There are a lot of reasons to adore this park, but for me, it's access to what I think are the best…read morehiking trails in eastern Kansas, and use them I do, frequently. Yesterday it was the entire length of the White Trail, 12 miles of rolling soft path dirt and rock among the trees, coves and inlets on the Northwest side of the lake. The Blue trail is another favorite, 8 miles of mostly flat trail that hugs the lakefront making for lots of good shade and scenery usually running a few yards below the more snaking White trail. There's a third shorter trail I've not set foot on but only because it's shorter than I wish. Unlike the Eastern back side of the lake at Woodridge Park which is one of the nicest 4.5 hikes to be found anywhere, the North Shore trails can be safely hiked during tick season in shorts but I'd still recommend you take precaution and check yourself frequently in the spring and summer. The trail is wide enough and well maintained so no grass to walk through. Just don't get off the trail because they're definitely lurking, this from experience. The two main trails are accessed from Overlook Park on the Northeast side, just minutes from west Lawrence. Very well travelled, very well maintained. Lots of shade. Both the White and Blue have multiple access points to the lake and camping areas and access roads so if you had to bail, there are plenty of places. However, private enough you can almost imagine you're miles from everything, but you aren't. Lots of wildlife. Expect to see deer (see my photo from yesterday). No access for drinking water so as with any hike, bring your own and bring plenty. And don't attempt the entire White trail unless you're in very good shape and know what you're doing because it'll kick your rear end otherwise. For those hiking round trip of one-way, there's a convenient parking area at the east end of both the Blue and White trails. Expect to see plenty of runners and hikers on weekends. IMPORTANT NOTE: the east trailheads for the Blue and White trails can be accessed for free and have a nice parking lot with picnic tables, etc. If you're having someone drop you off on the far west end to hike back east you'll need to pay a park access fee. I have someone drop me off that has a season pass but I believe it's a daily $7.00 fee to access the west end.

All you can ask for in a scenic, public park! Bring your fishing rod.read more

My husband and I Roeland Park, this nature sanctuary the day before Mother's Day. We had a heck of…read morea time finding it because the address was listed incorrectly. The nature sanctuary is on 12th St. and the connecting street is East St. Once we figured out where it was, we took our time on one of the trails I believe there are four trail options and the longest is 1.6 mile loop and the second is a 1 mile loop and the other ones are less than that. But it is a beautiful nature sanctuary with lots of greenery, woods, streams, water falls, and benches to enjoy the scenery. No pets are allowed since it is a nature sanctuary. There is a covered area off of one of the hikes that we went to that leads to some picnic tables. There's also several picnic tables by the parking lot. There are also bathrooms near the parking lot. The parking lot is next to the track and field belonging to the college. We really enjoyed our slow, meandering walk/hike and will definitely go back.

Hidden right by the bustle of downtown parkville, the parkville nature sanctuary has become one of…read moremy favorite places to do an easy hike. The trails are well maintained, and while there are some inclines at certain points, the trail is easy to follow and not strenuous. I love the various view points where you can stop and really appreciate natural beauty, like the waterfall or the butterfly pass. It feels like this is in its own little world despite being so close to the city. Be aware that the parking lot is pretty small so at peak times it may be hard to park.

Long-time user of the George Latham Hiking Trail on the back side of Clinton Lake. This fairly well…read moremaintained but rugged trail is just over 4 miles long and is usually hiked counter-clockwise. The first half mile is all decent with plenty of well used camping areas just off the trail in either direction. Unfortunately (but not the fault of the trail design) lots of folks leave too much trash in the areas designated for fires. At about the half mile point the lake is visible pretty much for the next 2-3 miles before you start the climb out towards the parking lot. Expect: rugged rocky trails, decent markings on the trees, and lots of rocks. Be warned: go on this walk during tick season minus long pants and be prepared to pay a dear price--this from experience. Wear long pants with ties around the ankles and you might be OK. My advice is avoid this hike during those times as parts of the trail go through grassy areas where plenty of opportunities exist for the little critters. Around the 1 mile mark is a great, perfectly placed bench with a great view of the lake. Nice place to stop if you're just in no hurry and want to enjoy the scenery. If you go: the last half mile to the area is dirt road, and poorly maintained. If it's been raining you'd better be in four-wheel drive. Otherwise if it's dry, it's just a very rough road. Drive slow. Snow... forget it. As always, take your trash with you and pack it out on the hike. Trash barrels and an outdoor toilet once you get to the parking lot. Moderate elevation change that shouldn't be a problem: expect to take around 2 hours unless you're in a hurry. Wear hiking shoes as the rocks can be rough, although I have done it in sneakers, but not recommended.

Loved hiking the George Latham trail and will definitely going to have to camp out there sometime!…read moreThe George Latham Trail is a 4.5 mi loop with random camping spots scattered throughout. An interesting stone wall that I wonder what it was for, and the trail stops by the waterside on a couple of occasions. CHECK YOURSELF FOR TICKS. I didn't get any but we found 8 ticks total on my boyfriend after we finished the trail. For how close the trail is to Lawrence it really feels like you're further away.

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.

Been here almost every summer it's really awesome I heard that they do classes and things like that…read morebut 2 things to be careful of 1 you might hit your head in the insect tunnel 2 their was a snake in the playground so really careful of that idk if they got rid of it because I haven't been their since 2023 or 2022

Super strong ammonia smell inside the facility. We could not stand it. Animal Control stopped in as…read morewe were leaving so hopefully action was taken to mitigate the odor as this cannot be healthy for the animals. We did enjoy the native pollinator plants.

Wide open area very peaceful when there is no construction, still peaceful on the weekends though…read moreyou should definitely give it a go the area is will kept and not many people seem to use it.

Weston Bend State Park is a peaceful and beautiful spot located near the town of Weston, MO. The…read morepark is famous for its picturesque beauty, walking trails that winds through forests overlooking the Missouri River. I visited the park in winter last yr and fell in love with it. Primarily I just hiked around but I saw many people bird watching, and enjoying the quiet nature as well. The best part is the scenic overlook that gives a beautiful view of the river valley, especially at sunset. When I visited the park, it felt calm and less crowded. That definitely makes it a nice place for families or anyone who wants a break from busy life. My suggestion to everyone one is to hike at this park and then head to the town of Weston to enjoy some hot wine at Pritle Wineries followed by amazing food at the O'malleys pub.

Small park that nestles along the Missouri River…read more Trails for hiking and biking exist on the eastern side. You can also camp and picnic. If you hike along the West Ridge you will climb up to the ridge and come up to some overlooks that look into Kansas. The park was unmanned on Indigenous Peoples Day, but folks were able to access the park. If you have pets, the park has a small dog park at the front end. Plenty of benches can be found along the lower trails to take a load off. Right now the leaves are turning into their fall shades and the birds that come in the fall are arriving for the birders that are on the hunt. Plenty of information can be found at the trail head. There are clean bathrooms. The water fountains don't work, but the taps do. The weather today was awesome. I will return.

This tallgrass prairie remnant is a very special treasure. How lucky we are that there are public…read moretrails we can use sunup to sundown! There is a porta-potty at the trailhead. The shortest loop is 2.6 miles and has very steep inclines. I brought a group of 10 older, very active gardening women. They went slow and steady and did great. We stopped and took breaks. It took a little over 2 hours. One brought a walking stick and it really helped her. We took a hike in the fall. I really want to come back in the spring!

We literally stumbled across this attraction. We exited I-70 one exit earlier than we planned -…read morelooking for a place to have lunch. My wife spotted a sign indicating 10 miles to Manhattan, KS and said let's detour into Manhattan. NOTE - There is no public access directly from Interstate 70. To access, take Exit Number 307 (McDowell Creek) and go north. Travel about 4 miles, the entrance will be on your right. There are extensive hiking trails through lowland gallery forest, cross Kings Creek, and climb over ancient limestone ledges into the native tallgrass prairie. At the highest points, enjoy spectacular views of the Flint Hills and the Kansas River Valley. The grasslands of the Konza Prairie Biological Station have been home to people for many thousands of years, including indigenous peoples who lived and hunted here prior to European colonization. The Konza Prairie was named after the Kaw, or Kanza ("Kaáze") people, who inhabited and stewarded this area until their forced removal between 1846 and 1872. Konza Prairie Biological Station (KPBS) is a 3,487 hectare native tallgrass prairie preserve jointly owned by The Nature Conservancy and Kansas State University. It is located in the Flint Hills of northeastern Kansas, a grassland region of rolling hills overlain by shallow limestone soils unsuitable for cultivation. The Flint Hills region encompasses over 1.6 million hectares in eastern Kansas extending from near the Kansas-Nebraska border south into northeastern Oklahoma. This region includes the largest remaining areas of unplowed tallgrass prairie in North America. The vast majority of KPBS, and the surrounding landscape, has never been plowed and retains much of its native characteristics.

Another beautiful hiking spot in the Flint Hills. Well worth the short drive from Council Grove…read more Most people aren't aware of this place, so you'll probably have it all to yourself. Hike across the hills, next to the Memorial and then through a forested area. In the forest, you'll see ruins of stone 'cabins' the US government built for the Kaw Indians. Directions: (from the Kaw Mission History Site website) From main street of Council Grove, Kansas Head east on Highway 56 past traffic light by Pizza Hut & Guardian of the Grove statue. In approx. 1/10 of a mile, turn right on County Road marked by green sign, "Dunlap 9", (also labeled as 5th street). Travel south 3 1/2 miles toward Dunlap. After crossing small bridge, turn left on X Avenue. Turn left on 525 Road to park site. Agency Building ruins will be on your right. Unknown Kaw Warrior Monument is visible at top of hill. Visitors should drive to the designated parking area located approximately one-tenth of a mile north of the Agency building on the right side of the road. Walking paths will be marked from the parking area and between the points of interest. You can pick up a map and get more information about the tour of Allegawaho Memorial Heritage Park at the Kaw Mission State Historic Site.

*UPDATE 2018* If you love this trail and forest, make your…read morevoice heard to the Park Hill school district, as they plan on tearing down hundreds of acres of ancient woodland to make way for a new school and sports arena. They also plan on selling the "leftovers" for new subdivisions and strip malls. This will effect the serenity of this beautiful park and trail! Check out Save the Last KC Forest for more info!

This is a great trail to run on! They have done such a great job over the years paving more and…read moremore of it! There are small water feature flowing through, beautiful wild flowers and an amazing bridge! If you love walking, running and biking outdoors I would definitely recommend. The paved hills are even textured so that you can have better traction while running up or down, very helpful.