Jerry Smith Park and Trail, in South Kansas City, preserves acres of native prairie an abundance of wildflowers. It's also a prime location to observe birds and other wildlife. The park is home to a 3-acre lake on its northern end.

The Rock Island Line was a busy thoroughfare of train traffic running from Pleasant Hill through the Leeds manufacturing area of Kansas City, Mo. With a history dating to 1847, the company slowly stalled and finally hit the brakes for good in 1980. The tracks went dormant and trees grew up through the rail ties. It stayed that way until a Jackson County rail trail began to take shape, opening in 2019. It begins in Lee’s Summit, Mo., and extends 13.5 miles north to the Truman Sports Complex in Kansas City, Mo. See our detailed guide and map to plan your trip.

Jackson County's River Bluff Reserve Nature Trail in northern Independence, Mo., is a remote and challenging hike that is rewarded with spectacular views of ravines, giant boulders, and wildflowers.

Powell Gardens, near Kingsville, Mo., is a 1,000-acre site with 175 acres dedicated to gardens and cultivated plants. These can all be explored on an extensive network of paved trails. In addition, the Byron Shutz Nature Trail explores the more rustic parts of the park.

You don’t have to enter The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art to view interesting art. There’s an approximately half-mile trail that loops the gallery, taking visitors on a tour of the Donald J. Hall Sculpture Park. The giant shuttlecocks on the lawn of the Nelson are a Kansas City icon. But as you venture further on the trail, an array of intriguing art emerges. The gallery’s landscaping and architecture are also of interest.

Nestled between Grain Valley and Oak Grove, Monkey Mountain is a hill that rises about 150 feet above Sni A Bar Creek. The trail up the forested hill is steep. At the top, visitors are rewarded with 360-degree views of the area (especially after leaves drop). Another highlight is the cap of limestone boulders at the top of the “mountain.”

Loose Park has been a Kansas City recreation destination for nearly a century. A renowned rose garden, Civil War history, inspired architecture and a one-mile loop make this a premiere urban walk.

This 6.5-mile trail follows the shoreline of Longview Lake through a mostly pastoral environment in South Kansas City. A lesser-traveled section south of Scherer Road follows the Little Blue River and explores forested terrain.

The Little Blue Trace follows the Little Blue River from Lee’s Summit Road all the way north to 24 Highway in Independence. The one-way journey is 15.6 miles. It’s a pleasant walk (or ride) on crushed gravel and pavement that weaves in and out of suburbs and pastoral areas. The trail varies from intensely urban (walking under I-70) to farmland. With numerous trail heads, you can walk as far or as little as you like.

This trail follows the Little Blue River past a busy sports park and then into quiet river bottomland and prairie. Little Blue Valley Park and trail is in far east Kansas City between Raytown and Lee’s Summit. The largest section of the trail is the reclaimed race track/concert venue that was once Kansas City International Raceway. Since the track closed in 2011, nature has reclaimed most of it.

Looking for a vigorous hike that’s loaded with history and stunning urban scenery? This is it! The National WWI Museum and Memorial, more commonly known as Liberty Memorial, is part of the 130-acre Penn Valley Park. Two miles of looping and interconnecting trails extend throughout this scenic area, providing unparalleled views of the Downtown Kansas City skyline, Union Station, Crown Center and beyond. The park itself is historic, built in 1904. Over the years, it has served as a tourist camp and a U.S. Army residential area for returning soldiers.

Legacy Park, in Lee’s Summit, Mo., features 700 acres dedicated to sports and recreational uses. It features more than 10 miles of trails, with about seven miles being paved. In addition to the paved routes, a dirt-track mountain bike trail explores woodlands and the park’s pastoral beauty. Legacy also features the 22-acre Legacy Lake and small streams cutting across the prairie. One feeds a spectacular waterfall on the 1014 Loop. Other outdoor activities are centered on lake, which offers fishing, canoe and stand-up paddle board rentals.

The Lake Vista Trail is one of the best-maintained, easy-to-follow trails in the Jackson County park system. The trail encircles the wooded, rolling terrain surrounding Blue Springs Lake and passes limestone cliffs and outcroppings. Another highlight is a massive, arched footbridge that passes over a creek. There are six trail heads, making it easy to plan the distance you desire. To complete the full loop, you must walk a sidewalk and bridge over Blue Springs Lake on Woods Chapel Road.

The Lake Remembrance Trail is part of Gregory O. Grounds Park in Blue Springs, Mo. It follows the shoreline of the lake and weaves between forested and open areas. There is a 2.14-mile loop and a 0.46-mile extension on the north side of the lake. The trail is an excellent place to view waterfowl, birds of prey and amphibians.

With 12 lakes and abundant wildlife, James A. Reed Conservation Area is a delight for nature lovers. Its 3,000 acres area is dotted with lakes, forest groves and rows of crops. Shawnee Trace Natural Trail follows East Branch Big Creek and rises above gentle bluffs. But beyond the trail, James A. Reed is ripe for the wanderer. In addition to the designated nature trail, there are miles of multi-use trails throughout the park.

The Carl Chinnery Trail, near Lee’s Summit, runs through gently rolling hills, timber and pastoral beauty. Part of the trail follows Little Cedar Creek, which occasionally breaks into cascades and small waterfalls. This stream provides many opportunities for children to splash and play (but don’t drink it!). Limestone outcroppings and boulders are a continual presence. It’s a prime location to spot deer, birds and waterfowl.

Burr Oak Woods is a must-visit destination for nature buffs in Kansas City. Located in Blue Springs, the park features a nature center, limestone boulders and cliffs, clear streams and tall grass prairie. You can spend an hour or a day exploring the more than 1,000 acre refuge. If you’re short on time, we recommend the Bethany Falls Trail. But no matter which trail you pick, you can’t go wrong.

Begin at Kauffman Legacy Park and walk east alongside Brush Creek until you reach the Country Club Plaza. You can walk both sides of the creek, viewing Plaza architecture, the Sister Cities Bridge, Frank Theiss Park, The Nelson Museum and waterfowl. You can also include this walk with the loops around Kauffman Legacy Park, the Gorman Conservation Discovery Center and The Nelson Museum. If you do that, you’ll trek about four miles.

The Blue River Trail system is a sprawling north-south network that provides a variety of natural and urban environments along its route. The Blue River Greenway Trail is a paved six-mile trail. The Blue River Parkway Trail is a natural-surface single-track trail that runs more than 25 miles in South Kansas City.

The Jim Bridger Urban Conservation area is a delight and hidden gem near the border of Lee’s Summit and Blue Springs, Mo. A mowed and dirt trail takes you through crop rows, pastureland, woods and bottomland forest. Wildflowers and wildlife – especially birds – are plentiful. This area is designated as a Great Missouri Birding Trail.