Yesterday I brought my grandkids here to try out this park. We were unable to try out all of it,…read morebut the areas that we did investigate we really enjoyed. I appreciate it that the play areas we went to had partial shade from the alcove of trees. There was a variety of play sets spread out with natural features of tree stumps and such for the kids to climb on. They had a lot of nice walking plaques to explain the walking trail. The golfing disc course was nice because a lot ofit was shaded. We will definitely go back to check out more of it when it is less hot.

Very cool park immaculately maintained in the viewer are great. Some of the structures are quite…read moreintriguing. It's actually not that flat but there's a couple of hills that will make your thighs work overall just beautiful and definitely will return the only thing that's tricky if you're meeting, other people is which parking lot.

LABEL YOUR TRAILS. Give folks some direction. I had no idea where I was going and ended up on a…read more(much nicer) subdivision's trail. Had to walk in circles three times to find - a port-a-potty. All of the restrooms were closed on a Sunday afternoon. The view of all of the dead trees was "breathtaking." Last time I'm visiting this park. Kansas City, MO actually has their act together.

I have been to Ernie Miller many times over the years and I love this place. I was a little…read moredisappointed on today's visit with my toddler grandson. The staff member was nice who greeted us. And we were actually the only people on the inside of the nature center, so we got to enjoy it in a peaceful environment. There were some field trip kids having event events outside. My grandson enjoyed exploring, but I was disappointed to see that quite a few of the displays were out of order. Also, I had to tell staff that there was a mouse in bird nature viewing area. A child had left a cracker, and apparently a mouse had gotten in was taking advantage of it! But then I went into the newer section with the displays and another mouse ran out and was running around the room towards my grandson. So I think they need to correct this issue before it gets too out of hand. The trails are great and the natural gardens are as well. They have some great programs for the community. I just think that some of the displays need to be fixed and taking care of the pest problem, I'm sure if they let the hawk in there he would handle it! lol

Gorgeous Park, especially in the spring. Perfect for walking, running, hiking, biking with or…read morewithout your dogs or children. Both paved and nature trails for all levels of activities. Pretty quiet and not ever super crowded. Love this park!

Disclaimer: Rating for trails/observation tower *only*…read more A good walk or hike in some wide open green spaces will do wonders for the soul. Sure, Kansas can be limited in some of its landscape offerings, but if you don't take advantage of what's right in front of you, then you might miss the beauty that is many of our area lakes & parks. Kill Creek Park is just that beauty. There are trails of various difficulty, but none that are so strenuous that you could not do them with more than moderate effort. You can hike around a forest, around a lake, or you could just hike out in the prairie. There are multiple trails, all of which are well-marked, and they blend together at certain spots. Mountain/trail bikers might share the space at times but I have always had pleasant sharers of the paths. The trails are well-maintained with openings here & there for power to run through and the overall elevation changes are minimal. We've done the 'Outer Hank' several times and the circuit takes less than two hours. Wear your hiking shoes as some of the trails can have tricky steps and keep your eyes open to see nature in front of you. The observation tower is 3+ levels offering different views, all of which open in any direction. There is even an elevator to the top that is in service for most of the year. I suggest an evening view to the west for an optimal Kansas sunset, many of which can't be replicated. If you want mountains or beach, then you won't find it here. But if you want the peaceful, pastoral open skies of the West, then Kill Creek offers you just a taste of nature can do.

This is a great little hike. Scenic with hills and flat areas. Some paths mowed while others are…read moregravel. Saw several deer and some large turtles in the pond and on the paths. We will definitely be back for a couple mile hike.

Okay, so...little bit of a secret. This place has great fishing! It's a wonderful place to spend a…read moreday, if you've got the gumption, a pair of hiking boots, and a lot of time on your hands. You have to hike in for sure, but the pond on property is wonderful: clear, clean, and colorful. There are many picnic tables throughout the reserve, and the wild nature of the place is worth the visit. Quite a few evenings I've stayed longer than the sun was willing to, and found myself walking through the actual prairie at sundown - which I'm not ashamed to say is formidable with the right company. I once witnessed an assault there, but the lady told me it was her brother that did it, so she didn't need any assistance. Barring that, it really is a wild and wonderful place to spend the day. It can get a tad bit crowded on the weekends, and the path can and does get congested, but there is so much to walk that it shouldn't be too much of a problem. There's one spot on the map that gets a little treacherous: a downward sloped and rocky hill, so take it easy down that. But otherwise, it's a myocardial wonderland! Get a good pair of walkin' boots, a camera, and possibly a fishing pole, and get out there!

This trail is great! Lots to look at with creeks, deer, birds, turtles etc! Can get busy but is…read moresuch a great spot!

Randomly found this trail after missing my workout class time. It is such a nice and SHADED trail…read more They have many parking lots throughout, so you can start wherever. I also like that the trail was lined like a street! So, everyone knew which side to claim and can stay clear or the bicyclist. They had little ponds everywhere too which was cute! Many benches and water fountains throughout for pit stops if needed. I'm not sure how long the trail is, but it's lengthy

A little escape in the middle of the city. With a large lake with fishing , boat rental, swim beach…read moreand more (even scuba diving with permit) Hiking and biking trails. Disc Golf and a dog park. There is plenty of stuff for everyone. Rent a shelter and have a party, take the kids to one of the many playgrounds. Catch one of the Theater in the Park shows or go sky gazing. This park has a lot to offer.

I absolutely adore Shawnee Mission Park! It's huge- 1.6k acres and has a 120 acre lake. There is…read moreplenty of walking paths and places to park. A wonderful place to catch a gorgeous Kansas sunset, go on a walk, play sports, I've even attended a wedding rehearsal here. There's so much to do year round and it's perfect for so many occasions.

Johnson County has been working hard at turning its western edge into a wilderness oasis. Mill…read moreCreek Streamway Park is a striking example of how that hard work is paying off. This little slice of heaven will transport you away from the surrounding suburban sprawl and into an outdoor playground that provides an up close and personal look at what an undisturbed Kansas countryside would look like. I usually park on the east side of the park, around Mill Creek Parkway and Ridgeview, and walk the nearby trail. It's about a two-ish mile loop that you'll share with other walkers, joggers and some bikers. It takes you through a wooded stream area, then through swamp and finally through a field of native grasses. You also get to walk through a tunnel that will take you underneath a local railway. If you're lucky, you'll get to see some local wildlife. Pets are welcome, as long as they're well behaved and on a leash. If you're biking, the trail does extend both to the north and to the south. I haven't partaken either way, so I'm not much help, however I have heard that the northern trail will take you close to Shawnee Mission Park. You might want to double check this, but it sounds like like fun. Regardless, my biking friends say this is one of their favorite places to ride. I highly recommend for walkers and bikers of all ages, especially when the Kansas City weather is right.

This trail is fantastic. Free of cars, enshrouded in nature and especially beautiful in the warmer…read moremonths, this is one of my happy places around the metro. I've taken my family there just to walk/hike around the paved trails which are seemingly endless with a dog and toddler. When I go on my own or with friends to bike, you'll find the end a lot faster, but it's still 17 miles or so of wonderful trail along the creek. On countless trips here, we've seen deer, heard coyotes, saw a sneaky copperhead snake, a beaver scurrying back to the water, owls and hawks, and the most memorable, an open field with more fireflies flickering than I've ever seen in my life. You'll also find big Kansas sunsets out here year round, along with more hills than one might expect. I'll say this, if you're a cyclist, it's enjoyable to fly around here but be aware this is primarily a walking/jogging path for everyone else so throw a little bell on, slow down a bit when approaching people and or call out as you come around. Most do, but some don't and it's kind of jarring especially when we're out with our almost-two-year-old toddling around. (Side note, I got a bike trailer for my daughter and this is the perfect, safe place to try it out.) In warmer months you'll find enough water and bathroom stations around, but as expected it can be difficult to find on those winter warm up days. Shoutout to the Parks & Rec team of years past, along with Gary Haller who shares the name of this popular trail for his dedication to making it a reality. I feel like nature is often forgotten and overlooked in our world, but a simple, beautiful trail like this has people eager to be out exploring their peaceful surroundings.

Olathe and Overland Park are lucky to have this trail head and this trail system. My running club…read moremeets here every so often and we can either run to mid American Nazarene university which is about 2 1/2 miles away or go in the opposite direction and run for miles and miles. Unfortunately there is no water here but there is a trashcan and a porta-potty. so if you're in the area be sure to stop by and use this wonderful trail for running biking rollerblading walking. it's great for everything.

Phenomenal runners trail in Olathe, KS…read more This trail is over 27 miles - great for walking, running, or biking. Great training distances / elevations for 1/2 and full marathon runners. One area terminates to a picnic area with fountains and bathrooms. It crosses some main roads in certain sections but also goes underneath in tunnels in others. What better way to up your mileage on your winter runs!

Lovely day to get out and about. Not too crowded for a late Sunday afternoon…read more Even for Wintertime, it's scenic enough to walk the area for some pretty views. The paved trail is clearly marked with signs to help one find bathrooms, marina, disc golf, etc. They have spaces for kids and families at the Beaver Shelt, as well as a music park section near the Eagle Landing Building. There are at least two car charging stations at the marina. There may be more around the park itself, but I did not happen to come across any.

Such a nice lake just right down the street from me. Lake of Olathe has so many things you can do…read morelike rent kayaks, splash pad for the kids, swimming area at the lake, two play area with slides, trails, fishing, frisbee throw games (don't know what it's called), waterfalls you can play in, streams you can play in, bbq areas, building for renting out weddings, etc., and so many more. It is clean, up-kept, and I always feel safe when I go alone. It would be a nice place to start having concerts, activities like Halloween hunts and things of that nature hosted here.

Heritage Park is pretty great for a variety of reasons: it's HUGE, it has tons of walking/hiking…read morepaths, it has a massive soccer complex, and honestly there is likely even more I haven't explored. It's pretty far south, so plan to drive even if you live in central JOCO like me - it's a solid 25 mins. It's convenient for me to visit when I'm out near my parent's new house though so that's a perk and has been what brings me here on occasion. A few years ago we also did soccer here and honestly I'd recommend doing soccer elsewhere. Parking is horrible and it's kind of a cluster. Overall the park itself is nice and fun to explore, but up to you on if it's worth the drive.

This is specifically regarding the Dog Park at Heritage Park: Recently renovated, so it's still a…read morelittle muddy in spots, but overall a great dog park with tons of open space for pups to run. The new paved sidewalk around the park is a nice upgrade, and there are plenty of doggy bag stations and trash cans (just wish more people would use them). There's a retention pond that dogs love to splash in, though I've heard it may be removed soon. Bathrooms are decent, and there's a water fountain for both people and pets. I also like that there's a separate, fully paved area just for dogs under 25 lbs. Most of the owners I've met here have been friendly and attentive, which makes the park feel safe and welcoming. Overall, a solid spot that keeps getting better with each update.