THE KANSAS RIVER TRAIL

 

DESCRIPTION:

This 9-mile loop is all singletrack, and is well-kept. It's mostly flat, hard-packed trail that winds and twists through the woods next to the Kansas River. There are a few strategically placed logs to hop, some patches of tire-eating sand, and more than a few places where you can catch some air.  About half of the loop overlooks the Kansas River, so it may be hard to keep your eyes on the trail. There is also a strip of small rolling hills, and a section of trail that rips through some blinding (7 foot tall!) high grass.

 

Level of difficulty: Easy.

I think that 90% of the trail is suitable for beginners or families with small children, but they should be prepared to walk their bikes over the log climbs and be extra cautious on the blind curves that cut through the high grass section. I say that this trail is easy because it is mostly smooth and flat. There are only a few small hills, and the obstacles are spaced far enough apart that you can walk over them or around them without much difficulty. These trails are easy to ride, so some people take kids with them - they love it. Most of the obstacles are in plain view and you can walk over or around them if it is necessary. Since most of the obstacles are  in plain sight,  you will usually have time to stop and dismount your bike. But there are a few blind curves though, with obstacles waiting for you around the bend. So if you are a beginner or are worried about the kids getting hurt, just slow down and look before you leap. Don't forget to follow the IMBA'a Rules of The Trail, and watch out for other mountain bikers, runners, and children.

This trail is the first trail I rode my Mountain Bike on, so it is where I learned to Mountain Bike and it is my favorite.

DIRECTIONS:

From KC take K-10 to Mass St. (Massachusetts Street) in Lawrence. In Lawrence, take Mass all the way past 6th Street and over the KS River Bridge. Take the first right turn onto Elm Street. Follow Elm for about .75 (3/4) mile to 8th street. Turn Right onto 8th St, go .3 (3/10) mile, and roll right on into the parking lot. The trail has 3 starting points. One is at the beginning of the descent into the parking lot - it is a short gravel road. The other two starting points are at the end of the parking lot, near the boat-landing. All three starting points are good and quickly converge onto the same trail. The trail ends in the parking lot. Either way, have fun!

 

On weekdays the trail is mostly deserted, but a few regulars seem to visit the trail around lunch time. After 5:30 p.m. the trail is a little more crowded, but I've never seen more than about two dozen people on the trail at that time.

Even on weekends, you should still have enough space to either tear it up or cruise at a liesurely pace. Just be courteous (this is KANSAS, after all) and remember the rules of the trail.

 

DIRECTIONS:

From Mass Street take the Levee north from the KS river bridge and go about .75 miles. Look for a road that crosses the levee and turns into a gravel road before leading into a gravel parking lot and then a parking lot with an attached boat landing. The trail has 3 starting points. One is a gravel road, and it leads directly from the gravel part of the parking lot into the trail. The other 2 starting points are at the end of the parking lot, near the boat- landing. Both trailheads lead to the same trail that is found in the above picture. Since this ride is a complete loop, you start at one trailhead and end at the other.