Longview Nature Trail
Explore the “back country” of the Longview Lake area on the rugged Longview Nature Trail.
The Longview Nature Trail isn’t easy to find and it’s rugged to hike. But it holds rewards.
Overview
The Longview Nature Trail, also known as the Shin-Ga-Wa-Sa Trail, is a 1.2-mile, natural surface loop that begins and ends at Longview’s Primitive Youth Campground. There are many reasons why you may not have heard of it. For one, the entrance is nearly always gated. That doesn’t mean it’s closed, but merely that vehicle traffic is blocked. Just park on Highgrove Road and make the short walk to the trailhead. Second, it has a funky name. Finally, the trail is in mediocre shape, to put it nicely. It’s a dirt path and there is overgrowth and erosion that makes the footing a little dicey. Navigation is not intuitive. With that said, this trail takes hikers through an upland forest, past a serene pond and down to the highlight: the broad limestone shelf and valley cut by Lumpkins Fork Creek. The elevation drops 150 feet from the camping area to the creek bottom. Lumpkins Fork can range from a trickle that is easily forded to a rampaging, impassable torrent. It’s a scenic valley in either state. We’ve created a trail map below, but the AllTrails app is recommended. If you are up to bushwhacking, there are several small streams, rock outcroppings and bottomland forest to explore. You can also reach the Little Blue River and backwater lagoons of Longview Lake.
Length 1.2-mile loop.
Conditions This trail is in fairly poor shape, but there’s enough of a path to follow that you can still enjoy it with a little determination. The AllTrails app will help. After a rain it will be extremely sloppy and slippery. Some of the trail is overgrown, so it’s best not to walk it during tick and chigger season.
Kid Friendly? Kids who can carry their own weight will enjoy this hike. The stream at the bottom of the trail can provide hours of enjoyment.
Address 9105 Highgrove Rd, Kansas City, MO 64149. Look for the gate and driveway on the south side of Highgrove. Park on the shoulder and walk down the driveway. Once you reach the parking lot, it’s not immediately apparent where the trailhead is. In fact, there are three. The nearest access point is a semi-paved road heading down the hill. Enter it through an open gate. You can also access the trail by heading southeast where you’ll find a marked entrance, and further down, entrance via a utility easement. For clarity, download our trail map. Photos of each trail entrance are posted below.
Pets Dogs Yes, on a leash. Read the regulations here.
Bikes Not recommended because of conditions.
