Gary L. Haller Trail

After a series of grants provided by multiple communities, a jointed trail was made that passes through multiple Kansas communities and habitats. This is the Gary L. Haller Trail, a place where residents can enjoy an easy incline path where they can walk, hike, bike, and enjoy other activities with their pup. The trail itself is pretty popular since it crosses multiple towns with dense populations, and thanks to its 9-foot wide area, it's more than able to accommodate all.

The parks southern entrance begins in the Mill Creek Streamway Park in the town of Lenexa, sticking to the west side of the park. Inside the park, hikers can find free parking, restrooms, water fountains, and clean-up stations for Fido. Once you're stocked up, the hike begins in a shaded landscape with trees covered both sides of the trail. Hikers can enjoy the sounds of the trail for the next six miles since the path follows along an active railway.

The asphalt path has an easy grade throughout the entire way, and passes through 4 different towns, thick woods and grasslands, as well as urban downtowns and packed neighborhoods. The trail also passes through 6 more parks, each with access to water fountains, restrooms, and picnic tables to take a break at. The Shawnee Mission Park is 8 miles into the trail, and even offers a dog-friendly off-leash area for dogs to take a break in and run around a little freely.

On the trail, you'll find lots of wildlife, like deer, foxes, squirrels, raccoons, groundhogs, birds, and sometimes coyotes. The trail ends near a second park with the name Mill Creek Streamway Park in the city of Shawnee, where you can get water and clean-up bags. Continue a little further and you will reach the true end of the trail at Nelson Island. The island is a small lush area with lots of vegetation along the Kansas River. 

There are multiple entrances and exits, where you and Fido can take a leave early on the trail or pick up on other points. The shaded area and peaceful natural spaces will leave you and Fido coming back for a calming walk.