“In all things of nature, there is something of the marvelous.”

Get wild in Johnson County

Beyond the subdivisions and shopping centers, nature is real and abundant.

Johnson County: It’s the suburb’s suburb, right? Even native Johnson Countians may think their home is a vast strip mall. But they’d be wrong. Bordered by the Kansas River on the north and rolling prairie to the south and west, Johnson County is arguably the trail mecca of the Kansas City area. Trails range from easy half-mile park loops to challenging back-country adventures that take hours to complete. In addition, Johnson County and its municipalities have constructed several magnificent paved streamway trails. These paths-by-the-creek preserve patches of nature in the midst of the hustle and bustle of urban life. Sure, the county is home to a never-ending procession of subdivisions and shopping centers. But it’s also the home of miles of trails and even has an entry in “The Last Wild Places of Kansas” by George Frazier. Yes, you can get wild in Johnson County.

Highlighted trails*

• Antioch Park • Overland Park, Kan.

• Big Bull Creek Park • Edgerton, Kan.

• Black Hoof Park and Lake Lenexa • Lenexa, Kan.

• Camp Branch Glade • Overland Park, Kan.

• Cedar Creek Trail • Olathe, Kan.

• Cedar Niles Park and Trail System • Olathe, Kan.

• Coffee Creek Streamway and Heritage Park • Olathe, Kan.

• Ernie Miller Park and Nature Center • Olathe, Kan.

• Heritage Park and Coffee Creek Streamway Trails • Olathe, Kan.

• Indian Creek Trail, Johnson County, Kansas

• Kill Creek Park • Western Johnson County

• Kill Creek Streamway Trail • DeSoto, Kan.; Western Johnson County

• Lexington Lake Park • DeSoto, Kan.; Western Johnson County

• Little Mill Creek Trail • Lenexa, Kan.

• Mill Creek Streamway • (Johnson County – multiple cities)

• Overland Park Arboretum and Botanical Garden • Overland Park, Kan.

• Prairie Center Natural Area • Olathe, Kan.

• Shawnee Mission Park • Shawnee, Lenexa, Kan.

• Tomahawk Creek Trail, Johnson County, Kan.

• Turkey Creek Streamway Trail • Merriam, Kan.

*This is not a comprehensive list of Johnson County trails. Our policy is to only list trails we’ve visited. The list is growing constantly. Thanks for your patience. Contact us to suggest a favorite of yours that is not listed here.