Find the top rated trails in Salina, whether you're looking an easy walking path or a long bike trail, you'll find what you're looking for. Click on a trail below to find trail descriptions, trail maps, photos, and reviews.
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Located in Junction City (about two hours west of Kansas City), the Riverwalk Trail winds along the north bank of the Republican River for nearly five miles between Fort Riley and Milford Dam. The...
The Meadowlark Trail in Kansas is a work in progress along a former Union Pacific railroad corridor stretching for 12.6 miles between the cities of McPherson and Lindsborg. The corridor was railbanked...
The Valkommen Trail runs for 2.5 miles along an abandoned section of the old Missouri-Pacific and Union Pacific rail beds. The trail features a renovated railroad bridge and is a popular trail for...
The Salina Levee Trail traverses the flood control levee along the west bank of the Smoky Hill River in Salina. The trail connects to parks, including the sprawling Bill Burke Sports Complex, as well...
The Marquette Pioneer Trail in tiny Marquette, Kansas, opened for use in 2013. The trail, which is surfaced with asphalt millings, primarily occupies a former railroad corridor spanning the town’s...
The Salina Levee Trail traverses the flood control levee along the west bank of the Smoky Hill River in Salina. The trail connects to parks, including the sprawling Bill Burke Sports Complex, as well...
The Valkommen Trail runs for 2.5 miles along an abandoned section of the old Missouri-Pacific and Union Pacific rail beds. The trail features a renovated railroad bridge and is a popular trail for...
The Meadowlark Trail in Kansas is a work in progress along a former Union Pacific railroad corridor stretching for 12.6 miles between the cities of McPherson and Lindsborg. The corridor was railbanked...
Located in Junction City (about two hours west of Kansas City), the Riverwalk Trail winds along the north bank of the Republican River for nearly five miles between Fort Riley and Milford Dam. The...
The Marquette Pioneer Trail in tiny Marquette, Kansas, opened for use in 2013. The trail, which is surfaced with asphalt millings, primarily occupies a former railroad corridor spanning the town’s...
Caution: In early May 2014, a severe thunderstorm caused the derailment of the train paralleling the Sunflower Santa Fe Trail. The one-mile stretch of trail on the west side of Galva was damaged as a...
In 2018, this 117-mile rail-trail across northeast Kansas officially became a state park. Formally known as the Flint Hills Nature Trail, the trail's new name is Flint Hills Trail State Park. It links...
The Valkommen Trail runs for 2.5 miles along an abandoned section of the old Missouri-Pacific and Union Pacific rail beds. The trail features a renovated railroad bridge and is a popular trail for...
In 2018, this 117-mile rail-trail across northeast Kansas officially became a state park. Formally known as the Flint Hills Nature Trail, the trail's new name is Flint Hills Trail State Park. It links...
The Salina Levee Trail traverses the flood control levee along the west bank of the Smoky Hill River in Salina. The trail connects to parks, including the sprawling Bill Burke Sports Complex, as well...
The Marquette Pioneer Trail in tiny Marquette, Kansas, opened for use in 2013. The trail, which is surfaced with asphalt millings, primarily occupies a former railroad corridor spanning the town’s...
The Meadowlark Trail in Kansas is a work in progress along a former Union Pacific railroad corridor stretching for 12.6 miles between the cities of McPherson and Lindsborg. The corridor was railbanked...
Located in Junction City (about two hours west of Kansas City), the Riverwalk Trail winds along the north bank of the Republican River for nearly five miles between Fort Riley and Milford Dam. The...
Caution: In early May 2014, a severe thunderstorm caused the derailment of the train paralleling the Sunflower Santa Fe Trail. The one-mile stretch of trail on the west side of Galva was damaged as a...
Great ride on a super nice spring day. The trails were in very good condition. The only problem that we encountered was the 2 mile (2.5 mile?) detour that is west of Ottawa. It is on gravel roads, which is no problem for gravel riders. There are also a lot of dogs, most are of no consequence... but be on the lookout for an Ill-tempered pit bull on the west end of the detour. The owner was there and able to contain him so we could pass. This is the only reason I couldn’t give our experience 5 stars. Next
Did a 25 mile out and back east of Council Grove. Overall good condition with a little loose stone. Quiet ride with beautiful views of the working and natural landscape.
I regularly do 40-50 on this trail. The best part is from Admire to Council Grove, both in terms of scenery and trail conditions. East of Admire has a lot of ballast that will slow you down. If you like solitude and scenery, it's the best trail in KS. If you like amenities, not so much. As for thorns, I use tire liners and have never had a single flat.
My son and I did an overnight leaving from Council Grove, camping at Vassar State Park and back to CG the next day. We had excellent weather and plenty of time to accomplish the 50+ miles in each direction. My bike handled the rough terrain well but my son's tires did not like the many thorns. We exhausted his extra tire and my 6 pack of patches. We even broke into my air mattress repair kit. Either go tubeless or make sure your tires can take a beating. Some very rough patches and THORNS! That aside - beautiful landscape and scenery! Say "hi" to the cows! Also, Vassar State Park is a beautiful camping area. Friendly people, too. Also, stop off in Allen and talk to Paul who runs the auto shop - super friendly and will sell you a coke for 50 cents. You can fill up on his free water, too. Stay a spell and let him tell you about his town. You won't be sorry.
I ran a short out and back--getting on the trail near 7th and Lincoln in Ottawa. It was a bit muddy in a few places, but otherwise not too bad. They had just replaced one of the bridges and looked like they were going to add side rails. I crossed two other bridges with no sides. The portion I was on looked like it might have some shade in the summer.
My wife and I did a S24O (sub-24-hour-overnighter) from Admire to Pomona Lake and back (~30 miles one-way - 60 miles round-trip) over Columbus Day weekend 2016. We stayed at Vassar State Park which has a nice shower house with running water, plumbing, electricity, and a laundromat. It is also right on the lake. Osage City is a nice midpoint stop over with a nearby Casey's and Sonic just a block or two off of the trail.
I would recommend diverting to the south of the trail a block or two in Osage City due to the active railroad, an unmaintained bridge, and an apparent private property dispute/temper-tantrum. The active railroad is the only signed feature, and that's with a do-not-pass barricade and sign. The railroad that crosses the trail is NOT at-grade, and will require an exceptionally expertly-timed bunny hop in loose ballast or a dismount and lift.
I rode a Surly Big Dummy with 26"x2.15+" width tires and my wife rode a Salsa Vaya with 700x40mm tires. We both had flats, although mine may have been due to an improperly tightened valve stem. Hers may have been a pinch flat, as there was no evident thorn or debris nearby or caught in the tire.
This segment of the trail (Admire to Pomona Lake) looks to have had limestone screenings laid down at some point in the past, but does not experience enough travel to keep the grass down. The trail is bumpy and muddy with loose ballast, pot holes, and washouts in sections. There are a few low-hanging branches to dodge, also.
All this being said, my wife and I rode the trail with one longtail bike plus rider plus camping equipment probably verging on 280-300 lbs mark, while my wife was on somewhat narrow 40mm wide tires with her camping gear, and we only had to dismount once due to a broad and deep mud hole.
If you're used to riding perfectly groomed limestone trails, or asphalt and concrete and don't know how to change a flat and aren't used to riding 10-15 miles on gravel and/or minimum maintenance roads, and can't carry more than a couple of water bottles, this portion may not be for you.
If you regularly mountain bike or ride gravel, and know how to change a tube, and are prepared to NOT have water spigots every 2-5 miles, this is a fun segment, particularly for a quick bikepacking overnighter. . .
Pomona Lake's Vassar State Park is close to the trail and has a laundromat and showerhouse with plumbing and electricity and a motel and restaurant nearby.
Osage City is right on the trail with a Casey's and Sonic in plain view at one intersection.
Run tubeless or with tire liners. Have a hand tire pump handy.
Pack extra water. . .Osage City (~15 miles) is the first place with clean water access between Admire and Pomona Lake that would appear to be readily and regularly handy unless you want to knock on doors.
On September 15, 2016 I rode both parts of the trail from Lindsborg south and from McPherson north on a Cyclocross bike and found the trial in great shape especially on the Lindsborg side. The ride from the Lindsborg trail head is a beautiful one with lots of shade and from McPherson a wonderful ride through mostly farm land with lots of sunflowers along the trail. There is some crop waste on much of the trial on the McPherson side but nothing that caused any problems to ride or walk through. While it is a shame there is a 5 mile piece missing in the middle of the trail it is a short jog from the trail ends to old US 81 highway so a nice 12.5 mile ride one way is still available.
Spent several days doing different portions of this trail while camping at Council Grove in June. Rode East of Council Grove to Bushong and back (30 miles round trip) one day. Then another day started at Osage City and rode west to Allen and then back to Osage City (40 miles round trip), and then east past Lake Pomona and back to Osage City (30 miles round trip). Lots of biking hours in solitude and fantastic scenery of the Flint Hills. Lots of tree canopy covering the trail in some places. It is pretty flat so biking is pretty easy. The biggest issue is that you need to be self supported since there are almost no services for many miles. You certainly shouldn't try this without very good puncture resistant tires. I use Stan's Notubes and Specialized Armadillo tires and sure encountered some thorns but this was no problem with self-sealing tires. I covered over 100 miles with no delays due to flats. Lots of wildlife, and saw no other bikers on the trail on any day. Some parts are a bit rough, so a Hybrid or mountain bike (my preference) is best. Sure don't try it on a road bike. If you want a smoother trail with lots of services, then the Katy Trail in Missouri is a nice option.
We did 25 mile round trip with cyclocross bikes. Loved it! The first couple of miles weren't that interesting, but after that the prairie and woods were beautiful. We would much prefer this kind of trail than going through farmland.
Took the trail head from Bushlong to Council Grove and back .The trail was well maintained, clean and very few travels.
Rode the trail today (8/23/2015) from Lake Pomona to Osage City. The trail would be very good for mountain biking. My hybrid/fitness bike (Trek 7.2FX with 700x35 tires) did the job, but the trail is rough in a few spots. I read the stories about getting flats on this trail, so I came prepared. I only got 1 flat, from a thorn. Only saw 1 other person on the trail today, a runner. This trail could be really great with a little bit of grooming. Encountered quite a few spider webs, and many grasshoppers. Also saw a coyote which was cool.
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