Parsons, KS Trails and Maps

71 Reviews

Looking for the best trails around Parsons?

Explore the best rated trails in Parsons, KS. Whether you're looking for an easy walking trail or a bike trail like the Ruby Jack Trail and Southwind Rail Trail. With more than 8 trails covering 84 miles you’re bound to find a perfect trail for you. Click on any trail below to find trail descriptions, trail maps, photos, and reviews.

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Activities
Length
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Type
8 Results
Activities
Length
Surfaces
Type

Frisco Greenway Trail

5.6 mi
State: MO
Asphalt, Gravel

Lehigh Portland Trails

2.25 mi
State: KS
Crushed Stone, Dirt, Gravel

Missouri Pacific Recreational Trail

0.5 mi
State: KS
Concrete

Prairie Spirit Trail State Park

51.3 mi
State: KS
Asphalt, Crushed Stone

Ruby Jack Trail

16 mi
State: MO
Crushed Stone, Gravel

Southwind Rail Trail

6.5 mi
State: KS
Crushed Stone

Thom Station Trail

1.4 mi
State: MO
Asphalt, Concrete, Gravel

Watco Trail

1 mi
State: KS
Asphalt
Trail Image Trail Name States Length Surface Rating
The southern terminus of the Frisco Greenway Trail is tucked into an unassuming neighborhood in Joplin. From there, the gravel trail winds northward along the former St. Louis–San Francisco Railway,...
MO 5.6 mi Asphalt, Gravel
This collection of trails was built of the site of a former cement plant and quarry along the banks of Elm Creek in Iola, Kansas. There are over 2.25 miles of gravel rail-trails occupying the railbeds...
KS 2.25 mi Crushed Stone, Dirt, Gravel
Opened in 2015, the Missouri Pacific Recreational Trail (or Mo-Pac Trail) is a half-mile multi-use pathway located in Iola, Kansas. While short, the trail nonetheless provides valuable connections: it...
KS 0.5 mi Concrete
Spanning 51 miles, the Prairie Spirit Trail State Park runs from Ottawa to Iola, offering plenty of recreation and enjoyment for birdwatchers, cyclists, walkers, joggers and anyone with a desire to...
KS 51.3 mi Asphalt, Crushed Stone
The Ruby Jack Trail runs for 16 miles between Carthage, MO, and the Kansas state line. The trail links the towns of Carthage, Oronogo, and Carl Junction, traversing farmland, wetland, and woodland....
MO 16 mi Crushed Stone, Gravel
The Southwind Rail Trail opened in 2013 for recreation and active transportation use on a converted railroad corridor stretching between the small southeast Kansas cities of Iola and Humboldt. The...
KS 6.5 mi Crushed Stone
Thom Station Trail sits on an old Frisco railbed in the town of Carl Junction, just 15 minutes north of Joplin, Missouri. It’s a relatively short trail, 2.8 miles roundtrip. The southern half of the...
MO 1.4 mi Asphalt, Concrete, Gravel
The Watco Trail, named for the short-line railroad operator headquartered in Pittsburg, stretches diagonally through the Kansas city just west of downtown. The trail is open on a portion of the former...
KS 1 mi Asphalt

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Trails by activity

Prairie Spirit Trail State Park

KS - 51.3 miles

Spanning 51 miles, the Prairie Spirit Trail State Park runs from Ottawa to Iola, offering plenty of recreation and enjoyment for birdwatchers, cyclists, walkers, joggers and anyone with a desire to...

Thom Station Trail

MO - 1.4 miles

Thom Station Trail sits on an old Frisco railbed in the town of Carl Junction, just 15 minutes north of Joplin, Missouri. It’s a relatively short trail, 2.8 miles roundtrip. The southern half of the...

Frisco Greenway Trail

MO - 5.6 miles

The southern terminus of the Frisco Greenway Trail is tucked into an unassuming neighborhood in Joplin. From there, the gravel trail winds northward along the former St. Louis–San Francisco Railway,...

Watco Trail

KS - 1 miles

The Watco Trail, named for the short-line railroad operator headquartered in Pittsburg, stretches diagonally through the Kansas city just west of downtown. The trail is open on a portion of the former...

Accordion

Missouri Pacific Recreational Trail

KS - 0.5 miles

Opened in 2015, the Missouri Pacific Recreational Trail (or Mo-Pac Trail) is a half-mile multi-use pathway located in Iola, Kansas. While short, the trail nonetheless provides valuable connections: it...

Southwind Rail Trail

KS - 6.5 miles

The Southwind Rail Trail opened in 2013 for recreation and active transportation use on a converted railroad corridor stretching between the small southeast Kansas cities of Iola and Humboldt. The...

Frisco Greenway Trail

MO - 5.6 miles

The southern terminus of the Frisco Greenway Trail is tucked into an unassuming neighborhood in Joplin. From there, the gravel trail winds northward along the former St. Louis–San Francisco Railway,...

Thom Station Trail

MO - 1.4 miles

Thom Station Trail sits on an old Frisco railbed in the town of Carl Junction, just 15 minutes north of Joplin, Missouri. It’s a relatively short trail, 2.8 miles roundtrip. The southern half of the...

Ruby Jack Trail

MO - 16 miles

The Ruby Jack Trail runs for 16 miles between Carthage, MO, and the Kansas state line. The trail links the towns of Carthage, Oronogo, and Carl Junction, traversing farmland, wetland, and woodland....

Lehigh Portland Trails

KS - 2.25 miles

This collection of trails was built of the site of a former cement plant and quarry along the banks of Elm Creek in Iola, Kansas. There are over 2.25 miles of gravel rail-trails occupying the railbeds...

Accordion

Southwind Rail Trail

KS - 6.5 miles

The Southwind Rail Trail opened in 2013 for recreation and active transportation use on a converted railroad corridor stretching between the small southeast Kansas cities of Iola and Humboldt. The...

Prairie Spirit Trail State Park

KS - 51.3 miles

Spanning 51 miles, the Prairie Spirit Trail State Park runs from Ottawa to Iola, offering plenty of recreation and enjoyment for birdwatchers, cyclists, walkers, joggers and anyone with a desire to...

Watco Trail

KS - 1 miles

The Watco Trail, named for the short-line railroad operator headquartered in Pittsburg, stretches diagonally through the Kansas city just west of downtown. The trail is open on a portion of the former...

Missouri Pacific Recreational Trail

KS - 0.5 miles

Opened in 2015, the Missouri Pacific Recreational Trail (or Mo-Pac Trail) is a half-mile multi-use pathway located in Iola, Kansas. While short, the trail nonetheless provides valuable connections: it...

Missouri Pacific Recreational Trail

KS - 0.5 miles

Opened in 2015, the Missouri Pacific Recreational Trail (or Mo-Pac Trail) is a half-mile multi-use pathway located in Iola, Kansas. While short, the trail nonetheless provides valuable connections: it...

Frisco Greenway Trail

MO - 5.6 miles

The southern terminus of the Frisco Greenway Trail is tucked into an unassuming neighborhood in Joplin. From there, the gravel trail winds northward along the former St. Louis–San Francisco Railway,...

Prairie Spirit Trail State Park

KS - 51.3 miles

Spanning 51 miles, the Prairie Spirit Trail State Park runs from Ottawa to Iola, offering plenty of recreation and enjoyment for birdwatchers, cyclists, walkers, joggers and anyone with a desire to...

Lehigh Portland Trails

KS - 2.25 miles

This collection of trails was built of the site of a former cement plant and quarry along the banks of Elm Creek in Iola, Kansas. There are over 2.25 miles of gravel rail-trails occupying the railbeds...

Accordion

Southwind Rail Trail

KS - 6.5 miles

The Southwind Rail Trail opened in 2013 for recreation and active transportation use on a converted railroad corridor stretching between the small southeast Kansas cities of Iola and Humboldt. The...

Ruby Jack Trail

MO - 16 miles

The Ruby Jack Trail runs for 16 miles between Carthage, MO, and the Kansas state line. The trail links the towns of Carthage, Oronogo, and Carl Junction, traversing farmland, wetland, and woodland....

Thom Station Trail

MO - 1.4 miles

Thom Station Trail sits on an old Frisco railbed in the town of Carl Junction, just 15 minutes north of Joplin, Missouri. It’s a relatively short trail, 2.8 miles roundtrip. The southern half of the...

Watco Trail

KS - 1 miles

The Watco Trail, named for the short-line railroad operator headquartered in Pittsburg, stretches diagonally through the Kansas city just west of downtown. The trail is open on a portion of the former...

Recent Trail Reviews

Southwind Rail Trail

Nice ride to Humboldt

March, 2022 by lstrahm1

Late March ride so weather was still a bit cool but sunny. Surface was fine for just about any bike. Most of the trail was bordered close in with trees (cedar) so not a lot of vistas. Nearly a straight shot all the way. Well preserved railroad bridge just south of Iola. Trail just ends on Humboldt end at the north edge of town. Not a lot in Humboldt but it would be nice if the trail went a half mile farther and dropped you off at Bridge St. Would make for a leisurely ride to grab lunch and return

Southwind Rail Trail

Worth a Look

October, 2021 by acewickwire

Started the trail at Riverside Park in Iola on the north end of the trail where the Prairie Spirit Trail ends. This is a nicely done trail with compacted finely crush stone surface. It is a wide trail allowing two to ride abreast with ease. As with all railtrails it is flat and straight. There a few old train signal towers along the trail. We didn’t ride the full length. Noted all the trail are some mileage markers, in this section they are numbered in the low 100’s. Not sure the origin point in the north for the mileages.

Missouri Pacific Recreational Trail

Short Ride

October, 2021 by acewickwire

Took this spur off the Prairie Spirit Trail. It is a short trail leading to a park. The trail crosses a number of streets, one of them has a lot of traffic. Nothing special about the trail but did encounter a few walkers using it.

Accordion

Lehigh Portland Trails

Plenty of Choices

October, 2021 by acewickwire

Took this spur off of the Southwind trail and rode a short distance into the trail system. The first portion of the trail has a course gravel surface, good for mountain bikes but not sure others would like so well. Once into the trail system the surface improves. This is a very wooded area with plenty of single track options to explore. If had more time would be worth trying more trails. Signage asks that riders stay off trails after rain, they can get real muddy and torn up.

Prairie Spirit Trail State Park

Well Done Trail

October, 2021 by acewickwire

Started the trail at Riverside Park in Iola on the south end of the trail where the Southwind Railtrail begins. We rode north for a few miles. The trail surface was mostly paved while in town. At the edge of town the surface changes to the compacted finely crushed stone surface that isn’t much different than the paved surface. This is a wide surface with lots of room to ride two abreast. Nicely done trail. Time permitting worthy of further exploration. Noted all the trail are some mileage markers, in this section they are numbered in the low 100’s. Not sure the origin point in the north for the mileages.

Frisco Greenway Trail

Unexpected Fun

October, 2021 by gmsully

A friend suggested riding in Joplin so searched TrailLink to see what we could find. Took a friend, his wife and son up from NW Arkansas on October 10 to explore. The trail reminded us of the Katy Trail with the gravel surface so that started the day just right. With the notes from your site and our GPS navigation, found the trailhead pretty easily. Early morning coolness made this a fun adventure overall. The two things that my riding partners both suggested would make this easier for others would be to see about more signage around the end of the trail about 4 plus miles in as the trail just kind of stopped with out much to identify if we should keep going or turn around. Some nice pedestrians told us we were at the end and were so nice that it really helped us to finish on a positive note then turn around. There was one major street crossing that did not have any lights or devices to have traffic stop for slower riders or children. We had an 8 year old with us so that was a safety concern thta could be easily added. We may be spoiled by all the work in NW Arkansas trails for the local Greenway. Overall, a great morning start before heading over to the Ruby Jack trail.

Ruby Jack Trail

Surprising Jewel!

October, 2021 by gmsully

A friend suggested riding in Joplin so hopped on TrailLink to see what we could find. Ruby Jack sounded interesting and it did not disappoint! Put in at Carl Junction on October 10 and rode to Carthage for about a 25 mile round trip. Cool morning temps helped make this a great trail to explore. I highly recommend giving this a look and have already recommended it to several friends. Just a little over an hour from NW Arkansas so easily reached and lots of food options for post ride nutrition!!! Since I was solo, did not go much past the rough patch going west. Will explore that more in the future!

Prairie Spirit Trail State Park

Great Kansas Trail

September, 2021 by terriknkc

Very nice trail, nice variety of scenery. South of Ottawa is riding through farm fields so recommend skipping that section.

Frisco Greenway Trail

Enjoyed It

August, 2021 by mike979

Well mantener and friendly people along the trail - walking, running, and biking.

Ruby Jack Trail

work in progress

June, 2021 by travisgarren

Very impressive that this trail is kept up by volunteers. Very few loose gravel spots where a hybrid bike can get questionable. Not really much to see, but very few road crossings and you can safely ride from Carthage to Car Junction.

Ruby Jack Trail

Much Progress Has Been Made

May, 2021 by clickandlearn

I biked this trail May 26, 2021. Except for about 100 feet of trail at mile point 4.2 (just carry your bike across the railroad tracks and bike to the north edge of the short unfinished section), this is a great trail from about mile point 2.5 all the way to the eastern end in Carthage.

The 2.5 mile section from the state line to near Carl Junction is (currently) only recommended for good bikers on mountain bikes (the gravel is thick in points and the trail is mostly un-cleared of brush).

I did the complete 16 mile trail on my hybrid bike, but I found the western-most 2.5 mile section a bit tricky.

I would recommend biking from the Carthage trailhead to Carl Junction and returning to Carthage. This gives you a nice 25 mile ride.

The Joplin Trails Coalition expects to have the entire 16-mile trail completed by sometime in 2022.

Prairie Spirit Trail State Park

goes to Humboldt ks

February, 2021 by jimbaze

Section to Humboldt is completed with excellent trail side park constructed that has tiny housing, camping, indoor center for cyclists

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