Find the top rated horseback riding trails in Kansas, whether you're looking for an easy short horseback riding trail or a long horseback riding trail, you'll find what you're looking for. Click on a horseback riding trail below to find trail descriptions, trail maps, photos, and reviews.
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We started at Mile Zero and rode out 15 miles and rode back. The trail is beautiful and well maintained but also has a rustic feeling to it. Most parts were crushed limestone and some parts were bigger gravel rock. Be prepared for no restrooms or official rest areas on this segment. We will definitely ride this trail again!
I rode the entire trail in June 2025 from Osawatomie to Council Grove and back, detouring through Lyndon to avoid construction. I had planned to ride to Herrington, but found that section closed. I say don't advertise that it's 118 miles long until it is! (I see it was just inducted into the Conservancy Hall of Fame touting its 118 mile length.) I travel the country to do multi-day rides on rail trails over a 100 miles long. Came up short on this one.
That said, I had an excellent ride. Had no issues with trail surfaces. On all my rail trail tours, I like to support the local economy and found several good restaurant stops along the way. I highly recommend the ride. Just don't expect it to be 118 miles long.
Enjoyed this little community trail. Rode on Main St to the cemetery which is a wide and lightly traveled.
Great place to ride with kids. Perfectly flat, wide and of packed rock chips. Not pavement, but close. We park in the parking lot just north of the Bowersock dam and ride east in the evenings. Great place to watch the sunset, and often see wildlife. Grandson counted 83 deer one ride on Thanksgiving weekend. Often sit a while where we access the trail, to watch the Kansas River flow over the dam. Great place for watching eagles in the fall and winter.
I rode this trail in May 2025. There were many cracks on the trail with weeds growing in them. I know cracks are needed in cement for expanding and contracting, so it is what it is. I appreciate any trail and those who made them and maintain them. A section of the trail is crushed limestone. The trail goes through some open areas and along the industrial part of town. Not that close to it, since the trail is on a levee. I had used the parking lot, so I did not explore where the short spurs into town went. I'm not sure I ever saw the Arkansas River due to foliage on the trees and it might have been just" a trickle" as the write-up mentioned. A port-a pot of some kind would have been nice in the parking lot. The write-up says 7 miles, but I only got to 6 from the parking lot to the east endpoint. Beyond what looked like the end and what matched the red line on TrailLink, was a barely used and visible trail in the grass on top of the levee. I thought it might be for maintenance of the levee, so I didn't go on it.
The south-end trailhead at Northgate is closed until Jan 2026.
Good little ride. Enjoyed a couple of innings of a community college baseball game once we hit the park.
Trail is closed at rainbow road going south from Lindborg
Rode from 53rd St. parking area to the end of the trail at Shawnee Heights Rd. Tree lined on both side the entire way, so the windy day wasn't bad at all. Surface is packed cinder type material, ranging from 4 bikes wide, to to double track, to only 3 feet wide. Trail was smooth, except for the deep horse hoof prints. High winds had done a number on limbs & debris on the trail, but once these are cleaned up the trail will be great. Good to see the trail in use by bikers and hikers. The volume of traffic was pleasant and not too busy. A couple of road crossings afforded poor site lines and short response times to competing traffic. Didn't encounter any loose dogs on the trail. Parking area is in good shape & in use by many trail users. We did not see any encampments in this section of the trail. Note: there are no restroom facilities or water available on this section of the trail and only one park bench in the entire route. Hope this gives you a good idea of the trails condition. It's a great ride!
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!
We rode bikes on Indian Creek Trail between State Line all the way to the Blue River Trail and thought it was really beautiful.
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