We love to explore our local parks and trails. Kids love the adventure of discovering new things along the way including wildlife (snails, snakes, birds, insects, and sometimes even deer), creeks, ponds, lakes, a variety of manmade and natural bridges, and historic ruins. These are a few of our favorite local trails!
Trail Tips
- Bring Water
- Bring Snacks (if your excursion may last several hours)
- Bring a small First Aid Kit
- Phone for Emergency Calls / Pictures / Map
- Use the restroom before you depart, access to restrooms is limited.
- Take only photos and leave only footprints.
- If you are able to do so safely (wear gloves, use hand sanitizer), bring a bag to collect litter, and help clean up spaces.
Trail Key:
- Walking 🚶♂️
- Hiking 🥾
- Biking 🚴♂️
- Wheelchair Accessible 🦽
- Fishing 🐟
Do you have a favorite in Jackson County, MO to add to our list? Please share it in the comments below!
Berkley Riverfront Park
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Berkley Riverfront Park is perfect for a stroll or a bike ride. We love the amazing views of Downtown Kansas City as well as the architecture of the Downtown bridges and the Mighty Missouri River. The Riverfront Heritage Trail is evenly paved and accessible for wheelchairs and scooters. The park offers beautiful green space, ideal for kite flying or a picnic (when permitted), and great views of the Missouri River and Downtown. As you walk the trail, signs tell the history of the river and the history of the Downtown Bridges, making this trail educational as well as scenic and pleasant. The urban trail is an oasis in the heart of Downtown with truly unique views and photo-ops. If you'd like to ride a bike, the park also has parking, bike lockers and racks, and a nearby B-cycle rental station located at 3rd and Grand Blvd.
Blue River Greenway Trail
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This trail is accessible from Minor Park or the Alex George Lake entrance off Blue River Pkwy. The paved trail is ideal for walking, biking, and even wheelchairs. We like to start at Minor Park where my kids especially enjoy exploring the Love Locks on the Old Red Bridge. Couples and families leave engraved padlocks on the bridge as a memento of their love. The trail continues on where you'll see historic ruins, the Alex George Lake, and of course, the Little Blue River. This is a nice pleasant walk (not too strenuous, it's fairly flat and even) in the city. The Alex George Lake is also a spot where you may use Remote Control Boats (with proper licenses and permits) - another nice diversion in the heart of the city! There are hiking trails that fork off the main paved trail as well.
Burr Oak Woods Nature Center
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Burr Oak Woods Nature Center
Regular readers know that Burr Oak Woods Nature Center is my personal favorite for their hands-on conservation exhibits for kids, the giant animatronic Smokey Bear, and their outstanding classes and programs (all free to the public), but the site is also home to beautiful nature trails. You'll find paved and non-paved trails for walking and hiking. The main trail around the center also features the Discover Nature Classroom for kids.
Carl Chinnery Nature Trail at Unity Village
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This 2.6-mile gravel trail is one of my girls' favorites! They LOVE the Natural Bridge (there are nature trails that fork off the main gravel path so that you can access the top and the lower level of the beautiful Natural Bridge). The trail also leads to Unity Lake and Little Cedar Creek. The kids loved exploring the creek. The scenic trail is a favorite for bird watching. Bikes are not permitted on this trail. If you want to thoroughly explore the trail (as we did on a recent visit) and explore some of the wooded paths as well as the gravel trail, plan to spend a few hours.
James A. Reed Wildlife Area
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James A. Reed is home to lots of small lakes, hiking trails, equestrian trails, and even a space where you may practice archery (one of our favorite ways to spend time there). Lately, we have only explored a bit of the trails as we've spent most of our time fishing. For hiking enthusiasts, however, the park is a favorite where you'll discover lots of plants and wildlife to enjoy. The Shawnee Trace Trail features creeks, rock formations, a variety of trees and mushrooms, and beautiful views. Missouri Dept. of Conservation offers great tips for fishing at James A. Reed. They have accessible fishing spaces as well!
Jerry Smith Conservation Area
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Jerry Smith Conservation Area features a beautiful trail (fairly even, but mostly gravel, not smooth for wheels) through the prairies of Missouri. We love seeing wildflowers along the way and the girls enjoy crossing bridges and winding through the woods. If you drive up the road past the trail entrance, there is another short trail to a fishing pond where you may catch channel catfish.
Lake Jacomo
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Lake Jacomo is one of the prettiest places to fish in Jackson County. In addition to fishing and boating (rental available at the marina seasonally), the lake is surrounded by beautiful nature trails. You'll find many great hiking trails through the woods, favorites for Morrell mushroom hunters, birders, and nature enthusiasts. Missouri Dept. of Conservation offers great tips for fishing at Lake Jacomo. They have accessible fishing spaces as well!
Loose Park
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The park, rightfully and frequently called the "Jewel of Kansas City," is home to a spectacular rose garden, lovely duck pond, and beautiful paved trails for a stroll through the city's prettiest urban park. Loose Park is perhaps the most photographed outdoor oasis in KC, where spring and summer mean blooming flowers, ducks, turtles, and koi to behold. This is a great choice if you want something leisurely and scenic!
Longview Lake
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I love the trails around Longview Lake! If you park at Shelter 14 (near the Marina), you can rent bikes from BikeKC! The trail is fairly flat and even and covered in chat gravel. Bike rental is $3/30 min (and of course, you can opt to bring your own). The view around the lake is beautiful and the kids enjoy going through the tunnel and in the woods. There are many places around the lake where you can start your journey. Some are more wooded, others offer more green space, and the view of the lake varies, making it a great option for variety. This trail is ideal for something leisurely. Longview Lake is also one of our favorite places to go fishing locally. Missouri Dept. of Conservation offers great tips for fishing at Longview Lake.
Rock Island Trail
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The Katy Trail State Park in Missouri is famously America's longest recreational rail trail. Bicycling enthusiasts love riding the 240-mile trail along the banks of the Missouri River along the path of the former Missouri–Kansas–Texas Railroad. Jackson County has plans to build a 17.7-mile corridor stretching from Arrowhead and Kauffman Stadiums south through Raytown and into Lee's Summit. The first phase is complete, a 6.5-mile trail beginning at Brickyard Road in Kansas City, and ending at Jefferson Street in Lee’s Summit is complete. There are two official trailheads: 98th street Trailhead (12600 E 98th Street KCMO 64138) and Hartman Park (700 SW Pryor Rd, Lee's Summit, MO 64081). The trail is fairly smooth and covered in chat gravel. It is ideal for walking and biking. The favorite spot on the trail is the Vale Tunnel (a former railroad tunnel) that is closest to the 98th Street Trailhead.
Honorable Mentions:
- Anita B. Gorman Discovery Center 🚶♂️ 🦽
- Cave Springs Trails 🚶♂️ 🥾
- Lakeside Nature Center Trails 🚶♂️ 🥾
Do you have a favorite in Jackson County, MO to add to our list? Please share it in the comments below!
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Anita B. Gorman Discovery Center
Explore the nature center, hiking trail, special programs and more.
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Berkley Riverfront Park
1298 E River Front Rd, Kansas City, Missouri 64106Kansas City began along the Missouri River. At Berkley Riverfront, the historic relationship to this vital natural resource continues. It is a scenic oasis, a place for community, activity, entertainment and relaxation within an urban landscape.
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Blue River Greenway Trail
East Red Bridge Road and Blue River Road , Kansas City, MissouriThe Blue River Parkway is one of the oldest trail systems in Kansas City and contains anything from easy/smooth trail to some of the most difficult technical sections in the city.
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Burr Oak Woods Nature Center
One of the largest nature centers in the Metro, Burr Oak Woods features hands-on exhibits for children, an aquarium with Missouri fish, live animals and nature trails.
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Carl Chinnery Nature Trail at Unity Village
The nature trail covers 2.4 miles, and hiking is at your own risk. Deer, fox, raccoons, and snakes are commonly spotted on the trails. Please stick to the trails and bring your cell phone for emergencies.
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James A. Reed Memorial Wildlife Area
The James A. Reed Memorial Wildlife Area is located in Jackson County, south of Highway 50, near Lee's Summit.
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Jerry Smith Park
Jerry Smith Park provides a southern anchor for Kansas City, MO’s park and boulevard system. It consists of 360 acres of open rolling hills, wooded forests and a three-acre lake.
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Lake Jacomo Marina
Lake Jacomo Marina is the largest boat rental facility in the Kansas City Metro area, with more than 60 watercraft available.
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Lakeside Nature Center
Enjoy an incredible place to enjoy learning about local native wildlife, including birds of prey, snakes, amphibians, turtles, fish and invertebrates.
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Longview Lake Marina
Conveniences include boat rentals from April 15 thru October 15 (as weather permits), lakeside gasoline pumps and overnight slip rental.
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Rock Island Rail Corridor
The trail is 6.5 miles long, beginning at Brickyard Road in Kansas City and ending at Jefferson Street in Lee’s Summit. There are 2 official trailheads: 98th street Trailhead (12600 E 98th Street KCMO 64138) and Hartman Park (700 SW Pryor Rd, LSMO).
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