Ottawa, KS Birding Trails and Maps

311 Reviews

Looking for the best Birding trails around Ottawa?

Find the top rated birding trails in Ottawa, whether you're looking for an easy short birding trail or a long birding trail, you'll find what you're looking for. Click on a birding trail below to find trail descriptions, trail maps, photos, and reviews.

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Activities
Length
Surfaces
Type
62 Results
Activities
Length
Surfaces
Type

133rd Street Path

7 mi
State: KS
Asphalt, Concrete

Blue River Parkway Trail

4.1 mi
State: MO
Asphalt, Concrete

Burroughs Creek Trail and Linear Park

1.7 mi
State: KS
Concrete

Cedar Niles Park Trail

4 mi
State: KS
Asphalt

Coffee Creek Streamway Trail

3.4 mi
State: KS
Asphalt

Gardner Greenway Corridor

1.6 mi
State: KS
Asphalt

Gary L. Haller Trail

15.95 mi
State: KS
Asphalt

Haskell Rail-Trail

0.78 mi
State: KS
Concrete

Indian Creek Trail (KS, MO)

25.8 mi
State: KS, MO
Asphalt, Concrete

Kill Creek Streamway Trail

7 mi
State: KS
Asphalt

Lake Shawnee Trail

6.6 mi
State: KS
Concrete

Landon Trail

24 mi
State: KS
Concrete, Crushed Stone

Lawrence Levee Trail

9.3 mi
State: KS
Crushed Stone

Lehigh Portland Trails

2.25 mi
State: KS
Crushed Stone, Dirt, Gravel

Little Mill Creek Trail

4.1 mi
State: KS
Asphalt, Concrete

Maurer Road Path

1.6 mi
State: KS
Concrete

Prairie Spirit Trail State Park

51.3 mi
State: KS
Asphalt, Crushed Stone

S. Lawrence Trafficway Trail

11.6 mi
State: KS
Concrete

SMP Paved Trail

2 mi
State: KS
Asphalt

Shunga Trail

7.63 mi
State: KS
Concrete
Accordion

Southwind Rail Trail

6.5 mi
State: KS
Crushed Stone

Tomahawk Creek Greenway

12.2 mi
State: KS
Asphalt

Turkey Creek Streamway Trail

3.65 mi
State: KS
Asphalt, Concrete

151st Street Path

7.5 mi
State: KS
Asphalt, Concrete

Flint Hills Trail State Park

118 mi
State: KS
Ballast, Crushed Stone

Longview Lake Trail (MO)

6.5 mi
State: MO
Concrete, Crushed Stone

Riverfront Heritage Trail

8.6 mi
State: KS, MO
Asphalt, Concrete

Center Street Trail

0.5 mi
State: KS
Concrete

Deer Creek Trail

4.36 mi
State: KS
Concrete

Gardner Road Trail

1.3 mi
State: KS
Asphalt

Harry Wiggins Trolley Track Trail

6 mi
State: MO
Asphalt, Crushed Stone

Madison Street Trail

1 mi
State: KS
Asphalt

Mahaffie Creek Trail

1.7 mi
State: KS
Asphalt

Missouri Pacific Recreational Trail

0.5 mi
State: KS
Concrete

Prairie Star Parkway Path

4.7 mi
State: KS
Asphalt

Rolling Ridge Trail

2.3 mi
State: KS
Asphalt

Nall Avenue Path

3.7 mi
State: KS
Asphalt, Concrete

Shawnee Mission Parkway Trail

2 mi
State: KS
Asphalt, Concrete

143rd Street Path

4.2 mi
State: KS
Asphalt, Concrete

159th Street Path

3 mi
State: KS
Concrete

20th Street Trafficway Path

3.2 mi
State: KS
Concrete

6th Street Path

2 mi
State: KS
Concrete

79th Street Path

1 mi
State: KS
Asphalt

95th Street Path

0.5 mi
State: KS
Asphalt

Armourdale Levee Trail

1.3 mi
State: KS
Crushed Stone

Blackbob Road Trail

4 mi
State: KS
Concrete

Blackfish Parkway Trail

1.5 mi
State: KS
Concrete

Brush Creek Trail (MO)

2 mi
State: MO
Concrete

Clinton Parkway Trail

4 mi
State: KS
Asphalt, Concrete

Eastbrooke Trail

1.9 mi
State: KS
Asphalt

Highline Trail (MO)

0.72 mi
State: MO
Asphalt

Lackman Road Path

1.5 mi
State: KS
Concrete

Midland Drive Path

1 mi
State: KS
Concrete

Monticello Road Path

1.4 mi
State: KS
Concrete

Northpointe Trail

0.21 mi
State: MO
Asphalt

Olathe Heritage Trail

2.3 mi
State: KS
Asphalt, Boardwalk, Concrete

Rock Creek Trail (KS)

1.65 mi
State: KS
Asphalt, Concrete

Soldier Creek Trail

1.8 mi
State: KS
Concrete

Switzer Road Trail

2.5 mi
State: KS
Asphalt

W. Santa Fe Street Path

2.3 mi
State: KS
Concrete
Trail Image Trail Name States Length Surface Rating
The four disconnected sections of the 133rd Street Path run though the communities of Olathe, Overland Park and Leawood outside Kansas City. The trail parallels sections of 133rd and 132nd Streets,...
KS 7 mi Asphalt, Concrete
The Blue River Parkway Trail winds along both banks of its namesake river on the southern outskirts of Kansas City. The paved route begins in Minor Park and heads north, passing Alex George Lake and...
MO 4.1 mi Asphalt, Concrete
The Burroughs Creek Trail and Linear Park runs from 11th to 23rd streets along an abandoned rail corridor just west of Haskell Avenue in Lawrence, Kansas. The trail was made possible through the work...
KS 1.7 mi Concrete
Cedar Niles Park occupies over 950-acres of mixed woodland, streams and wildflowers in Johnson County, Kansas. The park features bike and walking trails to appeal to a variety of tastes. There are...
KS 4 mi Asphalt
Pedestrians and cyclists alike can take advantage of these 3.4 miles of smooth asphalt trail for exercise in a calm outdoor setting. The trail sits within a greenway along Coffee Creek and winds...
KS 3.4 mi Asphalt
The Gardner Greenway Corridor is a paved trail connecting Winwood Park and Brookside Park in Gardner, Kansas. The trail runs through open space alongside dense woodlands within the two parks. The...
KS 1.6 mi Asphalt
Overview The entirety of the Gary L. Haller Trail lies within scenic Mill Creek Streamway Park. The trail also parallels an active rail line for about 1.8 miles at the southern end of the...
KS 15.95 mi Asphalt
The Haskell Rail-Trail, billed as the ‘first operational rail-trail in Kansas’, spans the eastern edge of the campus of Haskell Indian Nations University in Lawrence. In the north, the trail connects...
KS 0.78 mi Concrete
Overview The Indian Creek Trail links two states, four communities, and a multitude of parks along Indian Creek. The trail provides numerous connections to the surrounding areas, making it an...
KS, MO 25.8 mi Asphalt, Concrete
The Kill Creek Streamway Trail exists in 2 segments: the northern segment begins near Lexington Avenue in De Sort and winds south of 95th along Kill Creek. The southern segment picks up in Kill Creek...
KS 7 mi Asphalt
Lake Shawnee opened in 1939 as a project of the Works Progress Administration and has been providing the residents and visitors of Topeka with a host of recreational opportunities since that time. A...
KS 6.6 mi Concrete
When complete, the Landon Trail will follow a 40-mile corridor of the former Missouri Pacific Railroad, running between Topeka and an intersection with the 117-mile Flint Hills Nature Trail west of...
KS 24 mi Concrete, Crushed Stone
Located along the north bank of the Kansas River, the Lawrence Levee Trail runs along the top of the flood-control levee on the outskirts of Lawrence. The trail offers views of nearby farmland and the...
KS 9.3 mi Crushed Stone
This collection of trails was built of the site of a former cement plant and quarry along the banks of Elm Creek in Iola, Kansas. There are over 2.25 miles of gravel rail-trails occupying the railbeds...
KS 2.25 mi Crushed Stone, Dirt, Gravel
The Little Mill Creek Trail offers a pleasant, woodsy route through Lenexa, about 14 miles southwest of Kansas City. The trail begins at Blackfish Parkway (along which you can hop on the Blackfish...
KS 4.1 mi Asphalt, Concrete
Maurer Road Path parallels its namesake roadway for just over a mile in the city of Shawnee on the outskirts of Kansas City. The north-south route connects residential and shopping areas and, at its...
KS 1.6 mi Concrete
Spanning 51 miles, the Prairie Spirit Trail State Park runs from Ottawa to Iola, offering plenty of recreation and enjoyment for birdwatchers, cyclists, walkers, joggers and anyone with a desire to...
KS 51.3 mi Asphalt, Crushed Stone
The S. Lawrence Trafficway Trail loosely follows the S. Lawrence Trafficway—also known as State Route 10—on the outskirts of the city of Lawrence. The trail passes by new residential developments,...
KS 11.6 mi Concrete
Situated within Shawnee Mission Park in Lenexa, the SMP Paved Trail offers a pleasant way for park visitors to experience the surrounding beauty without their car. The trail provides access to many of...
KS 2 mi Asphalt
Traversing the city of Topeka through a stream valley, the Shunga Trail provides an important connection between residents and community features such as parks, medical facilities, government...
KS 7.63 mi Concrete
Accordion
The Southwind Rail Trail opened in 2013 for recreation and active transportation use on a converted railroad corridor stretching between the small southeast Kansas cities of Iola and Humboldt. The...
KS 6.5 mi Crushed Stone
Overview The Tomahawk Creek Greenway follows its namesake waterway through the Kansas City suburbs of Overland Park and Leawood for 12.2 miles. About the Route Along its entire route, the...
KS 12.2 mi Asphalt
Paralleling Turkey Creek from the Waterfall Park north of Kansas City for nearly four miles south to downtown Kansas City, the Turkey Creek Streamway Trail provides useful connections to a number of...
KS 3.65 mi Asphalt, Concrete
As you might imagine, the 151st Street Path is a sidepath along 151st Street though Olathe and Overland Park outside Kansas City. The path provides access to commercial centers, schools, parks,...
KS 7.5 mi Asphalt, Concrete
Overview In 2018, this 118-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...
KS 118 mi Ballast, Crushed Stone
This multiuse trail invites lake visitors to walk, run or ride along Longview Lake. The reservoir was constructed by the Army Corps of Engineers for the triple purposes of flood control, conservation...
MO 6.5 mi Concrete, Crushed Stone
Overview The Riverfront Heritage Trail is located in the heart of Kansas City, Missouri. This downtown 8.6-mile trail showcases the city’s heritage, as well as its continuously redeveloping...
KS, MO 8.6 mi Asphalt, Concrete
The Center Street Trail is little more than a sidepath paralleling N. Center Street in the community of Gardner. The trail provides recreation and transportation opportunities to the residents of...
KS 0.5 mi Concrete
Topeka's Deer Creek Trail follows the eponymous waterway for more than 4 miles through the eastern part of the city. Just south of where Deer Creek meets Shunganunga Creek, the trail turns west,...
KS 4.36 mi Concrete
The Gardner Road Trail parallels S. Gardner Road on the southern side of Gardner, Kansas. The sidepath travels through a low density suburban community and connects residences with parks and religious...
KS 1.3 mi Asphalt
Closure Notice: At the northern end of the trail, there is a small detour in place between E 51st St. and E 49th St. for new streetcar construction. This closure is expected to last through Spring...
MO 6 mi Asphalt, Crushed Stone
Paralleling W. Madison Street, the Madison Street Trail is a sidepath that provides access between nearby residences and public facilities. Gardner Edgerton High School is located near the western end...
KS 1 mi Asphalt
Winding nearly two miles through suburban Olathe, the Mahaffie Creek Trail offers connections to the beautiful Mill Creek Streamway Park, schools and the city's northern neighborhoods. Much of the...
KS 1.7 mi Asphalt
Opened in 2015, the Missouri Pacific Recreational Trail (or Mo-Pac Trail) is a half-mile multi-use pathway located in Iola, Kansas. While short, the trail nonetheless provides valuable connections: it...
KS 0.5 mi Concrete
Though it exists in three disconnected sections, the Prairie Star Parkway Path is an excellent resource for the western side of the suburban community of Lenexa. The asphalt trail is a sidepath to the...
KS 4.7 mi Asphalt
The Rolling Ridge Trail winds through the city of Olathe on the southwestern outskirts of Kansas City. At its northern end, the paved route provides access to Prairie Center Park, a 75-acre...
KS 2.3 mi Asphalt
The Nall Avenue Path is a paved sidepath along Nall Avenue, its namesake. The path offers connections to the residents of the Kansas City suburb of Overland Park, providing access to apartments,...
KS 3.7 mi Asphalt, Concrete
The Shawnee Mission Parkway Trail runs for 2 miles along the south side of the roadway. While not scenic, the paved route offers connections to restaurants, shops, and offices in Merriam, a...
KS 2 mi Asphalt, Concrete
The 143rd Street Path is a sidepath along W. 143rd Street in Overland Park. The trail offers access to the surrounding residential communities as well as nearby schools, religious faclities and...
KS 4.2 mi Asphalt, Concrete
The 159th Street Path unsurprisingly parallels W. 159th St. in Olathe. The trail provides access to commercial, industrial and residential facilities, as well as Chisholm Trail Middle School and the...
KS 3 mi Concrete
As a side path to a busy thoroughfare, the 20th Street Trafficway Path provides both an excellent recreational opportunity for the surrounding communities and a safe commuting alternative for...
KS 3.2 mi Concrete
The 6th Street Path runs along W. 6th Street—also signed as US 40—in Lawrence. The side path provides safe access to residential and commercial facilities along the busy road. At its western end, the...
KS 2 mi Concrete
Although only a mile long, the 79th Street Path connects important recreational amenities in Lenexa, a southwestern suburb of Kansas City. The paved, east-west route parallels its namesake roadway...
KS 1 mi Asphalt
The 95th Street Path is a paved, half-mile route through Lenexa, part of the Kansas City metro area. The trail is separated from the roadway by a wide grassy median and is surrounded by residences on...
KS 0.5 mi Asphalt
The Armourdale Levee Trail offers an unpaved route (hybrids or mountain bikes are recommended) of just over a mile through Kansas City, Kansas, along a Kansas River levee. Opening in 2014, the trail...
KS 1.3 mi Crushed Stone
Paralleling Blackbob Road through the community of Olathe, just outside of Kansas City, the Blackbob Road Trail is a great opportunity for local trail users. The path connects nearby homes to schools,...
KS 4 mi Concrete
Blackfish Parkway Trail lies in the southwestern corner of Shawnee, a suburb of Kansas City. Although the trail follows a major roadway, much of the route is lined with mature trees and nice homes....
KS 1.5 mi Concrete
The Brush Creek Trail offers a serene and scenic walking and biking experience in southeast Kansas City. The concrete greenway occupies both the north and south banks of Brush Creek, which was...
MO 2 mi Concrete
The Clinton Parkway Trail parallels Clinton Parkway on the southwest side of Lawrence, Kansas. The trail provides access for nearby residents to a number of community facilities and commercial...
KS 4 mi Asphalt, Concrete
The Eastbrooke Trail forms a useful link between the city of Olathe's 133rd Street Path and the lengthy regional backbone, the Indian Creek Bike/Hike Trail. This paved, short trail serves as a nice...
KS 1.9 mi Asphalt
This is a shared use path adjacent to one of Kansas City's major east-west conduits. The concrete path sits on the wide grassy verge of the boulevard, which is named for a former mayor.  On the...
MO 1.8 mi Concrete
Not to be confused with the nearby unpaved Haskell Rail Trail, this shared-use path runs along the west side of Haskell Avenue. The trail picks up from the S. Lawrence Trafficway Trail and heads north...
KS 0.8 mi Concrete
The Highline Trail is only 0.7 miles, running from State Route YY southwest to Main Street. This short and easy walk, ride or roll was built on a former railroad bed, likely that of the Frisco...
MO 0.72 mi Asphalt
Lackman Road Path begins across from Swarner Park, where you'll find a number of recreational amenities, including sports fields, a playground, fishing pond, and skate park. From there, you head south...
KS 1.5 mi Concrete
Located in Shawnee, a suburb of Kansas City, the Midland Drive Path offers a paved mile-long east-west route paralleling the southern side of its namesake roadway through the city. Views are a mix of...
KS 1 mi Concrete
The Monticello Road Path offers a paved north-south route through Shawnee on the western outskirts of Kansas City. It connects shopping areas, housing subdivisions and schools. At the north end of...
KS 1.4 mi Concrete
The Northpointe Trail is a .21 mile asphalt path that runs alongside Peculiar Drive from 213th St almost to 211th St. Trees line the non-road side of the trail and shelter it from the few buildings it...
MO 0.21 mi Asphalt
The Olathe Heritage Trail provides an off-road connection between two popular local parks, making this a surprisingly useful and rather scenic trail considering its length and suburban...
KS 2.3 mi Asphalt, Boardwalk, Concrete
Rock Creek Trail is a multi-use path running west-east across Mission, Kansas. The concrete multi-use path invites to residents to travel from their homes to shopping and recreation destinations...
KS 1.65 mi Asphalt, Concrete
Soldier Creek Trail is a hiking and biking trail in Topeka, Kansas. The concrete trail mimics the course of the stream, winding for 1.8 miles through residential and recreational areas. The eastern...
KS 1.8 mi Concrete
The Switzer Road Trail parallels Switzer Road in Overland Park. The sidepath connects to the 133rd Street Path, 143rd Street Path, 151st Street Path and Tomahawk Creek Trail, making it an important...
KS 2.5 mi Asphalt
Passing through the suburban community of Olathe, the W. Santa Fe Street Path is a sidepath that parallels W. Santa Fe Street. The path connects residential neighborhoods, commercial centers,...
KS 2.3 mi Concrete

Recent Trail Reviews

Indian Creek Trail (KS, MO)

Really nice

October, 2024 by hollymehl

We rode bikes on Indian Creek Trail between State Line all the way to the Blue River Trail and thought it was really beautiful.

Indian Creek Trail (KS, MO)

Really nice

October, 2024 by hollymehl

We rode bikes on Indian Creek Trail between State Line all the way to the Blue River Trail and thought it was really beautiful.

Prairie Spirit Trail State Park

Excellent condition, but

October, 2024 by montanasky155

We rode from Iola to Ottawa, using a bike shuttle out of Ottawa. The trail was in great condition with the exception of some large center cracks closer to Iola which are easy to avoid but you need to be aware of them. Also the bathrooms we used were clean.
On the downside, we felt very walled in by all the brush along both sides of the trail. We really wanted to enjoy and see the countryside but only got limited peeks. Even the benches along the way were boxed in by brush and all a person would see is brush.
This trail needs to be opened up. Even periodic view sheds along the way would be a huge improvement .

Accordion

Prairie Spirit Trail State Park

Iola Trailhead to Colony Trailhead and back

September, 2024 by paulz

0n 9/20/24, we rode on mostly crushed stone for a round trip distance of 20 miles. 32 c tires would be suitable. Need to be careful of the many deep ruts in the direction of travel. They will surely ruin your day. The trail was mostly shady. We encountered many branches across the trail. There must have been a severe storm the day before. There were also numerous spider webs across the trail. In the 20 mile trip, we never encountered another person on the trail. Restrooms at Caryle and Colony trailheads. Water at Colony and Iola trailheads.

Prairie Spirit Trail State Park

Coming back!

August, 2024 by dpate

I was traveling in the area and needed to kill a little time and found the Prairie Spirit Trail. I parked in Ottawa and rode south a few miles. I normally don’t ride gravel but this was superb. I turned around and rode back north on the paved trail in town to the end. I was not able to enjoy the entire trail but I will return here now that I’ve discovered it. I give this one five stars! Traveling cyclist Facebook

Riverfront Heritage Trail

good luck finding this.

August, 2024 by michaelraydunaway

I biked the streets of KC which are all under construction. I did 21.5 miles. Never really found the trail & I looked. If you stay in town you can bike from a hotel.

Flint Hills Trail State Park

Enjoy the solitude

August, 2024 by brian_thomas

I rode an electric bike with 4" tires on three separate rides. All of them were about 10 miles out and back (in 2 days):
Council Grove heading East,
Allen heading West, and
Ottawa heading East.
I drove from Texas to ride them and they did not disappoint! I came for the solitude and the scenery. The western end was reminiscent of scenes from Dances With Wolves. The eastern end was more wooded and shaded. I hope to return to ride other parts too.

Nall Avenue Path

extra wide sidewalk

July, 2024 by begbpc

Extra wide sidewalk for bikes too. Not very smooth but leads to I-Alan park and path connecting to TC trail.

Tomahawk Creek Greenway

detours

June, 2024 by khughes2000

Detours from 69 construction make this confusing to get to where you want to go. Hopefully when the construction is done it will be easier. Need some better Detour signs. Nice ride thru the trees.

Coffee Creek Streamway Trail

Great trail for inline speed skating or just regular inline skating. It wasn't crowded, and the people that I passed responded well to my bike bell (also, slow down and be polite as you pass ¿)

June, 2024 by blommer.mike

Great trail for inline speed skating or just regular inline skating. It wasn't crowded, and the people that I passed responded well to my bike bell (also, slow down and be polite as you pass ¿)

Prairie Spirit Trail State Park

Ottawa to Princeton - lots of shade

May, 2024 by nanborchardt_tl

Lodging note. There is a new Holiday Inn Express on the Prairie Spirit Trail in Ottawa (just off I-35). They even have a short sidewalk connecting the 30’ between their parking lot and the actual trail. After getting on the main trail south of I-35, the trail is 90% canopied by the trees. In sections it’s just a green tunnel- great for hot sunny days. And rabbits. Lots and lots of rabbits. :o). Even saw a Bobcat run across the trail. out in front of us.

Harry Wiggins Trolley Track Trail

Trail Closure

May, 2024 by kautrey1776

The trail is closed between 75th and 73th streets. It is possible to turn east to Wyandotte, go 4 blocks then turn west to return to the route.

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