Take A Hike, KC

04/07/2026

April is a great time to plan summer adventures! This older video from Missouri Dept. of Conservation gives a great overview of the beautiful natural areas the state maintains. Every one of these spots is worth a visit (and a hike!):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WzuzL2KNpCM

Travel above, through time, and into Missouri’s original landscape as it looked to early Native Americans or Lewis and Clark. These are some of Missouri's mo...

04/01/2026

🇺🇸 Walk through American history, right here in KC! In April, trace the early days of the 1804 Lewis and Clark Expedition along the Missouri River. 🗺️🛶☀️

In May 1804, Meriwether Lewis and William Clark camped at the confluence of the Kansas and Missouri Rivers. Today, this area in KCK is called Kaw Point. Friends of Kaw Point Park preserves and supports this historic place - it marks one of the most significant launching points of American exploration.

Across the river, take a walk at the Kansas City Parks' Corps of Discovery sculpture. The statues honor the diverse group who made the journey, including the Lemhi Shoshone woman Sacagawea who acted as translator and guide, along with soldiers, interpreters, and even Lewis's dog, Seaman.

📍 Kaw Point Park
🌐 https://kawpointpark.org/
🥾 Paved riverfront trails
🛶 Boat ramp + river views
📖 Interpretive signs

📍 Corps of Discovery Sculpture
🌐 https://kcparks.org/places/corps-of-discovery/
🗺️ Dramatic sculpture of the party 📸 Great photo op + city views

Stand where the Lewis & Clark journey began! Hike the places where Kansas City sits at the crossroads of America's story. Learn more about the Lewis & Clark National Historic Trail at https://www.nps.gov/lecl/index.htm

On the first day of each month in 2026, Take A Hike, KC spotlights a historic hike in the Kansas City area. 🇺🇸 In April, explore Lewis & Clark’s travels through the KC area.

Friends of the Kaw - Kansas Riverkeeper Missouri River Relief Wyandotte County/KCK Parks and Recreation

03/30/2026

Step off the parking lot at George Owens Nature Park and find limestone bluffs, shady woods, and lakes that feel far away from it all! 🌿

📍 1601 S. Speck Rd, Independence, MO
🌐https://www.independencemo.gov/government/city-departments/parks-rec/george-owens-nature-park
🕒 Open 8:30am - 5pm, Tues - Sat
🚶‍♀️ 3 miles of paved + dirt trails
🌳 86 acres of rocks, trees, lakes, wildlife
🪨 Unique Bethany Falls limestone
🎣 2 fishing lakes + bridges
🏕️ Group campsite (great for scouts)
🐕 Dogs on leashes welcome
🦎 DeWitt Center w/ aquariums, exhibits, snakes & turtles

✨ Don’t miss the Glow-in-the-Dark UV Night Hike on April 16 from 6-8 pm! The park will provide the ultraviolet flashlights; you just come ready to explore! Take an evening walk along the Butterfly Trail and discover what naturally glows after dark! All ages and abilities welcome. Register by calling (816) 325-7115. Cost is $12 per person.

City of Independence, MO, Jackson County Parks + Rec

03/29/2026

☀️☔️ Walk Belton Parks' paved Cleveland Lake loop in any kind of spring weather! Already a "hidden gem," this lake park will see big upgrades in 2026.

📍 502 S Cleveland Ave in Belton MO
🗺️ https://www.beltonparks.org/facilities/facility/details/Cleveland-Lake-19
🕒 6am - 11pm daily
🥾 1.2 mile paved lake loop
🐠 Fishing + multiple docks & bridges
🍎 Great place for a picnic!
🥏 Disc golf course
🐕 Dogs on leashes welcome
🚗 Easy parking (and expanding now)

✨ Major improvements underway: New permanent restrooms, a larger parking lot + an ADA-accessible fishing dock with a 45-ft walkway. This already-popular trail will be even more accessible and family-friendly soon.

Come for the calm water and wide paths. Stay for the "escape" just south of the city! 🌳😎

City of Belton, MO, Government

03/10/2026

🌳 Looking for a trail that’s *more* than just a trail? Enjoy signs of spring + adventure Leawood, KS Parks’ Ironwoods Park, just across State Line Rd from south KC!

📍 14701 Mission Rd in Leawood KS
🔗 https://www.leawood.org/Facilities/Facility/Details/Ironwoods-Park-9
🥾 2+ miles of paved trails winding through 100+ scenic acres
🎭 Outdoor amphitheatre with live performances
🧗 Challenge course for groups and individuals
🌙 Cabins for rent; great for overnight stays, or even birthday parties
🦉 Great nature center with critters (including a huge tortoise!), exhibits, summer camps + more

Add lovely Ironwoods Park to your spring hiking list! 🍃🌷

City of Leawood, KS

03/04/2026

🌷 This spring, explore scenic paved trails - perfect for walks in any weather! (And fun to plan for, when the weather keeps you in ⛈️)

https://takeahikekc.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/spring-2026-trails-1.pdf

Share the clickable spring trail guide with family & friends. Get outside and enjoy the season of new beginnings! 🌷🐣🍃🦋

03/01/2026

🇺🇸 Walk through American history, right here in KC, and learn more about the 250 years that the anniversary of the Declaration of Independence marks (1776-2026). In 1838, Independence MO launched wagon trains west. Westport outfitted traders. KC was a muddy river landing. And Kansas was open prairie and "Indian Territory."

The Citizen Potawatomi Nation Trail of Death, a forced evacuation under armed guard, passed through what is now Olathe in November 1838. American expansion and a brutal removal of Native people happened here, at the same time.

Nearly 900 Potawatomi men, women and children from Indiana were forced on a trek west to Kansas. Many died (mostly children). To learn more about the Trail of Death, visit https://www.trailofdeath.org/

There are multiple memorials for the Trail of Death in the metro. At Johnson County Park and Recreation District - JCPRD’s Heritage Park, the Fire Keepers Circle public sculpture stands beside a beautiful trail as a place to pause, remember, and reflect.

📍 16000 Pflumm Rd in Olathe KS
🌐 https://www.jcprd.com/facilities/facility/details/Heritage-Park-22
🥾 6+ miles of paved trails, including a walk around the lake
🔥 Fire Keepers Circle
🎣 fishing with license
🐶 off-leash dog park; dogs on leashes welcome on the trails

On the first day of each month in 2026, Take A Hike, KC spotlights a historic hike in the Kansas City area. In March, explore the 1838 Potawatomi Trail of Death memorial at Heritage Park.

02/24/2026

Hike the Northland at Kansas City Parks’ lovely Briarcliff Greenway trail! Joining the trails behind Briarcliff Elementary, this walk delivers “how-is-this-still-in-the-city?!” vibes 🤩🌲

📍Access Points: 4100 N. Briarcliff Rd (Briarcliff Elem); NW 40th St (street parking); NW 37th St (no parking; the road is steep)
🌐 https://kcparks.org/places/briarcliff-greenway/
🗺️ Abt 1.5 miles from Briarcliff Elem, out and back
🥾 Scenic boardwalks, limestone bluffs, shady forest canopy
🐶 Dogs on leashes welcome on the trail
🌳 DON’T MISS: The massive sycamore tree along the boardwalk at the NW 40th St access point! Stunning in winter!

Briarcliff Greenway is mostly stroller-friendly (steep drop down, if you start at the elem school). The trail is a quick nature reset, without leaving the city ✨

02/18/2026

FUN winter hiking & biking on Little Blue Trace Trail! This paved / gravel trail follows Little Blue River for 15+ miles through Jackson County!

https://www.makeyourdayhere.com/Facilities/Little-Blue-Trace-Trail

🗺️ North TH at 22000 Old Blue Mills Rd in Independence - quiet & pretty

🧭 MO-78 access at MO-78 & Fisher Rd has a nice shelter and a fun narrow bridge

🍁 Hartman Heritage access, 19950 E. Jackson Dr, is gorgeous in the fall - the river is wide here!

🌳 South TH at 5700 Phelps Rd in KCMO is busy & beautiful with HUGE cottonwood trees

🛝 Kansas City Parks Little Blue Valley Park, 8201 Noland Rd (old raceway), features a cool playground + a bridge over the Little Blue

🦮 Dogs on leashes welcome on trail

Find great photo opportunities along the Little Blue Trace! Perfect trail for longer hikes as the seasons change ❄️💨☀️

02/15/2026

This week should be lovely! Listen to the National Park Service and get out there! Spending time in nature makes you happier, smarter, stronger, and healthier:

https://www.nps.gov/articles/yourbrainonnature.htm

Reminder to hike PAVED TRAILS, until the dirt trails dry. Leave a mark, leave the park! Check Urban Trail Co. for up-to-date status of local dirt trails: https://urbantrailco.com/status/

02/06/2026

☀️ Waterfalls are flowing as the snow melts!

🚨 PSA: Stick to paved trails, like beautiful Indian Creek Trail! Hike dirt trails only when they are dry or frozen.

Indian Creek Trail in MO:
https://kcparks.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/Indian-Creek-Blue-River-Trail-Map.pdf

Indian Creek Trail in KS:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1LGRwirgQag_pvBelHBmN99K_eesKLc30/view

See the comments for info about one of the easiest ways to see the falls on Indian Creek! There are several spots but 103rd & Stateline in KCMO, just behind Jasper's, is very easy! Enjoy the warmer weekend! Get out there!

02/01/2026

🇺🇸 Celebrate Presidents Day AND the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence (1776 - 2026) by walking through American history - right here in KC!

On the first day of each month in 2026, Take A Hike, KC will spotlight a historic hike in Kansas City! In February, explore the Harry S Truman National Historic Site in Independence MO. 🇺🇸

President Truman was a daily walker - you can follow his footsteps for almost 3 miles. Check out these FREE resources:

Download the FREE NPS app:
https://www.nps.gov/subjects/digital/nps-apps.htm

Use the FREE City of Independence, MO, map of Truman’s Historic Walking Trail:
https://www.independencemo.gov/visitors/our-history-and-culture/walking-trails/truman-historic-walking-trail

Head to the Visitor Center on Main St first. Watch the free 10-min film. Pick up free tickets for a tour of the President’s home on Delaware Street, “the Summer White House” (1945-1953). Walk the Truman trail to see 40+ points of interest.

📍223 N. Main St in Independence
⏰ Open 9am-5pm, Wed-Sun (closed Mon & Tues)
🔗 https://www.nps.gov/hstr/index.htm
🥾 Walk 3 miles along city sidewalks (great winter stroll)
🎬 FREE film "At Home with Harry & Bess” at the Visitor Center
🏡 Pick up tickets for a FREE tour of the Truman home (short & wonderful! Don't miss!)
🎧 Listen to FREE audio tours in the NPS app
🍎 Can’t get enough? Visit the Truman Farm in Grandview (part of the National Historic Site): https://www.nps.gov/hstr/learn/historyculture/truman-farm-home-photo-tour.htm

Enjoy all the fun shops and restaurants in Independence Square. Order an ice cream soda at Clinton's Soda Fountain (site of Truman’s first job as a teenager)!

Celebrate Presidents Day this month with a trip to the Truman National Historic Site. You don’t need a plane ticket to see American history - just a good pair of shoes 🇺🇸 🥾