in some areas. Good for walking, running, biking. Some sitting benches placed along the trail. Not much water in the lake area yet but still a pretty area. Ample parking, covered picnic area, and restrooms on site.

★★★★☆ — Carrie , Apr 2023

A very nice park. Clearly designed with fishing in mind. There is a U-shaped trail that makes a loop by walking the sidewalk along Cornhusker road. The trail goes for about 2.5 miles. There are some industry within sight, but it still has a semi-rural feel to the area.

★★★★☆ — Jeffrey , Oct 2021

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 19 reviews →

Trail conditions & character

What this trail is actually like underfoot and overhead, taken from its own listing and from reviews. Each one links to every other trail with the same character. Busy or quiet is reported as a plain fact, not a plus or a minus — a runner heading out alone at dawn often wants company on the path, and someone running intervals wants an empty one.

🅿️ Trailhead parking 3 mentions

“Ample parking, covered picnic area, and restrooms on site.”

More trails like this →

Plan your run at Portal Recreation Area

The practical stuff

  • AccessPosted hours — posted hours below; park gates sometimes close earlier than the listing says
  • DistanceNot reported. Trail systems often quote total path mileage rather than a single loop, so measure the route you actually want before you drive out.
  • ShadeNot reported. Assume some of it is exposed and carry water in summer.
  • At the trailheadparking — reported by runners

Hours

Monday 6 AM–10 PM
Tuesday 6 AM–10 PM
Wednesday 6 AM–10 PM
Thursday 6 AM–10 PM
Friday 6 AM–10 PM
Saturday 6 AM–10 PM
Sunday 6 AM–10 PM

Posted hours for the park or trailhead. Gates and parking lots often close earlier than the trail itself, and seasonal hours change — worth a check before a pre-dawn or after-dark run.

Where to find Portal Recreation Area

12033 Valley Ridge Dr, La Vista, NE 68138

Get directions

Running trails near La Vista

Other trails within easy driving distance — useful when this one is flooded, gated, or just not the run you had in mind today.

Prairie Queen Recreation Area

4.6 ★★★★★ 336 reviews

La Vista, NE

4 miScenic

Lake with a fishing dock and a ramp.

under a mile away

Prairie Queen Recreation Area (Southeast Entrance)

4.6 ★★★★★ 163 reviews

Papillion, NE

LoopShadedScenic

Park with a picnic area, walking trail, and opportunities for fishing and bird watching.

under a mile away

Big Elk Lake

4.6 ★★★★★ 28 reviews

Papillion, NE

MixedScenic

1.1 miles away

West Papio Trail

4.7 ★★★★★ 3 reviews

La Vista, NE

1.2 miles away

West Papio Trail Giles Avenue Trailhead

4.8 ★★★★★ 45 reviews

La Vista, NE

Paved

Area featuring a wide, smooth trail for hiking, biking, and skateboarding.

1.2 miles away

Val Verde Park

4.8 ★★★★★ 17 reviews

La Vista, NE

1.8 miles away

All running trails in La Vista, NE →

Nearby towns

Listing verified July 2026 from public records, the trail's own website and runner reviews. Trail conditions change — paths flood, gates close at dusk, and shaded woods stay muddy for days after rain. Something out of date? Report a correction. Manage this trail? Send us the details — it is free.