Explore the best rated trails in Independence, MO, whether you're looking for an easy walking trail or a bike trail like the Burroughs Creek Trail and Linear Park and Rock Creek Trail (KS) . With more than 74 trails covering 368 miles you're bound to find a perfect trail for you. Click on any trail below to find trail descriptions, trail maps, photos, and reviews.
The south-end trailhead at Northgate is closed until Jan 2026.
First, it amazes me how well communities care for the trails. We are so lucky to have access to so many nice trails in western MO and eastern KS. Rode about 19 miles today starting at the Porter Memorial Playground off Little Blue and Jackson Drive. We went south first and didn't get far before we found the trail closed to construction, then went north to find a crew removing a downed tree (great work and thanks!) then got as far as the bridge just south of Bundschu Road to find the bridge closed. Really would like to ride the entire trail some day, but this was farther than we got the first time. Trail was in excellent condition.
What a wonderful trail ride! Very well maintained! On a Friday, I started at north trailhead, Mill Creek Streamway Park, named after the original mill built for the Shawnee. Explored Nelson Island before heading south to the southern terminus at Woodland and Northgate. A great ride with ups and downs, switchbacks, and a good number of nice bridges. A fair number of riders, walkers and runners. The trail had a centerline so everyone stayed in their lane. A great Johnson County Kansas trail that I will ride again!
The paved section of this trail that is on the south side of Warrensburg is very poorly maintained. For cycling, the pavement is in terrible condition. Once you get out of the city limits the pavement does improve, however, a portion of the trail actually just becomes a wide section of DD hwy. There is loose gravel and debris all over this section from the road. As you get closer to Knob Noster State Park, the trail improves but is definitely not for casual cyclists. The hills into the park are very steep.
We rode bikes on Indian Creek Trail between State Line all the way to the Blue River Trail and thought it was really beautiful.
We rode bikes on Indian Creek Trail between State Line all the way to the Blue River Trail and thought it was really beautiful.
I rode this trail on September 16, 2024. The signs on the trail are present but on "first look" can be missed by the uninitiated and once read are still slightly confusing. The signs are simply "waist high mile marker posts " showing directional arrows and text point to both access roads nearby (there are many!) as well as general trail direction. So read the signs carefully your first time out! The needed info is on these posts, albeit in a confusing manner.
The trail has "a few smaller hills" that should be considered closer to beginner level: they are not exceedingly long or tall for most folks. The majority of the trail trends as flat IMO.
The trail is fun to ride and certainly has scenic beauty. The trail path is a bit wider than I expected and the surface is in excellent shape at the time of my ride.
My greatest challenge was finding the zero mile starting point! The trail map on this web site, and on Google maps, are both technically incorrect. The trail's actual starting point is in the EH Young Riverfront Park parking lot, immediately east of the Argosy Casino property, next to the restrooms and the river. This park is also, by far, the best place to park anywhere on the southern part of the trail.
The trail is very conveniently close to the Hilton Garden Inn I was staying at.
The first mile is ok, starts around mile marker 11.2. Turned right. The trail is cement and in good condition.
The surroundings get better as you progress (counting down).
Once you get to MM 10, you are in an open field area, alongside a meandering creek.
I really enjoyed the portion past MM 9 all the way to MM 7.6 The trail transitions back and forth from cement to crushed stone.
The stone parts are good, but a little precarious in a couple spots.
Several small bridges that pass over the creek(s) are nice and in good condition.
The part that passes behind the football fields is cool.
I plan to revisit and park at the lot near MM 8 and adventure further down the trail.
Very nice trail that I rode a few miles on after connecting from the Line Creek Trail. I like the trail but the highway roar was too annoying for me. I did not complete it because of this. Great trail but too noisy. Traveling cyclist Facebook
I want to give this trail more than five stars! A lot of it is curvy and hilly through woods and along water. I can’t think of anything this trail lacks. I started at the trailhead at Waukomis Drive and road north, then turned back and rode south to the casino and back. This first couple hills got me a bit winded and it seemed it was mainly uphill going north. I rode on a Saturday morning threatening rain, I saw a lot of walkers but few cyclists. I relied on Trailink map to keep me on the trail. Super stoked to ride it again! Traveling cyclist Facebook
I turned off Line Creek Trail to check this trail out. It’s great for the locals to access the Line Creek Trail. It is very short but 5 stars from me. Traveling cyclist Facebook
TrailLink is a free service provided by Rails-to-Trails Conservancy (a non-profit) and we need your support!
Scan the QR code to get TrailLink on your phone
