If you are looking for outdoor adventure this summer, biking is a terrific option, and Johnson County has endless opportunities for all types of biking. Whether you are interested in exploring rough trails or blacktop, here is some basic information so you can get out and enjoy the long Kansas summer days.
Area Trails
Indian Creek Trail
Location: Overland Park, Olathe, Kansas City, Mo.
Length: 17 miles in Overland Park and more beyond
Best for: families
This paved trail stretches from east of Troost at Bannister Road on the Missouri side, and it connects to the Tomahawk Creek Trail and runs south to 143rd Street and Pflumm Road or west to 159th Street and Ridgeview Road.
Mill Creek Streamway
Location: Shawnee, Lenexa, Olathe
Length: 17 miles with many access points
Best for: cyclists and runners
The Mill Creek Streamway is a paved trail that follows Mill Creek, and since it follows the creek, it is mostly flat with a few short, but steep hills in Olathe and north of Shawnee Mission Park.
Kill Creek Park
Location: Western Johnson County between Olathe and De Soto
Length: 4 miles
Best for: mountain bikers
This trail has two loops: one for beginners/intermediate bikers and an advanced loop with trail obstacles such as steps, skinnies and rock gaps.
Shawnee Mission Park
Location: Shawnee Mission Park in Lenexa
Length: about 5 miles with proposals to triple it
Best for: mountain bikers
These trails have both beginner and advanced trails to choose from with sections of fast singletrack and technical sections with climbs and descents.
Biking Shops
Johnson County has a plethora of bike shops in the area, and many of these shops offer group rides at all levels. Some are “no drop rides” which means no matter what level the rider, no one is left behind. Many of these shops have maps, information about races and training information.
Velo+ Bike Shop and Maps Coffee Roasters
Location: 13340 Santa Fe Trail Drive, Lenexa, KS 66215
Website: VeloPlusKC.com
This unique shop with a cool, Boulder-like vibe is not only a full-service bike shop, but they roast their own coffee and cacao beans and produce their own coffee and chocolate. Owner Vincent Rodriguez says the shop is a “community for bikes, coffee and chocolate.”
Turner’s Cycling and Fitness
Location: Overland Park, 8909 Santa Fe Drive,
Overland Park, KS 66212
Website: TurnersBikes.com
This bike shop has a link on their website that has links to local cycling organizations and trail maps.
Trek Bicycle Store of Kansas City
Location: 10412 Shawnee Mission Parkway, Shawnee, KS 66203
Website: TrekBicycleStores.com
If you are a Trek bike fan, this is a one-stop shop.
Precision Tandems
Location: 17230 W. 70th St., Shawnee, KS 66217
Website: PrecisionTandems.com
Have you ever dreamed of a bicycle built for two? This could be the store for you because they focus on tandem bicycles.
Erik’s Bike-Board-Ski
Location: 3701 W. 95th St., Leawood, KS 66206 and
11500 W. 135th St., Overland Park, KS 66221
Website: EriksBikeShop.com
This shop has a colorful chalkboard as you walk in the store with daily bike rides at all levels. one is even a “foodie” ride where riders end up at a restaurant to eat after they ride. This store also rents bikes.
Bike America
Location: 9514 Nall Ave., Overland Park, KS 66207
Website: BikeKC.com
Check out their website for a list of bike clubs in the area.
Additional information
Cycling Kansas City Biking Group: KCCycling.org
This is a large biking community in the Kansas City metro that offers group rides for all speeds and skill levels. Their website offers lots of biking information.
Kansas Cyclist: KansasCyclist.com
This website offers a comprehensive collection of Kansas cycling resources plus a calendar of events.
Johnson County Biking Guide: KansasCyclist.com/Guides/Counties/JO.html
This website has a list of rides and events, bike shops and clubs, paths and trails and other helpful cycling links.
Johnson County Trail Guide: JCPRD.com
View or print out PDF copies of trail guides in four different parts of Johnson County.
Kansas City Regional Trails and Bikeway Map: MARC-GIS.Maps.ARCGIS.com
You can print this online, or pick one up in many of the bike shops. With the map, you can use your device’s QR code reader to launch the map web app.