Explore the best rated trails in Salina, KS. Whether you're looking for an easy walking trail or a bike trail like the Flint Hills Trail State Park and Marquette Pioneer Trail. With more than 7 trails covering 142 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.
This trail now officially/unofficially starts in Osawatomee or mile zero at the corner of 12th and South Street.
My wife dropped me off at mile zero trailhead in Osawatomee and I met her at the depot museum in Ottawa. We then rode to Pamona. Nice ride but a section is closed between Ottawa and Pamona and you must take gravel rodes for a short 3 miles or so.
We have ridden this several times over the years. They definitely maintain it better. Today we road Osawatie? To Ottawa. We did 40 miles out and back. Rantoul had no amenities.
This is a fun trail to hike. The Flint Hills are beautiful. Prairie wild flowers were in full bloom. Great communities all along the trail.
One item of note that is not widely advertised especially for out of state riders is that the section of the Flint Hill Trails from the Western Terminus in Herrington to Council Grove {~25 miles} is closed and has been for a while. We arrived to start our Flint Hills adventure to find that section of the Trail in disrepair due to the lack of maintenance as there was 12” to 18” high grass and vegetation to include 5’ tall saplings. There are two more closures experienced on the trail – in Osage City, the trail abruptly ends without any detour signs and recommend just ride on the streets until you are out of the city limits and then rejoin the trail. Finally, the trail is closed headed East from Ottawa about a mile after going under I-35 but there is a marked detour that puts you on gravel roads and gets you back on the trail rapidly but beware of an aggressive dog of a pit bull mix.
We relocated to Council Grove in order to start our journey to the Western Terminus at Osawatomie. Overall, the trail was in great condition and was pleasantly amazed that a majority of the bridges on the trail were recently replaced. Another feature I have never seen before was that that the concrete surfaced bridges were covered in limestone which made for a smooth transition on and off the bridges.
There was tree canopy on some of the trail and a majority was tree lined to aid in blocking the Kansas winds as we experienced a steady 25 MPH gusting to 40 MPH crosswind on both days.
They are adding new restrooms at a majority of the trailheads and they looked to be 90% construction complete.
Finally, beware of branches that are actually snakes (Water Moccasins) and these were experienced between Ottawa and Osawatomie due to all the water features on both sides of the trail.
Our quest to ride in every state in America landed us in Vassar, Kansas, a one-horse town about 30 miles south of Topeka, at a trailhead for the Flint Hills Nature Trail. Thankfully, we’d read that it was near a grain silo, otherwise, we might have missed the small dirt clearing we used as a parking lot.
The seventh longest rail-trail in America, the Flint Hills Trail stretches 117 miles across eastern Kansas on what used to be the Missouri Pacific Railroad. Today, it is a crushed stone path with occasional pieces of shale and deeply rutted soft dirt. Riding was slow and bumpy the first several miles and we had to keep a tight grip on our handlebars. The trail was straight as an arrow and flat as a pancake, although the rolling Flint Hills surrounded us. We’d read that there were turkeys and bobcats in the area, the latter of which we may have seen earlier in the day when what we thought was a large, healthy fox darted across the highway. Actually, the only wildlife we encountered while biking were very loud flying insects that reminded us of the cicadas that plague the mid-Atlantic every 17 years.
The trail was lined with scrubby cedars and other trees that formed a narrow screen between us and the farmland on either side. These provided some shade on what otherwise would have been a scorching ride in the summer sun. About every mile, we passed through a gateway with a post on either side, that looked, from a distance, like approaching figures. In fact, we only passed one other bike and two pedestrians during our two-hour ride. The trail widened and improved after we passed through a gateway onto a very broad two-lane roadway with well-packed dirt and cinder.
Award-winning beers awaited us at a brewery outside of Topeka.
Asked Ottawa Bike Shop owner which direction to go on either trail. He suggested eastbound so thats where we headed. Only rode 5 miles before heading back to Ottawa. Great trail, a little wet but very pleased how our fat tire ebikes performed in these conditions, just perfect. This part of the trail almost all canopied, very nice. Definitely going to come back, go further.
Started from south trailhead. Very nice crushed stone path. Large parking area with pit toilet restroom. Parking area could have used a good cleanup. Very trashy. Trail was nice and clean though. Saw a number of walkers/runners within first mile of trail and then no one. The trail zig and zags through the trees and along the river offering views of it on occasion. The trail is on part of Fort Riley and a portion is well marked to stay on trail due to presence of old unexploded ordnance. Not shown on the traillink map but at about 2 mile point the trail splits and then rejoins about a mile later, either direction is nice. One small section has some erosion and caution is needed in that area. Overall nice trail through the trees. Would do this one again.
Started the trail at Vasar and rode 11 miles west. The first seven miles were on mostly crushed stone that has been in use for many years. It was nice riding but did have some soft spots from recent rains. The final four miles were on a new trail surface of finely crushed stone, nearly like sand but well compacted making for a very smooth ride. Not exactly like a paved surface but close to it. This portion of trail had many trees along side and is mostly straight with some grade but very little. We enjoyed the ride through the countryside.
Good natural surface with some overgrowth attempting to encroach on the trail. We didn’t ride full length, started at connection with Valkommen trail in Lindsborg. Would be worth riding more, time permitting. Would be nice one trail completed.
Nicely done trail with lots of information signs along the trail telling the history of the town and the Swedish folks that settled in the area. Paved and wide trail. South end has a connection to the Meadowlark trail for a more countryside ride. Recommend this trail when in the area. A number of other riders/walkers encountered on the trail, all with a friendly wave and Hi!
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