Take a Winter Hike!

Did you know that Missouri was named the Best Trails State in 2013 by American Trails? Kansas can’t be too far behind. While Freedom’s Frontier might lack the lung-busting climbs into mountain elevations, the pedestrian opportunities in the heritage area are anything but, well, pedestrian. We really like walking here—and at least one of our Board of Trustees members and “noted pedestrian” Henry Fortunato, agrees.

Winter is an especially magical time to take to the trails. No matter if you’re winding through an urban forest in the middle of greater Kansas City or hiking through the Flint Hills, the heritage area comes to life when you’re exploring it at a slower pace.

As a resident of Northland Kansas City, my family’s favorite trails are protected from the wind and cold by hills, hollow and trees. Whether we are strolling the paved paths along Line Creek and through Happy Rock Park or we are tromping through the woods at the Parkville Nature Sanctuary, we connect with one another and with nature.

From Manhattan to Topeka  to metro KC  to St. Joseph, urban trails provide an oasis from the city without leaving town. If a destination hike is in order, we like to head to a state park in Missouri and Kansas or to the Flint Hills.

Want some history with your hike? Check out one of these partner sites in Freedom’s Frontier:

Battle of Island Mound State Historic Site
Black Jack Battlefield and Nature Park
Mine Creek Battlefield State Historic Site
Mount Mitchell Heritage Prairie
Watkins Woolen Mill State Historic Site 

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