Best running trails in Kansas
Ranked by the runners who actually run there — Google rating weighted by review volume, across 80,751 reviews of Kansas trails. A trail needs at least 25 reviews to qualify (111 in Kansas do) and each name appears once. Nobody pays for a place. Updated 2026.
The 20 below run across 12 cities, 4 of them paved, 10 shaded, and 1 with a stated distance. This is a popularity ranking, not a difficulty score — for what a trail is actually like underfoot, open its page for surface, loop distance, shade, lighting, restrooms and parking.
Overland Park Arboretum & Botanical Gardens
4.8 ★★★★★ 4,005 reviews
Gardens, trails & recreation areas plus educational programs & events on environmental issues.
Central Riverside Park
4.5 ★★★★★ 2,164 reviews
Large park featuring a miniature zoo, playgrounds, a splash pad, walking paths & picnic areas.
Clinton State Park
4.5 ★★★★★ 1,618 reviews
Playgrounds, disc golf, boating, swimming & camping plus native flora, fauna & nature trails.
Black Hoof Park
4.8 ★★★★★ 1,367 reviews
A 160-acre park featuring diverse wildlife, trails, picnic shelter, playground & lake activities.
Roe Park
4.7 ★★★★★ 1,386 reviews
40-acre green space boasting a swimming pool, sports courts, a playground & hiking/biking trails.
Pawnee Prairie Park
4.7 ★★★★★ 1,192 reviews
Spacious outdoor park with trails for walking, biking & horseback-riding, plus picnic areas.
South Lake Park
4.6 ★★★★★ 1,098 reviews
This 14-acre park features a playground, a trail, a fishing lake, basketball, restrooms & more.
Tuttle Creek State Park
4.5 ★★★★★ 933 reviews
Reservoir park offering everything from golf, horse trails, archery, swimming & fishing to camping.
Leawood City Park
4.7 ★★★★★ 844 reviews
Public park with a playground, trails, pool, tennis courts, sports fields, and an off-leash area for dogs.
Madison Avenue Central Park
4.7 ★★★★★ 764 reviews
Playground with a splash pad, a picnic area and slides, along with a walking path.
Chapin Park
4.4 ★★★★☆ 785 reviews
Dog-friendly setting featuring separate zones for large and small breeds.
Forest Park
4.6 ★★★★★ 715 reviews
Relaxed park, with basketball courts, baseball fields, playgrounds, a disc golf course, a skateboard area, dog parks and a swimming pool.
Gezer Park
4.7 ★★★★★ 616 reviews
Laid-back park with paved walking trails, a playground and a sandpit.
Strang Park
4.6 ★★★★★ 615 reviews
Relaxed playground-surrounded park featuring swings, basketball courts, and tennis courts along with a picnic shelter and a grill.
Wright Park
4.3 ★★★★☆ 599 reviews
Family-friendly park with a playground, picnic tables, and athletic courts, plus an adjacent water park.
Sunset Park
4.4 ★★★★☆ 578 reviews
City park with a botanical garden, gazebo, ball fields & picnic shelters, plus BBQs & tennis courts.
Swanson Park
4.6 ★★★★★ 516 reviews
Beautiful park with deer and a creek, plus scenic trails for hiking, walking and bicycling.
i lan Park
4.7 ★★★★★ 501 reviews
Family-friendly park with a playground, picnic tables, walking trails, and shelters.
Where these trails are
The cities in this ranking, if you'd rather start from where you live.
- Running trails in Overland Park, KS
- Running trails in Wichita, KS
- Running trails in Lawrence, KS
- Running trails in Lenexa, KS
- Running trails in Merriam, KS
- Running trails in Andover, KS
- Running trails in Manhattan, KS
- Running trails in Leawood, KS
- Running trails in Derby, KS
- Running trails in Ottawa, KS
- Running trails in Dodge City, KS
- Running trails in Salina, KS