Little Blue Trace Nature Preserve

Very good trail. Kudos to the county and cities involved in making it happen and maintaining it. I wish it went a little further south so you could ride to and from Lee’s Summit.

Little Blue Trace is one of the longest trails in the Kansas City metro area, and is an easy trail for biking, trekking, or a walking a few miles. Several trailheads exist — one at nearly every road the trail intersects — and each trailhead has a parking area for your vehicle. Little Blue Trace follows the course of the Little Blue River, from the Independence Commons area (just north and east of the I-​70 and I-​470 interchange) all the way to Blue Mills Road (just north of 24 Highway, less than a couple miles north and west of Fort Osage high school).
Since it follows the river, the trail is very flat and easy going, and the fine gravel makes it a hit for bikers. My only complaint about the trail is that does have many low spots and puddles after a rain. 98% of the trail is fine, even the day of a rain, but the low spots are annoying.

This trail is a gravel trail that goes about 11 miles one way to eastern Independence. There are several trail heads so you don’t have to do the total 11 miles. It is a scenic trail that follows little blue trace. You ride next to the stream, through wooded areas and prairie grassland. There are old rail road bridges too cross and one highway.
I ride this trail once a week but I do suggest you go when it hasn’t rained because the trail floods and can be impassable.