The metro area has a wealth of cycling opportunties, including world-class rail trails, excellent singletrack mountain bike trails, various paved neighborhood trails, and an extensive boulevard system within the central city. Here are our recommendations to check out:
Trail Map
Check out KCBike.Infos interactive map of multi-use trails around the metro area.
Paved Trails
Jump down to off-road/moutain bike trails
Trolley Track Trail
Popular 6-mile, multi-use trail linking the Country Plaza, Brookside, Waldo in southern KCMO. Be sure to continue through the Brookside parking lot, the trails picks up again on the other side.. Alternate map (PDF). (KCATA)
Riverfront Heritage Trail
New trail under construction. Linking Downtown KCMO with Downtown KCK, including the Missouri Riverfront, River Market, and other areas.
Mill Creek Streamway Park
Really nice paved trail in Johnson County, KS. Runs along the creek from the Kaw River, south through Shawnee Mission Park, to 119th Street in Olathe. 13-15 miles parallel to I-435. Map. (Johnson Co. KS Parks)
Longview Lake Trail
Short paved trail along the lake in southern KCMO & Lees Summit. From I-470 take Raytown Rd. south and follow signs towards the marina. (Jackson Co. MO Parks)
Little Blue Trace Trail
In eastern Independence along the Little Blue River, from 24 Hwy south to I-70. Crushed gravel. Popular trailhead east of Little Blue Parkway and north of I-70, across from the Hartman Heritage strip mall. (JaCoMo Parks)
Indian Creek / Tomahawk Creek Greenways
Very nice paved trails in southern Johnson County, KS, connecting a few different neighborhood parks. Now extending eastward into southern KCMO. (Cities of Overland Park, KS and Leawood, KS)
Northland Trails
A new bi-county master plan for trails and greenways in northern Kansas City, MO and the rest of Clay and Platte Counties.
Outside of town:
KATY Trail State Park
Excellent cross-state rail trail in Missouri 185 miles Sedalia to St. Charles/St. Louis. Very popular trail with many small towns every 10 miles. Prettiest is section is from Rocheport eastward, along the Missouri River bluffs. (Missouri State Parks)
St. Joseph Parkway System
Just north of the metro, St. Joes has 20-plus miles of beautiful parkways that are popular with bikers and hikers. (Map)
Prairie Spirit Rail Trail
Located in southwest of the Kansas City metro area in Ottawa, Kansas. This trail is approximately 20 miles long.
Offroad/Mountain Bike Trails
Jump up to paved trails
MTB Review: 70-plus Missouri trails and 40+ Kansas trails.
Landahl Park Reserve
Several miles of excellent MTB trails in eastern Jackson County, just north of Blue Springs, MO. Landahl is one of the best and most popular MTB areas in the KC area. Map from Earthriders. (Jackson Co.MO Parks)
Smithville Lake
Newly developing trails at the north end of the metro area include both technical and friendly sections. Scenery and wildlife. 4-5 miles and growing. Relatively undiscovered and less crowded than Landahl or Blue River. Newer map from Army Corps of Engineers (Clay Co. MO Parks)
Blue River Parkway
Great trails along the river, various difficulty. In far southern Kansas City, MO near Holmes and Red Bridge Roads. The link above is a volunteer site with great info and maps, see also the Countys page. (Jackson Co. and KCMO Parks)
Shawnee Mission Park
Some mountain bike trails in Johnson County. This park connects to the Mill Creek Streamway Park trails. (Johnson Co. KS Parks)
Truman Sports Complex Trail
New trail next to Kauffman and Arrowhead Stadiums. Havent tried this one yet, but it sounds cool. (Jackson Co. MO Parks)
Outside of town:
Lake of the Ozarks Trails
Two excellent trails around Osage Beach, at the Lake of the Ozarks. For information and maps, stop by Oz Cycles (www.ozcycles.com or 573-348-6221) near the Wal-Mart on Hwy. 54. Horseshoe Bend Trail and Trail of Four Winds are both excellent, lots of ups and downs, rocky terrain, in the woods. As of spring 2003 a new trail system is under construction in the state park, and will eventually total 50 miles.