The Place In Nebraska That Makes You Feel Like You’ve Stepped Through A Magical Wardrobe

Those of us who love Nebraska know that our state has much more to offer than its reputation as a flat, boring, "fly-over" state. There are some places that are just so beautiful you'd almost swear you were transported to a magical land.

Oak Creek Trail is a magnificent 13-mile stretch of improved limestone surface that runs between Valparaiso and Brainard, with Loma right in the middle. Maybe it's not exactly Narnia, but it is certainly one of the loveliest trails in the state.

In the thick of summer, when the air is so heavy that you'd swear you can actually see it all around you, walking or biking this trail almost feels like setting off on an important quest.

Even after the leaves have lost their glossy green color, the Oak Creek Trail maintains a sort of mystical beauty.

The splendid trees and wildflowers that grow along the trail's length may as well be straight out of Narnia's Garden of Youth.

Most of the trail is far away from roads, towns, and all other humans. It's a very rural trail, so as you're wandering down the beautiful path you'll have all the time in the world to fantasize about being in a magical land.

Every once in a while you'll come across an unexpected point of interest, like this gorgeous old bridge...

...Or the steeple of St. Luke's Catholic Shrine peeking above the foliage in Loma. The beloved Loma Tavern is no longer open, but you can walk through this tiny village and feel like an adventurer discovering a different civilization.

We may not have the high mountains, vast valleys, and thick forests of Narnia, but this peaceful trail is enough to convince just about anyone that magic does exist in the form of exceptionally beautiful natural places.

Have you ever traveled the Oak Creek Trail? Did you find the area's magical beauty along the way? Tell us about it in the comments!

For another of our favorite trails in Nebraska, take a look at this article from the archives.