One of the best things about living in Overland Park is how easy it is to get outside. Whether you’re looking for a paved trail to bike with the family, a peaceful nature walk, or miles of singletrack for mountain biking, you’ll find plenty of options just minutes away.
We asked local residents for their favorite places to hike, bike, and explore, and they delivered. Here’s a roundup of some of the most-loved trails across Overland Park and the surrounding Kansas City metro. Be sure to bookmark this guide because we’ll be updating it as we continue exploring ourselves.
🗺️ Follow All in OP on social media as we visit these trails throughout the year, share photos, and highlight hidden gems along the way.
Trail Guide Key
Use the icons below to quickly find the type of trail and amenities you’re looking for.
| Icon | Description | Icon | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| 🚶 | Walking | 🌳 | Scenic Views |
| 🚴 | Paved Biking | 🏞️ | Lake or Creek Views |
| 🚵 | Mountain Biking / Singletrack | 🌼 | Wildflowers & Prairie |
| 🥾 | Natural Hiking | 🦅 | Wildlife Watching |
| 🐶 | Dog Friendly | 🚻 | Restrooms |
| ♿ | Accessible / Paved | 🅿️ | Parking |
| 🛝 | Playground Nearby | ⭐ | Local Favorite |
📍 Overland Park
Indian Creek Trail
🚶 🚴 🐶 ♿ 🌳 🏞️ 🚻 🅿️ ⭐
📏 Approximately 17 miles (multiple access points)
One of Johnson County’s most popular multi-use trails, Indian Creek winds through parks, neighborhoods, and wooded creek corridors, making it perfect for everything from family bike rides to marathon training.
Tomahawk Creek Trail
🚶 🚴 🐶 ♿ 🌳 🏞️ 🅿️ 🛝⭐
📏 Approximately 7 miles
A scenic paved trail connecting Leawood and Overland Park with beautiful creek views, bridges, and convenient access to local parks.
Overland Park Arboretum & Botanical Gardens
🚶 🥾 🐶 🌳 🌼 🚻 🅿️ ⭐
📏 About 6 miles total of paved and natural trails
Woodland paths, prairie landscapes, ponds, gardens, and sculptures make this one of the area’s most peaceful places for an afternoon walk.
Blue River Streamway Trail
🚶 🚴 🐶 ♿ 🌳🦅 🏞️ 🅿️
📏 About 1.5 miles, in-and-out, paved trail
Walk between forested river views and wetland areas, crossing paths with all kinds of wildlife.
📍 Shawnee
Shawnee Mission Park
🚶 🚴 🚵 🥾 🐶 ♿ 🌳 🏞️ 🦅 🚻 🅿️🛝 ⭐
📏 More than 20+ miles of paved and natural trails
One of the region’s signature parks featuring lakes, wooded trails, scenic overlooks, and miles of paved pathways. A popular spot among local mountain bikers with flowing singletrack, wooded climbs, and technical sections suitable for intermediate riders.
📍 Lenexa
Black Hoof Park & Lake Lenexa
🚶 🚴 🐶 ♿ 🌳 🏞️ 🦅 🚻 🅿️ 🛝 ⭐
📏 Approximately 2.3-mile loop, partially paved
An easy loop around Lake Lenexa featuring boardwalks, wildlife viewing, fishing access, and beautiful sunsets.
📍 Olathe
Cedar Niles Park
🚶 🚴 🚵🥾 🐶 🌳🏞️ 🌼 🦅 🅿️🛝
📏 Approximately 4 paved miles in-and-out, separate unpaved Columbine 8 mile trail
A scenic route featuring open prairie views, rolling hills, and quieter surroundings.
Prairie Center Nature Preserve
🚶 🥾 🐶 🌳🏞️ 🌼 🚻 🅿️ ⭐
📏 Around 2 miles of natural surface trails
One of the best places nearby to experience Kansas tallgrass prairie, native wildflowers, and birdwatching.
📍 Edgerton
Bull Creek Trail
🚶🚴 🚵 🥾 🐶 🌳🌼 🅿️
📏 Approximately 7 miles with some paved, but the majority unpaved
A quieter escape through native prairie and woodland landscapes, perfect for an easy nature walk.
📍 De Soto
Kill Creek Park
🚶 🚴 🥾 🐶 ♿ 🌳 🏞️ 🌼 🦅 🚻 🅿️ 🛝 ⭐
📏 Approximately 12 miles, with 1.5 paved
Walk along the wildflowers and wildlife, with nearby fishing and kayaking.
📍 Bonner Springs
Wyandotte County Lake
🚶🚴 🥾 🐶 🌳 🏞️ 🦅 🚻 🅿️ ⭐
📏 Approximately 19 total miles of trails
Rugged natural-surface trails popular with mountain bikers and hikers looking for a more challenging outing.
📍 Blue Springs
Burr Oak Woods Conservation Area
🚶 🥾 🌳 🌼 🦅 🚻 🅿️ ⭐
📏 Approximately 6 miles of marked trails, with access to other public paths
Peaceful wooded hiking trails with educational exhibits, wildlife viewing, and excellent opportunities to spot deer and birds.
Lake Jacomo Trails
🚶 🚵 🥾 🐶 🌳 🏞️ 🦅 🚻 🅿️ ⭐
📏 Approximately 36+ total miles of trails
One of the metro’s premier mountain biking destinations with flowing forest trails and varying difficulty levels.
📍 Kansas City, Missouri
Blue River Parkway Trails
🚶 🚵 🥾 🐶♿ 🌳 🏞️ 🅿️
📏 Multiple trail systems, 30+ total miles with 6 paved miles
A favorite among trail runners and mountain bikers featuring wooded terrain and creek crossings.
Rock Island Trail
🚶 🚴 🐶 ♿ 🌳 🅿️ ⭐
📏 Approximately 13 miles
A converted rail corridor that continues to expand, offering long-distance rides through eastern Jackson County.
Happy Rock Trail or Shoal Creek (North KC)
🚶 🚴 🐶 ♿ 🌳 🏞️ 🚻 🅿️ ⭐
📏 Approximately 3 miles
Enjoy a pleasant, shaded, stroll along Shoal Creek.
📍 Parkville
Parkville Nature Sanctuary
🚶 🥾 🌳 🏞️ 🌼 🦅 🚻 🅿️ ⭐
📏 Approximately 3 miles
Short but beautiful wooded trails with waterfalls, bridges, streams, and abundant wildlife.
📍 Weston
Weston Bend State Park
🚶🚴 🥾 🐶 🌳 🏞️ 🌼 🦅 🚻 🅿️ ⭐
📏 Multiple trail systems, 8 total miles, mix of paved and natural
Known for scenic overlooks high above the Missouri River, shaded woodland trails, and excellent fall colors.
Trail Tips
Before you head out:
- Bring plenty of water, especially during the summer.
- Wear sunscreen and insect repellent.
- Stay on marked trails to help protect local ecosystems.
- Check trail conditions after heavy rain, as some natural-surface trails may close to prevent damage.
- Keep dogs leashed where required and clean up after your pet.
- Remember that many paved trails are shared with walkers, runners, cyclists, and families.
📸 Help Us Explore
This list was built with recommendations from local residents, and we know there are even more great trails waiting to be explored. Throughout the year, the All in OP team will be visiting many of these parks and trails, sharing photos, videos, trail conditions, and a few hidden gems we discover along the way.
Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok as we lace up our hiking boots, hop on our bikes, and continue exploring the best outdoor adventures around Overland Park. If we missed one of your favorites, let us know. Tag @AllinOverlandPark on social media or send us your recommendation. We’d love to add it to our growing list.
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