🌿 Budding Guide · Outdoor Recreation & Greenways

Kansas City & Overland Park Bike Trails: The Regional Greenway System

Curated by Gert Haegdorens · Last modified: September 26, 2026 · Overland Park, KS · Indian Creek · Tomahawk Creek · Live GIS Map

The Kansas City metropolitan area is home to one of the most surprising and expansive paved trail networks in the American Midwest. Right here in Overland Park and Johnson County, Kansas, you can pedal a bicycle for over 25 continuous miles across entire towns beneath a canopy of tall oak and sycamore trees without ever having to stop at a red traffic light.

Instead of riding alongside noisy cars on busy six-lane roads, these trails follow natural streamways. Through clever engineering, the trails dip smoothly under major thoroughfares using grade-separated crossings. It feels like having your own secret, tree-shaded highway through the city.

Total Connected System 120+ Miles Multi-use paved trails

Indian Creek Trail 26 Miles 17 mi in JoCo + 9 mi in MO

Tomahawk Creek Trail 12 Miles Overland Park & Leawood

Surface & Grade Paved Concrete Gentle, mostly flat river grade

Interactive Live Map: MARC Regional Trails

Mid-America Regional Council GIS

Explore the live interactive map below, powered by MARC GIS. You can pan across the metropolitan area, zoom into Overland Park, toggle trail surface layers, and plan your next route:

💡 Tip: Use your mouse or fingers to zoom into Johnson County (Overland Park, Olathe, and Leawood) to trace the dark green lines showing paved off-street trails. Click any trail line on the map to view its name, length, managing city, and surface type.

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Download 2026 Regional Trails & Bikeways Map (PDF)

Official high-resolution print map by MARC (45 MB) — perfect for offline phone use and printing.

📥 Download PDF Map (45 MB) View in Browser ↗

The Core Trails: Overland Park & Johnson County

While Kansas City has many scenic paths, the interconnected crown jewels of the southern metro are the Johnson County streamway networks:

1. Indian Creek Trail (The Overland Park Spine)

17+ Miles in Johnson County (26 Total)

Indian Creek Trail is the most popular and celebrated trail in Johnson County. Starting in Olathe near Hampton Park and Santa Fe Street, it meanders east directly through the heart of Overland Park, passes underneath Interstate 435, skirts Corporate Woods, threads through Roe Park, and crosses into Leawood before connecting directly to the Missouri trail system at State Line Road.

Key Highlights in Overland Park:

Corporate Woods & Founders Park: Shaded wooded trails with ponds, footbridges, and gentle rolling curves where office workers and cyclists share quiet paths.
Roe Park: Excellent parking, drinking fountains, restrooms, bicycle repair stations, and direct access to playgrounds.
Car-Free Flow: Passes safely underneath Quivira, Pflumm, Antioch, College Blvd, Switzer, 119th St, Nall Ave, and Roe Ave via paved tunnels.

📍 Main Trailheads: Roe Park, Corporate Woods, Foxhill South Park 🌱 Surface: Wide Paved Concrete 🦆 Wildlife: Great Blue Herons, White-Tailed Deer, Painted Turtles

2. Tomahawk Creek Trail (The Southern Loop)

12 Miles Paved

Splitting off from the Indian Creek Trail near 119th Street and Roe Avenue, the Tomahawk Creek Trail travels south and west across Overland Park and Leawood. It winds through native prairie grasses, lush wetland preserves, and the borders of St. Andrews Golf Club before reaching Deanna Rose Children's Farmstead and south Overland Park neighborhoods.

Key Highlights in Overland Park:

The 119th St Confluence: Where Indian Creek and Tomahawk Creek meet, you can turn left toward Leawood or turn right toward south Overland Park.
Wetland Boardwalks: Stretches of wooden boardwalks elevated above marshlands where frogs, red-winged blackbirds, and water lilies thrive.
Amesbury Lake Park: Scenic lake loop and peaceful spot to pause during a longer ride.

📍 Main Trailheads: Tomahawk North Park, St. Andrews, Amesbury Lake 🌿 Scenic Prairies & Wetlands 🔄 Connects Directly to Indian Creek

3. Gary L. Haller Trail (Mill Creek Streamway)

17+ Miles Paved + Equestrian Side-Path

Managed by the Johnson County Park and Recreation District (JCPRD) ↗, the Gary L. Haller Trail runs north-to-south through western Johnson County. It starts at Nelson Island on the Kansas River in Shawnee, rolls south through Lenexa, and reaches into north Olathe.

Why It Is Special:

Dramatic Limestone Bluffs: Carved through ancient river rock with towering bluffs, wild waterfalls during spring rains, and dense tree cover.
Shawnee Mission Park Link: Direct spur trail connection into Johnson County's flagship 1,600-acre park and 120-acre lake.
Wide, Flat Path: Very gradual grade following the natural flow of Mill Creek down to the Kansas River.

📍 Main Trailheads: Nelson Island, Wilder Road, Shawnee Mission Park, 119th & Northgate 🌲 Forest Bluffs & Waterfalls

Practical Riding & Safety Tips

Sharing multi-use paths with families, dogs on leashes, and runners keeps everyone safe and smiling. Here are the golden rules for riding Kansas City trails:

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Call Out: "On Your Left!"

Bicycles are whisper-quiet. When approaching walkers or families from behind, always ring a bell or gently call out "Good morning, passing on your left!" a few seconds early so nobody gets startled or steps into your path.

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Watch Underpasses After Rain

Because trail tunnels pass underneath roadways right next to the creek, heavy rainstorms can push mud or shallow water into the tunnels. If you see silt or wet mud around a blind corner, slow down or walk your bike across.

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Lights for Morning & Dusk

Even on sunny days, tree canopies create dark shadows. A bright white headlight on your handlebars and a blinking red tail light under your saddle ensure other trail users can see you clearly through the trees.