Best Local Trails

[FlippantCitizen]

I've been enjoying these two trail systems since moving back to KC earlier in the year. I'm out almost every day that has been suitable weather wise. The Johnson County trails can get very crowded on weekends so recently took the trail system the other way into Missouri. Quite the contrast. While the trails are decent, they are in a much greater state of disrepair and the area is much wilder - fewer homes and more expansive urban wilderness as the Blue River is approached. What struck me was the existence of homeless camps, associated trash and homeless folks along the trail immediately after crossing State Line into KCMO. Other than that, it was a fairly enjoyable trail system with a lot fewer users than the Kansas side.

On both sides of the state line, I've been surprised by the number of electric-assist bikes. I guess I'll never understand why that is a big thing on a trail system meant more for exercise than for transportation? The speed at which some of these riders passed pedestrians was a little scary.

I got on an E-bike for the first time ever this spring. I'm chomping at the bit to buy one of my own. I would say that recreation and exercise are overlapping concepts but not one in the same. E-bikes make long cruises accessible to people for whom the barrier to entry would be too high otherwise. I also get concerned when I see the speeds pedestrians are passed. Though I see this as an issue with strava-head mamils on standard bikes too. Last year I made a few rides down the Trolley Track Trail then jogged over to Lee Blvd then connected to the Indian Creek and Tomahawk Creek trails and took them directly to my parents house off 143rd street coming all the way from Midtown. It's almost a 20 mile ride one way and I am not a hard core roadie so at best this is just a challenge I lay out for myself a couple times a year. With an E-bike I wouldn't hesitate to do it on the regular.

[grovester]

I've been enjoying these two trail systems since moving back to KC earlier in the year. I'm out almost every day that has been suitable weather wise. The Johnson County trails can get very crowded on weekends so recently took the trail system the other way into Missouri. Quite the contrast. While the trails are decent, they are in a much greater state of disrepair and the area is much wilder - fewer homes and more expansive urban wilderness as the Blue River is approached. What struck me was the existence of homeless camps, associated trash and homeless folks along the trail immediately after crossing State Line into KCMO. Other than that, it was a fairly enjoyable trail system with a lot fewer users than the Kansas side.

On both sides of the state line, I've been surprised by the number of electric-assist bikes. I guess I'll never understand why that is a big thing on a trail system meant more for exercise than for transportation? The speed at which some of these riders passed pedestrians was a little scary.

I got on an E-bike for the first time ever this spring. I'm chomping at the bit to buy one of my own. I would say that recreation and exercise are overlapping concepts but not one in the same. E-bikes make long cruises accessible to people for whom the barrier to entry would be too high otherwise. I also get concerned when I see the speeds pedestrians are passed. Though I see this as an issue with strava-head mamils on standard bikes too. Last year I made a few rides down the Trolley Track Trail then jogged over to Lee Blvd then connected to the Indian Creek and Tomahawk Creek trails and took them directly to my parents house off 143rd street coming all the way from Midtown. It's almost a 20 mile ride one way and I am not a hard core roadie so at best this is just a challenge I lay out for myself a couple times a year. With an E-bike I wouldn't hesitate to do it on the regular.

I'll second this. Talked my wife into getting one since our bike riding had all but disappeared.

She only uses it to get up hills and turns it off on flat/downhill sections, so she still is getting quite a bit of exercise.

Now we're pondering NE Johnson County to West Bottoms/River Market.

Highlander-I'd also recommend Line Creek Trail and Heritage Park/Coffee Creek trail in Olathe, though you'd need to drive out to a trailhead.

[Highlander]

I've been enjoying these two trail systems since moving back to KC earlier in the year. I'm out almost every day that has been suitable weather wise. The Johnson County trails can get very crowded on weekends so recently took the trail system the other way into Missouri. Quite the contrast. While the trails are decent, they are in a much greater state of disrepair and the area is much wilder - fewer homes and more expansive urban wilderness as the Blue River is approached. What struck me was the existence of homeless camps, associated trash and homeless folks along the trail immediately after crossing State Line into KCMO. Other than that, it was a fairly enjoyable trail system with a lot fewer users than the Kansas side.

On both sides of the state line, I've been surprised by the number of electric-assist bikes. I guess I'll never understand why that is a big thing on a trail system meant more for exercise than for transportation? The speed at which some of these riders passed pedestrians was a little scary.

I got on an E-bike for the first time ever this spring. I'm chomping at the bit to buy one of my own. I would say that recreation and exercise are overlapping concepts but not one in the same. E-bikes make long cruises accessible to people for whom the barrier to entry would be too high otherwise. I also get concerned when I see the speeds pedestrians are passed. Though I see this as an issue with strava-head mamils on standard bikes too. Last year I made a few rides down the Trolley Track Trail then jogged over to Lee Blvd then connected to the Indian Creek and Tomahawk Creek trails and took them directly to my parents house off 143rd street coming all the way from Midtown. It's almost a 20 mile ride one way and I am not a hard core roadie so at best this is just a challenge I lay out for myself a couple times a year. With an E-bike I wouldn't hesitate to do it on the regular.

I'll second this. Talked my wife into getting one since our bike riding had all but disappeared.

She only uses it to get up hills and turns it off on flat/downhill sections, so she still is getting quite a bit of exercise.

Now we're pondering NE Johnson County to West Bottoms/River Market.

Highlander-I'd also recommend Line Creek Trail and Heritage Park/Coffee Creek trail in Olathe, though you'd need to drive out to a trailhead.

I will relent on the E-bikes. I can see the purpose for older or more casual riders (I guess if it gets people out exercising) and my wife probably could benefit as well as she struggles to keep up on her smaller bike and she does have a problem with steep terrain also (although there isn't a lot of this on most trail systems). But there are definitely some people that take advantage of the speed they can generate w/E-assist and don't really know the proper trail etiquette. I see this same issue of going too fast in congested areas with some road bikes on the trail system too.

I'd like to try Coffee Creek and Mill Creek trails as well. There's also Kill Creek to the west of Olathe (near DeSoto) that looks interesting. I live off State Line and have made it out as far as Black Bob on the Indian Creek Trail so I have a bit left to explore in that direction as well as south along the Blue River in Missouri towards Minor Park.

And also - I don't remember KC being so damn windy!

[FlippantCitizen]

I’m on my bike right now up at River Bluff Brewery. Damn wind is killing me. E-bike desire is out of control right now.

[Cratedigger]

Came across a plan to connect the Trolley Trail with the Blue River Trails. Does anyone know the status of this effort?

[Cratedigger]

Just heard that the MO Senate Appropriations Committee removed the $70 million in federal funding that could have been used to develop the 144-mile Rock Island corridor. Senators said the trail would encourage trespassing and violate landowners' property rights.

Bummer. Really hope this stays alive


https://www.newstribune.com/news/2022/m ... and-trail/

[TheLastGentleman]

Good ol Missouruh

[kboish]

unbelievable.

[Highlander]

Just heard that the MO Senate Appropriations Committee removed the $70 million in federal funding that could have been used to develop the 144-mile Rock Island corridor. Senators said the trail would encourage trespassing and violate landowners' property rights.

Bummer. Really hope this stays alive


https://www.newstribune.com/news/2022/m ... and-trail/

What a poor reason, especially in a state that does not have that much public land.

[Highlander]

I was out riding on the Kill Creek Streamway trail yesterday. It's exurban to rural but its definitely one of the best trails I've cycled since being back in KC. Wide paths, not very busy (we had it to ourselves yesterday) and pretty scenic. We had to put the bikes on the car rack to get there but it was a nice change to the busy Tomahawk and Indian Creek Trails in South Johnson County. Well worth the drive. Only problem is that it is a relatively short trail.

https://www.jocogov.org/contact-us/all- ... amway-park

[shinatoo]

It's not horrible:
US States Land Ownership by Percentage:
Rank State % that is Public Land % that is Private Land
1 AK 95.8% 4.2%
2 NV 87.8% 12.2%
3 UT 75.2% 24.8%
4 ID 70.4% 29.6%
5 OR 60.4% 39.6%
6 AZ 56.8% 43.2%
7 WY 55.9% 44.1%
8 CA 52.1% 47.9%
9 NM 47.4% 52.6%
10 CO 43.3% 56.7%
11 WA 41.9% 58.1%
12 MT 37.5% 62.5%
13 NY 37.1% 62.9%
14 FL 29.2% 70.8%
15 MI 28.1% 71.9%
16 MN 23.5% 76.5%
17 HI 19.0% 81.0%
18 NJ 18.3% 81.7%
19 NH 18.0% 82.0%
20 WI 17.8% 82.2%
21 AR 17.3% 82.7%
22 VA 17.1% 82.9%
23 WV 16.5% 83.5%
24 PA 16.1% 83.9%
25 VT 15.8% 84.2%
26 NC 14.6% 85.4%
27 TN 14.1% 85.9%
28 KY 11.8% 88.2%
29 SC 11.8% 88.2%
30 MO 11.2% 88.8%
31 MS 10.9% 89.1%
32 LA 10.7% 89.3%
33 GA 9.7% 90.3%
34 ND 9.1% 90.9%
35 SD 8.9% 91.1%
36 MD 7.6% 92.4%
37 DE 7.4% 92.6%
38 AL 7.1% 92.9%
39 MA 6.3% 93.7%
40 CT 6.2% 93.8%
41 ME 5.7% 94.3%
42 OK 4.6% 95.4%
43 IN 4.5% 95.5%
44 OH 4.2% 95.8%
45 TX 4.2% 95.8%
46 IL 4.1% 95.9%
47 IA 2.8% 97.2%
48 NE 2.8% 97.2%
49 KS 1.9% 98.1%
50 RI 1.5% 98.5%
USA 39.8% 60.2%

[GRID]

Just heard that the MO Senate Appropriations Committee removed the $70 million in federal funding that could have been used to develop the 144-mile Rock Island corridor. Senators said the trail would encourage trespassing and violate landowners' property rights.

Bummer. Really hope this stays alive


https://www.newstribune.com/news/2022/m ... and-trail/

That is a bummer. Would be a great trail. On a side note. Whoever made this map really thinks the StL metro is that much bigger than KC?

[Cratedigger]

Just heard that the MO Senate Appropriations Committee removed the $70 million in federal funding that could have been used to develop the 144-mile Rock Island corridor. Senators said the trail would encourage trespassing and violate landowners' property rights.

Bummer. Really hope this stays alive


https://www.newstribune.com/news/2022/m ... and-trail/

That is a bummer. Would be a great trail. On a side note. Whoever made this map really thinks the StL metro is that much bigger than KC?

Think it was the St Louis Post-Dispatch that made the map

[moderne]

Would go through some mighty pretty countryside east of Eldon. Imagine a spur from Eldon to Lake of the Ozarks State Park or even Ha Ha Tonka.

[Eon Blue]

Just heard that the MO Senate Appropriations Committee removed the $70 million in federal funding that could have been used to develop the 144-mile Rock Island corridor. Senators said the trail would encourage trespassing and violate landowners' property rights.

Bummer. Really hope this stays alive


https://www.newstribune.com/news/2022/m ... and-trail/

Just wait until these senators and landowners find out about all of the state and local roadways that criss-cross and abut private property.

[gfenn11]

Sorry for the stupid question- which trails in the metro are paved (if any at all)? Would love to get in on riding them, but am doing my best to not have to get a 2nd bike to enjoy.

[FlippantCitizen]

Sorry for the stupid question- which trails in the metro are paved (if any at all)? Would love to get in on riding them, but am doing my best to not have to get a 2nd bike to enjoy.

Someone with more knowledge might chime in but the Indian Creek and Tomahawk Creek trails in Johnson county are paved. The Trolley Track Trail is a kind of very fine hard pack of rock and dirt. In dry weather I imagine any bike could do it. Not sure though cause I'm not exactly a bike expert. I ride a 20 year old mountain bike that I was given by an older neighbor. I fixed it up and put some more street oriented tires on it.

[grovester]

Sorry for the stupid question- which trails in the metro are paved (if any at all)? Would love to get in on riding them, but am doing my best to not have to get a 2nd bike to enjoy.

In addition to Flippant's suggestions, there is Mill Creek from Shawnee to Olathe and Line Creek from Riverside to 152.

Plenty of others way out south in Johnson County as well.

[Highlander]

Sorry for the stupid question- which trails in the metro are paved (if any at all)? Would love to get in on riding them, but am doing my best to not have to get a 2nd bike to enjoy.

Someone with more knowledge might chime in but the Indian Creek and Tomahawk Creek trails in Johnson county are paved. The Trolley Track Trail is a kind of very fine hard pack of rock and dirt. In dry weather I imagine any bike could do it. Not sure though cause I'm not exactly a bike expert. I ride a 20 year old mountain bike that I was given by an older neighbor. I fixed it up and put some more street oriented tires on it.

Indian and Tomahawk are indeed paved although they can be rough in places and can be really crowded. Indian Creek trail is also paved all the way to the Blue River in Missouri but as the trail turns south and follows the Blue River, it becomes fine gravel. It may become paved further south around Red Bridge and Minor Park but I've not followed it that far yet.

There is also the Coffee Creek trail in extreme south Overland Park which is paved but relatively short.

Kill Creek Streamway is a great paved trail just south of DeSoto KS. A little far afield but my favorite ride in the area so far (it's relatively short but will be extended soon).

[rxlexi]

I would second Line Creek trail up north. Completely paved from Riverside to MO-152, and then meets the paved 152 trail. Starts not terribly far from the urban core.

Can also head south/southwest on Line Creek past Argosy casino to the MO Riverfront Trail, which is gravel on top of levee, but connects to English Landing Park in Parkville and is a nice ride if you can do the rougher surface.

Also Rock Island Trail from Truman Sports Complex out to Lee's Summit is a great ride, but also mostly crushed gravel (a short paved sections).