Manhattan Trails

Takes about 15 minutes to ascend the hill and reach the Manhattan letters, which overlook the city's east side. 

Location:  Ehlers Road on Bluemont Scenic Drive 

Distance: 0.7 Miles

Surface: Natural 

Type: Loop

Difficulty: Difficult 

Lighting: No

Restrooms: No

Parking: Yes

Scenic Overlook: Yes 

Tree Cover: Moderate 

Location:  680 Knox Lane

Distance: 0.4 Miles 

Surface: Natural 

Type: Linear

Difficulty: Easy

Lighting: No

Restrooms: No

Parking: at Northeast Community Park 

Scenic Overlook: No

Tree Cover: Full Shade 

One-sixth mile flat route on the western perimeter of the park.

Location:  Wreath and Kimball Avenue

Distance: 0.6 Miles 

Surface: Paved

Type: Loop

Difficulty: Easy

Lighting: No

Restrooms: Seasonal

Parking: Yes

Scenic Overlook: No

Tree Cover: None

Route encircles City Park. Plenty of joggers/walkers on this trail with primarily wide paths.

Location:  Poyntz Avenue & 11th Street

Distance: 1.0 Miles 

Surface: Paved

Type: Loop

Difficulty: Easy

Lighting: Yes

Restrooms: Yes

Parking: Yes

Scenic Overlook: No

Tree Cover: Moderate

Frank Anneberg Park Trail parallels Wildcat Creek. Primarily flat for walkers and runners.

Location: 3801 Anderson

Distance: 1.85 Miles 

Surface: Paved/Gravel

Type: Loop

Difficulty: Easy

Lighting: No

Restrooms: Seasonal

Parking: Yes

Scenic Overlook: No

Tree Cover: Moderate

Location: 

• Coordinates: 39.208412, -96.634174

Distance: 1.50 Miles 

Surface: Paved

Type: Linear

Difficulty: Moderate - Difficult 

Lighting: No

Restrooms: at Fire Station

Parking: Yes, at Fire Station 

Scenic Overlook: Yes

Tree Cover: None

Just west of CiCo Park Hudson Trail stretches along the eastern edge of Colbert Hills Golf Course and continues just beyond Kauffman Drive, at which point the paved trail transitions to natural hiking area. Few steep inclines included

Location: Kimball and Candlewood

Distance: 1.0 Miles 

Surface: Paved/Gravel

Type: Linear

Difficulty: Easy - Moderate 

Lighting: No

Restrooms: No

Parking: No

Scenic Overlook: No

Tree Cover: None - Full 

Float from Junction City to Kansas City on the Kansas River National Water Trail. 

Boat Access: 

• Fairmont Park Boat Launch, 161 McDowell Creek Rd
• Linear Park, Linear Trail 
  • Coordinates: 39.191759, -96.537727

Distance: 173 Miles 

Surface: Water

Type: Linear

Difficulty: Moderate 

Lighting: No

Restrooms: No

Parking: Yes

Scenic Overlook: No

Tree Cover: None - Full 

Location: Denison and Dickens 

Distance: 3.9 Miles 

Surface: Paved

Type: Loop

Difficulty: Easy - Moderate 

Lighting: Partial

Restrooms: No

Parking: No

Scenic Overlook: No

Tree Cover: None

The longest trail in Manhattan, hop on this trail to experience the scenic sights of the Little Apple. Linear Trail runs parallel to the Kansas River, Big Blue River, and Wildcat Creek.

Distance: 9+ miles 

Surface: Paved/Gravel 

Type: Linear 

Difficulty: Easy

Lighting: No

Restrooms: at Fire Station

Parking: Yes

Scenic Overlook: No

Tree Cover: None - Full

Trailheads:

• Kimball Avenue & Hudson Avenue
• 3131 Anderson Avenue
• Richards Drive
• Casement Road & Hayes Road
• US 24 & Blue River Levee Drive
• Temple Lane
• Pecan Circle
• South Manhattan Avenue

Location: 17th Street and Yuma

Distance: 0.28 Miles 

Surface: Paved

Type: Loop

Difficulty: Easy 

Lighting: Yes

Restrooms: Yes

Parking: Yes

Scenic Overlook: No

Tree Cover: Moderate

Location

• Coordinates: 39.184408, -96.541264

Distance: 5.5 Miles 

Surface: Natural

Type: Linear/Loop

Difficulty: Moderate

Lighting: No

Restrooms: No

Parking: Yes, at Linear Trailheads

Scenic Overlook: No

Tree Cover: Full Shade 

Location: McCall Road and Hays Drive 

Distance: 1.33 Miles 

Surface: Paved

Type: Linear

Difficulty: Easy

Lighting: Partial

Restrooms: No

Parking: Yes

Scenic Overlook: No

Tree Cover: None  

Location: Amherst Avenue

• Coordinates: 39.1754, -96.6189

Distance: 0.64 Miles 

Surface: Paved

Type: Linear

Difficulty: Easy - Moderate

Lighting: No

Restrooms: No

Parking: No

Scenic Overlook: No

Tree Cover: None - Full   

Location: Northeast Community Park, 680 Knox Lane 

Distance: 2.85 Miles 

Surface: Gravel

Type: Loop

Difficulty: Easy 

Lighting: No

Restrooms: Yes

Parking: Yes

Scenic Overlook: No

Tree Cover: None 

Location: 300 Griffith Drive

Distance: 0.3 Miles 

Surface: Gravel

Type: Loop

Difficulty: Easy 

Lighting: No

Restrooms: No

Parking: Yes

Scenic Overlook: No

Tree Cover: None 

Location: 5101 Miller Parkway

Distance: 0.9 Miles 

Surface: Natural

Type: Loop

Difficulty: Moderate

Lighting: No

Restrooms: No

Parking: Yes

Scenic Overlook: Yes

Tree Cover: None 

This riverfront trail circles Fairmont Park and is devoted to walking/biking.

Location:  125 Messenger Road

Distance: 1.5 Miles 

Surface: Natural/Paved 

Type: Loop

Difficulty: Easy

Lighting: No

Restrooms: Seasonal 

Parking: Yes

Scenic Overlook: No

Tree Cover: Full Shade 

Location: 3010 Irene Circle 

Distance: 0.2 Miles 

Surface: Gravel

Type: Loop

Difficulty: Easy

Lighting: No

Restrooms: No

Parking: Yes

Scenic Overlook: No

Tree Cover: Full Shade 

Location: 2501 Browning Avenue 

Distance: 1.06 Miles 

Surface: Paved 

Type: Linear

Difficulty: Easy

Lighting: No

Restrooms: No

Parking: Yes, at Susan B Anthony Middle School

Scenic Overlook: No

Tree Cover: None 

A number of trails exist within the large 82-acre Warner Park, including a trail known as "Eight Weeks Trail" that was developed by the Park Conservation Crew on the west side of the park. On the southeast edges of the park is a trail that matches the path of a Fort Riley-Fort Leavenworth trail used by the U.S. Cavalry.

Location: Warner Park Road 

Distance: 3.0 Miles 

Surface: Gravel/Natural

Type: Loop

Difficulty: Easy - Moderate

Lighting: No

Restrooms: No

Parking: Yes

Scenic Overlook: Yes

Tree Cover: None - Full Shade 

Half-dozen trail options exist within Marlatt Park, and two more trails lead to Top of the World scenic overlook off of Seth Child Road/Highway 113.

Location: 3410 Top of the World Drive

Distance: 4.0 Miles 

Surface: Natural

Type: Loop

Difficulty: Easy - Difficult

Lighting: No

Restrooms: No

Parking: Yes

Scenic Overlook: Yes

Tree Cover: None - Full Shade 

Location: 2333 Oak Street 

Distance: 2.0 Miles 

Surface: Natural

Type: Linear/Loop

Difficulty: Moderate- Difficult

Lighting: No

Restrooms: No

Parking: Yes, at Sunset Zoo

Scenic Overlook: No

Tree Cover: Full Shade