Explore the best rated trails in Kansas, whether you're looking an easy walking trail or a bike trail like the Prairie Spirit Trail State Park and Indian Creek Bike/Hike Trail. With more than 83 trails covering 573 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.
I went tonight for the first time, and some of the trail is better maintained as far as cracks... but, some is also filled with that black sticky seal coat and it can get a little rough.... Still a go to!
Started at south end and rode to the north end, then returned. Switched sides of river a couple times. The trail at each end isn’t as nice as the portion of trail at the middle part of the trail at the “Keeper of the Plains” plaza. The plaza area is very nice with a Veterans Memorial park to see in addition to the Keeper. Plenty of walkers and riders on the trail on a nice Saturday afternoon. Recommend this trail.
Took this spur off the Prairie Spirit Trail. It is a short trail leading to a park. The trail crosses a number of streets, one of them has a lot of traffic. Nothing special about the trail but did encounter a few walkers using it.
Took this spur off of the Southwind trail and rode a short distance into the trail system. The first portion of the trail has a course gravel surface, good for mountain bikes but not sure others would like so well. Once into the trail system the surface improves. This is a very wooded area with plenty of single track options to explore. If had more time would be worth trying more trails. Signage asks that riders stay off trails after rain, they can get real muddy and torn up.
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.
This was our first trail ride and we have ridden two sections with our city commuter type bicycles. Both were nice rides. First section was starting at Hoover Road going west. We found convenient parking at a nearby empty business lot. The trail was an easy smooth ride until we got near maize road where the trail intersects the Air Cap memorial park single track area which was rougher ride and we became completely confused where it comes close to Pawnee Prairie park and lost the trail. We could possibly have taken city streets to continue to Maize road but decided to go back instead. Next time we went out to Goddard KS where there is a very nice city park with convenient parking and rode East. Goddard does a very good job maintaining this section of the trail which was shaded and quiet and more like a ride in the country. We rode 4 miles east and then returned. The gravel was smooth and easy to ride on. However we found out going east on this section is a deceptive gradual down hill slope so the return was more of a struggle going up hill. Hope to return to Goddard again and make it all the way to maize road plus eventually ride west from Goddard on that section. We really enjoyed not having to fight with city traffic on the streets and the related traffic noise. It was a much more relaxing and stress free riding environment.
We stopped off in Topeka while on our quest to ride ride our bikes in ten different states in sixteen days. Our hotel was right on the trail at Fairlawn, so we jumped on the trail shortly after dawn on a crisp fall morning in October for an out and back ride.
We absolutely loved the first half of the ride through the greenway and parks to Shunga Glen Park and its colorful Rip On skate park. It was serene, peaceful, heavily wooded, and the air was filled with the songs and calls of birds as we passed through parks, nature areas, and charming neighborhoods with more bushy tailed squirrels than I have ever seen before!
The trail is smooth, and the curvy twists and turns add to the enjoyment! It is certainly a trail to be taken slowly, not only to enjoy its beauty, but because of all the locals walking and jogging. They most definitely know what a treasure this first portion is!
FIVE STARS!!
Unfortunately, the trail continues beyond Shunga Glen Park. We forged on past Fillmore at 21st into a business area, crossed Landon Path circle interchange, and into a heavily wooded area which smelled of camp fire smoke. It was at that moment we realized we had not been seeing the walkers or joggers like we had before. Where had all the fine citizens of Topeka out for their morning exercise go? Homeless then began materializing out of the woods, loud arguing could be heard within the trees, articles of clothing and trash were strewn alongside the trail, and a camp full of garbage appeared. It was at that point we didn't feel safe, so we threw in the towel a couple miles from the endpoint and turned around to enjoy the first half a second time!.
ZERO STARS.
It's one trail, but after Fillmore street it might as well be given different names such as:
Shunga Jekyll ~ Beautiful, serene, and a community treasure
Shunga Hyde ~ Scary, sketchy, and makes senior citizens feel unsafe
Started the trail at Riverside Park in Iola on the south end of the trail where the Southwind Railtrail begins. We rode north for a few miles. The trail surface was mostly paved while in town. At the edge of town the surface changes to the compacted finely crushed stone surface that isn’t much different than the paved surface. This is a wide surface with lots of room to ride two abreast. Nicely done trail. Time permitting worthy of further exploration. Noted all the trail are some mileage markers, in this section they are numbered in the low 100’s. Not sure the origin point in the north for the mileages.
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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