Ticks are a real concern in the Greater Kansas City area from April through November, but they don't have to keep you indoors. A balanced, layered approach — staying on trails, treating clothing with permethrin, and applying DEET or picaridin to skin — goes a long way toward protection. Know your personal risk level, since some people attract ticks more than others. The same strategies also work against chiggers and mosquitoes, so get out there — wisely.

Primitive camping is much more common in areas with vast acres of public land than it is in the Kansas City area. Yet, if this is your goal, it can happen. Here are highlights of a few places where you can experience true primitive camping within a few hours’ drive.

Discover Heart Forest, the world's largest heart-shaped forest hidden near Kansas City International Airport. With 2,500 trees and a mile-long trail, this 8-acre living landmark needs your support to reopen fully. Learn about KC's hidden natural treasure and how you can help preserve it.

Personal safety is an important consideration when choosing a hiking trail or park in Greater Kansas City. Here are a few thoughts to help you make a wise decision.

It’s exhilarating to hit the trails, and even more so when you get away from the hustle of urban life. Missouri and Kansas small towns provide an abundance of scenic trails. But wait, there’s more! Hiking these trails provides exposure to small-town architecture, courthouses, cafes and arts and crafts. Take the road less traveled and explore these towns and trails.

Discover Cooley Lake Conservation Area, a hidden-gem near Liberty, Missouri, with rugged blufftop trails, marshland wildlife, and Missouri River views. Learn why winter is the best time to hike, what gear you need, hunting-season tips, and how to use our custom trail map to explore safely.

Brent’s Trail offers a distinctive Midwestern hiking experience. This lonely hike in western Iowa rises up to 400 feet above the Missouri River below, cutting through oak and cedar groves, descending steep ravines and jutting across picturesque prairie. This challenging trail is 8 miles each way, making for a 16-mile crusher.

Some of us may be having a blue Christmas for lack of that freezing, powdery stuff. But not me! I know our time with Jack Frost is coming. But for now, the relative warmth and lack of snow or rain forecast for the next couple of weeks opens up new possibilities for winter hiking.

When temperatures turn cold, there's no need to turn in your hiking boots. A few minor alterations can keep you safe and walking trails and backroads throughout the winter months. Kansas City Hiker shows you how.

Winter hiking has many advantages: no bugs, no poison ivy and no heat exhaustion. Not only that, when leaves fall, new horizons emerge. There’s also the wonder of snow-covered landscapes, icicles and winter wildlife. But where is the best place to go? Here are our top three winter hiking destinations in Missouri and Kansas.

Savor fall colors on these Kansas City hikes. As the leaves turn, make plans to explore these local expressions of nature, whether in prairie, riverfront or forested environments.

Want to experience the epicenter of Missouri’s wild and rugged beauty? It’s found in the Arcadia Valley in the state’s remote southeast. The ancient St. Francois Mountains, made of granite, are the foundation of the area’s spectacular landscape of water and rock. Three state parks are located within 10 miles of each other near the town of Ironton.

As autumn leaves turn in Kansas City, it’s impossible to miss the visual show. But what if you want to be completely surrounded by the changing hues? What trails or parks offer the best vantage points for autumn’s fireworks? Kansas City Hiker lists our top three fall hikes here, along with five runners up.

This fall, get lost in the Loess Hills. What are they? This range of hills runs from Missouri to South Dakota and from Kansas to Nebraska. Rising up to 300 feet above the Missouri River Valley, they provide spectacular views of fall foliage and stunning scenery year round.

Missouri’s lake region gets plenty of publicity, both positive and negative. But once fall hits, the area fades to quiet as leaves explode in color and the forest takes on a hibernating quality. Many summer visitors miss out on this rugged region’s fall color and wonder. And that’s OK with us! Ready for some great fall Missouri lake country destinations? Let’s do this.

With an extra day and temperatures slowly receding, how can you make the most of Labor Day weekend? Although the Kansas City area offers numerous parks and trails worth enjoying, we offer these five options for anyone who may be undecided.

The allure of natural bridges compels hikers. Missouri’s karst topography makes these landforms fairly common. The forces of nature – particularly water – was away softer stone and leave a bridge behind. This article isn’t a comprehensive listing of natural arches, but lists three prominent ones that can be accessed via a daytrip or weekender from the Kansas City Area. Carpe diem!

The Kansas Flint Hills are a well-kept secret. There are no traffic jams and no tourist season. Yet their stark and remote beauty is unsurpassed. In addition to their scenic charms, they are also one of the largest unspoiled areas of North America.

Beyond the landscape, the Flint Hills are dotted with picturesque courthouses, ghost towns, bison and abandoned one-room schools.

Get off the interstate and explore 200-foot limestone bluffs, rocky spires and natural bridges only two hours from Kansas City.

In Greater Kansas City, we get cold winters and blazing hot summers. On most days, some outdoor activity is still possible (and wise), even when temperatures and humidity are high. The key is keeping the hike basic, increasing fluid intake and seeking shade.