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Running trails in Kansas
323 trails across 53 cities in Kansas, with the most in Wichita, Olathe, and Manhattan — including 59 paved, 25 loops, 62 shaded, and 8 long enough for a 5-mile run. Every listing shows the things runners actually decide on: surface, loop distance, shade, lighting, restrooms, water and trailhead parking. Pick a city for the full local list, or filter the Kansas trails below.
Cities in Kansas
Every city and town in Kansas with a running trail in the directory, most trails first.
- Wichita
- Olathe
- Manhattan
- Overland Park
- Lawrence
- Topeka
- Salina
- Lenexa
- Emporia
- Leavenworth
- Leawood
- Junction City
- Derby
- El Dorado
- Gardner
- Hutchinson
- Kansas City
- Ottawa
- Liberal
- Atchison
- Merriam
- Pittsburg
- Prairie Village
- Winfield
- Dodge City
- Garden City
- Hays
- McPherson
- Mission
- Newton
- Andover
- Lansing
- Shawnee
- Arkansas City
- Bel Aire
- Great Bend
- Haysville
- Spring Hill
- Augusta
- Burden
- Canton
- Edgerton
- Elk City
- Falun
- Fort Dodge
- Frontenac
- Garden Plain
- Gypsum
- Kechi
- Lindsborg
- Lucas
- North Newton
- Park City
Notable running trails in Kansas
The Kansas trails runners review most, ranked by rating weighted by review volume. Filter by surface, loop, distance, shade or lighting to narrow to the run you're actually planning. See the full best-of-Kansas ranking →
Overland Park Arboretum & Botanical Gardens
4.8 ★★★★★ 4,005 reviews
Gardens, trails & recreation areas plus educational programs & events on environmental issues.
Gage Park
4.6 ★★★★★ 3,807 reviews
A popular park for picnics, with attractions including a pool, carousel, gardens & outdoor concerts.
Sar-Ko-Par Trails Park
4.8 ★★★★★ 3,484 reviews
Large park featuring trails, sports fields, a disc-golf course & playgrounds, plus a historic barn.
Lake Shawnee
4.7 ★★★★★ 2,783 reviews
Manmade lake/recreation area with fishing, boating & swimming plus tennis, golf, camping & gardens.
Wyandotte County Lake Park
4.6 ★★★★★ 2,125 reviews
Tranquil 1,500-acre natural area with picnic shelters, hiking & horse trails, boating & fishing.
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.
Black Bob Park
4.6 ★★★★★ 1,325 reviews
Recreation complex with athletic fields, a mini-golf course & an outdoor pool with waterslides.
Pawnee Prairie Park
4.7 ★★★★★ 1,192 reviews
Spacious outdoor park with trails for walking, biking & horseback-riding, plus picnic areas.
Carey Park
4.5 ★★★★★ 1,169 reviews
Large city park with plenty of recreational options, from river fishing to soccer & disc golf.
High Park
4.7 ★★★★★ 1,095 reviews
Clean park featuring a playground, soccer fields and baseball diamonds, alongside paths and 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.
Meadowbrook Park
4.8 ★★★★★ 1,026 reviews
Sprawling park featuring multiple playgrounds for kids of all ages, along with green space.
Peter Pan Park
4.6 ★★★★★ 945 reviews
Spacious park offering picnic facilities, a fenced playground, a lake & an 18-hole disc-golf course.
Tuttle Creek State Park
4.5 ★★★★★ 933 reviews
Reservoir park offering everything from golf, horse trails, archery, swimming & fishing to camping.
Frisco Lake Park
4.6 ★★★★★ 912 reviews
Park featuring a gazebo & playground, plus basketball & volleyball courts, walking trail & fishing.
Thomas S. Stoll Memorial Park
4.6 ★★★★★ 902 reviews
Public 79-acre park with 7 ball fields, a fishing lake, a playground & a scenic nature trail.
Kaw Point Park
4.4 ★★★★☆ 935 reviews
Park with skyline views as well as water activities, theater events & Lewis & Clark heritage trail.
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.
Heritage Park
4.6 ★★★★★ 836 reviews
Vast park with an 18-hole golf course, athletic fields, a dog off-leash area, and a 40-acre lake.
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.
Riggs Park
4.5 ★★★★★ 722 reviews
Breezy park featuring picnic tables for rent, kiddie play areas, a splash pad and a walking path, plus a disc golf course.
Oak Park
4.6 ★★★★★ 675 reviews
This wooded park features an 18-hole disc golf course, lily pond, nature trails & wildlife habitat.
No trails match those filters.
Kansas trails by surface
Surface is the biggest split in trail running — asphalt is fast and predictable, crushed limestone is softer but still smooth, dirt is easiest on the joints and the most fun, boardwalk is flat and scenic but slick when wet.
More ways to find a trail in Kansas
- Best running trails in Kansas — the state-wide ranking from runner reviews
- Loop trails — 25 in Kansas come back to the trailhead without backtracking
- Long-run trails (5+ miles) — 8 in Kansas are long enough for a proper long run
- Shaded trails — 62 in Kansas keep tree cover over the path for summer miles
- Lit trails — 9 in Kansas have lighting for pre-dawn and post-work runs
- Trails with restrooms — 152 in Kansas, and 78 with water fountains
- Trailhead parking — 109 in Kansas have parking at the trailhead
- Dog-friendly trails — 95 in Kansas you can run with a dog
- Stroller & wheelchair-accessible — 53 in Kansas are smooth and wide enough
- Scenic trails — 138 in Kansas runners single out for the views
- Browse by surface — paved, crushed limestone, natural dirt or boardwalk
- All trail features — loops, shade, lighting, restrooms, mile markers and more
- Running trails by state — the rest of the country
- Trail-running guides — surfaces and your knees, loop vs out-and-back, trail etiquette, running before dawn
Trail features in Kansas
- Trails with Restrooms
- Scenic Running Trails
- Trails with Trailhead Parking
- Dog-Friendly Running Trails
- Trails with Water Fountains
- Quiet, Uncrowded Trails
- Shaded Running Trails
- Stroller & Wheelchair-Accessible Trails
- Loop Trails (No Backtracking)
- Hilly Trails & Hill Workouts
- Flat & Fast Running Trails
- Lit Trails for Early & Night Runs
- Long-Run Trails (5+ Miles)
- Trails with Mile Markers