Trails & Green Spaces
If you bring your walking shoes, bikes, or kayak, Topeka is the place to be! If you're searching for a tranquil retreat among flowers and manicured gardens, or an adventurous hike through the wooded trails, you'll find your path in Topeka. Enjoy a jog or hop on your bike to pick up the pace like the locals with the Top City Trails Alliance. Most of Topeka's trails are friendly for all types of explorers as long as you share the trail. Download a Shawnee County Parks and Recreation Trail Guide (PDF) -- the guide includes a map of both Lake Shawnee and Shunga trails.
Trails | Nature Areas | Request Map
Trails
** Local Favorite ** Lake Shawnee Walking/Biking Trail
Lake Shawnee recently completed their walking/biking path that now completely encircles the entire lake. The trail is a little over 7 miles of wide concrete path that meanders around beautiful Lake Shawnee. There are markers on the path that denote each quarter mile.
** Local Favorite ** Shunga Trail is a concrete bicycle/pedestrian path beginning at Crestview Park (near SW 27th and SW Fairlawn) and continues to the east near SE 10th & SE Branner. The trail is being constructed in phases and will eventually stretch across Topeka. Bicycle riders, skateboarders and in-line skaters are reminded that walkers have the right-of-way and are asked to ride under control at all times.
Cedar Crest/Governor's Mansion/MacLennan Trails located at 1 SW Cedar Crest Rd consists of multiple trail loops. With limestone trails and also dirt single track hiking and biking trails, these loops provide a ton of options for the novice to the advanced outdoor enthusiast. Access to the Kansas Dept. of Wildlife, Parks, & Tourism Region 2 trails and the Kaw River State Park are also a plus as each provide more trails, access to the riverfront, and wooded areas to explore.
Brookfield Park is a concrete pedestrian path beginning at SW 23rd and SW Kingsrow and extends 0.3 miles.
Dornwood Nature Trail at SE 25th and SE Highland is a 2-mile woodland hiking trail that has evolved from prairie to hardwood forest. This is a popular field trip for school classes studying plants, soil or wildlife.
Landon Trail is a gravel trail being converted to concrete in sections. Southeast 17th to SE 45th Street have been completed. The trail is converted from abandoned railroad track right-of-way that runs from SE 17th to SE Sanneman Drive, extending 4.75+ miles.
Orville Rice Nature Trail winds along Shunga Creek from SW Gage Boulevard to Shunga Glen Park. The mowed grass trail is very popular for bird watching, as well as viewing aquatic wildlife. Wear your boots, this is really a nature trail!
Freedom Valley is a concrete pedestrian path beginning at SE 14th and SE Locust and extends 0.75 miles.
Soldier Creek Trail is located in North Topeka. This 1.8-mile concrete bicycle/pedestrian trail runs from NE Garfield Park to NE Lyman Road.
Nature Areas
Clarion Woods is Topeka's newest nature area at SW 37th and SW Fairlawn. It features a fishing pond and a half-mile trail through a red cedar forest. The site includes a barrier-free fishing dock.
Warren Nature Area at SW 25th and SW Gage (East of Felker Park) has approximately 3 miles of trails. A wetland area shows how nature cleans runoff water and keeps silt from entering large streams. This area is the top spot in the Topeka park system for viewing birds and insects. There are many offshoot trails available and additional walks ranging from 1 - 2 miles can be taken.
Iliff Commons is private land open for public use at NE 31st Street. The entrance to this area, both native prairie and woods, is a chipped driveway 50-feet east of the intersection on the south side of 31st Street.
Request a map
City of Topeka and Shawnee County Trails Map
The Trails Map is available at any Shawnee County Parks and Recreation community center, by calling 785.251.2600 or visiting parks.snco.us.
