Trail sites in the Northeast part of the Kansas City area
Burr Oak Woods Nature Center
Burr Oak Woods Conservation Area  [website]
• In Blue Springs, Mo., on Park Rd. off Hwy 7 North of I-70
• Two paved trails, 0.5 and 0.75 miles long
• Three unpaved trails, 1 1/3 to 3 1/3 miles long
• Beautiful rock outcrops and wide-range of bird species
• Nature center with view of bird feeding area

George Owens Nature Park  [website]
• In Independence on Speck Rd. north of Hwy 78
• Six unpaved trails from 0.13 to 1.1 miles long
• Wooded hills with rock outcrops and lakes
• Nature center
• See Cedar Waxwings, bluebirds, woodpeckers, more.

Outcrops along Wapiti trail at George Owens Nature Park
Martha Lafite Thompson Nature Center
Martha Lafite Thompson Nature Sanctuary  [website]
• 407 N. Lafrenz Rd., Liberty, Mo.       
• Two paved trails, 0.25 and 0.5 miles long
• Four unpaved, connected trails, 0.4 to 0.7 miles long
• Creek, prairie, and woodland habitats
• Nature center and bird feeding area

Smithville Lake  [website]
• 20 miles north of downtown KC on U.S. Highway 169       
• 23 miles of paved trails
More than 2000 acres of prairie grasses, trees, native flowers
Visitor center and observation tower
See warblers, orioles, tanagers, Osprey, other species.

Trail at Smithville Lake