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Little Blue Trace County Park

4.5 ★★★★★ 115 Google reviews · Running trail in Independence, Missouri · Posted hours

Runner's snapshot

Surface
Mixed
Distance
Not reported
Shape
Not reported
Shade
Not reported
Access
Posted hours

Confirmed from Little Blue Trace County Park's own listing, the park or land manager's website, and runner reviews. Blank cells mean we could not verify that fact — we would rather say "not reported" than invent one. There is no Easy / Moderate / Hard rating on this page on purpose: a one-word difficulty score tells you nothing about whether a trail suits your run. Surface, distance, shade and hours do.

MixedScenicFlat & fastRestrooms

Scenic path winding through parks, with picnic tables, for hikers and cyclists.

What runners say about Little Blue Trace County Park

Pulled from public reviews of this trail (115 of them) — the things people bring up again and again, in their own words. Nothing here is written by us.

well-maintained 4 mentions

“This trail is awesome it's nice well maintained beautiful river side trail I go biking with my daughter here and we both love it, I would highly recommend making it a family event.”

🏞️ beautiful scenery 6 mentions

“This trail is awesome it's nice well maintained beautiful river side trail I go biking with my daughter here and we both love it, I would highly recommend making it a family event.”

Great trail to get some walking or biking in. It is relatively flat with a mix of asphalt and gravel. Lots of entrance points along the trail. Only complaint is no water/restroom facilities at most access points.

★★★★★ — Rob , Sep 2024

This is where it all starts! It's quiet on this end of the trail, so you can expect some solitude for a few miles. Still, it has some very beautiful parts along this section of the trail, and you hit the Ripley Junction trailhead at about one mile, so it's a nice little rest stop.

★★★★★ — Tangy , Jun 2024

This trail is awesome it's nice well maintained beautiful river side trail I go biking with my daughter here and we both love it, I would highly recommend making it a family event.

★★★★★ — Kevin , Jul 2020

This trail is absolutely amazing from beginning to end. I can not wait for future installations of it. We have found so many places, to just stop, and enjoy the serenity of nature. Whether you are walking, jogging, or biking this trail is for you. If biking, please remember people are walking as well.

★★★★★ — Natalie , May 2020

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 115 reviews →

Trail conditions & character

What this trail is actually like underfoot and overhead, taken from its own listing and from reviews. Each one links to every other trail with the same character. Busy or quiet is reported as a plain fact, not a plus or a minus — a runner heading out alone at dawn often wants company on the path, and someone running intervals wants an empty one.

🏞️ Scenic views 6 mentions

“This trail is awesome it's nice well maintained beautiful river side trail I go biking with my daughter here and we both love it, I would highly recommend making it a family event.”

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🛣️ Paved surface 4 mentions

“Some sandy spots, some gravel, concrete and plenty of trailheads.”

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🪨 Crushed gravel / limestone 4 mentions

“Some sandy spots, some gravel, concrete and plenty of trailheads.”

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Flat & fast 2 mentions

“It is relatively flat with a mix of asphalt and gravel.”

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🚻 Restrooms 2 mentions

“Only complaint is no water/restroom facilities at most access points.”

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Plan your run at Little Blue Trace County Park

The practical stuff

  • AccessPosted hours — posted hours below; park gates sometimes close earlier than the listing says
  • SurfaceMixed — more than one surface along the route, so check the segment you plan to run
  • DistanceNot reported. Trail systems often quote total path mileage rather than a single loop, so measure the route you actually want before you drive out.
  • ShadeNot reported. Assume some of it is exposed and carry water in summer.
  • At the trailheadrestrooms — reported by runners
  • Websitemakeyourdayhere.com
  • Phone+1 816-503-4800

Hours

Monday 6 am–9 pm
Tuesday 6 am–9 pm
Wednesday 6 am–9 pm
Thursday 6 am–9 pm
Friday 6 am–9 pm
Saturday 6 am–9 pm
Sunday 6 am–9 pm

Posted hours for the park or trailhead. Gates and parking lots often close earlier than the trail itself, and seasonal hours change — worth a check before a pre-dawn or after-dark run.

Where to find Little Blue Trace County Park

Little Blue Trace Trail, Independence, MO 64058

Get directions

Running trails near Independence

Other trails within easy driving distance — useful when this one is flooded, gated, or just not the run you had in mind today.

Little Blue Trace Trailhead North endpoint

4.6 ★★★★★ 70 reviews

Independence, MO

Mixed

Park with walking and biking trails, some paved and some gravel.

under a mile away

Little Blue Trace Trail - Ripley Junction

4.5 ★★★★★ 76 reviews

Independence, MO

Scenic

Park featuring kid-friendly hiking trails, as well as picnic tables.

1.0 miles away

Liberty Bend Trail Trailhead

4.5 ★★★★★ 39 reviews

Independence, MO

PavedScenicDog-friendly

4.2 miles away

LaBenite Park

4.4 ★★★★☆ 534 reviews

Independence, MO

Scenic

Scenic park bordering the Missouri River featuring hiking trails and picnic tables.

4.2 miles away

George Owens Nature Park

4.7 ★★★★★ 595 reviews

Independence, MO

PavedScenic

Charming year-round park featuring over 80-acres of wooded trails, lakes, rain gardens & wildlife.

5.0 miles away

Little Blue Trail

4.6 ★★★★★ 129 reviews

Independence, MO

MixedScenic

Park featuring a trail for hikers, bikers, and runners.

6.0 miles away

All running trails in Independence, MO →

Nearby towns

Listing verified July 2026 from public records, the trail's own website and runner reviews. Trail conditions change — paths flood, gates close at dusk, and shaded woods stay muddy for days after rain. Something out of date? Report a correction. Manage this trail? Send us the details — it is free.