North Central KS - Do you enjoy the wind in your face during a bike ride or the feel of the earth beneath your feet after a long walk or run? The NCK Outdoors team has been taking action over the past two years to get more kids and adults leading active lives outdoors by developing multi-use natural surface trails in North Central Kansas. Three projects in Tipton, Beloit and Osborne have created more than 7 miles of great new singletrack and some of the best riding in the region. Two more trail projects are on the horizon in Lincoln, KS on the south edge of town to be named Quartzite Park and a larger 15 mile destination trail system at Glen Elder State Park will transform the region into a hub for outdoor recreation.
The first trail project, created the 15-Acre Tipton Woods Community Park and was opened in 2021 and is located south of St. Boniface Cemetery off of Buffalo Street, just a half a mile from the center of town. The new parking and staging area provides sweeping views of the rolling hills and the new trailhead kiosk and map welcome you to the area. The 1.5 mile walking, running and biking natural surface loop begins at the trailhead and is clearly signed with trail intersections and mileage markers along the way. Be sure to check out the Butterfly Garden and Outdoor Science Classroom that features interpretive signage and a pollinator plot planted with milkweed to support the great Monarch Butterfly Migrations through north central Kansas. The loop starts with a fun flow-line called Raptors Ridge that heads south toward the woods and features small rollable table top jumps and berm turns and flows into a gentle singletrack loop through the woods. Two beautiful trail bridges, resting areas with benches and the Hawks Nest picnic shelter on the far side of the loop make for great destinations along the way. Each trail is named after one of the local animals found in the area and features a life size cut out of each animal along the trail to bring the landscape to life. The park and trails were developed through a partnership between NCK Outdoors and the City of Tipton, Kansas. Phase 2 is being planned to include 1.5 miles of additional natural surface trails.
The second trail project in the newly designated Solomon River Park in Beloit includes the development of the River Street Trailhead located in the west parking lot of Nutrien Ag Solutions, intersection of River and Elliott Streets. The park includes 1-mile of the existing Solomon River Trail, which is a wider gravel trail and 1.5 miles of new natural surface flowy singletrack through the woods. All of the trails in the park are multi-use and open for walking, running and mountain biking. The natural surface trails wind through the trees with beautiful views of the Solomon River and are punctuated by a beautiful new wooden bridge and a special optional technical trail feature built over a fallen tree. There is a rest area with a picnic table located at the southern end of the park and the turn around for the Solomon River Trail that makes for a nice destination. The park will be well signed with a trailhead kiosk, park map, and trail signage at each intersection when construction is complete. The grand opening for the Solomon River Park project will be coming soon.
Shady Bend Park and the Shady Bend Trails located at the west end of Osborne, Kansas as the third project, included the comprehensive re-development of the existing trail system in order to create a more flowy and more user friendly network. The re-designed trail system will be well signed with a trailhead kiosk, and trail signs at each intersection and the trails will be way more fun to ride, easier to follow and far easier to maintain when construction is completed. To get to Shady Bend Park head off of W. Main St., then turns into W. 90th St., keep going west on W. 90th Dr. and it will hook to the left. Turn to the right over the low water crossing and follow the road to the Shady Bend Trailhead.
The NCK Outdoors board members consist of Doug Palen, John McClure, Brian Dillner, Danielle Jeardoe, Becky McQueen and Tracey Palen. If you or your business would like to sponsor the development of any of these progressive trail projects, please contact Doug at 785-5458505 or John at 785-3466156. Donations accepted by check, payable to NCK Outdoors, 1031 180 Rd, Glen Elder, KS or online. The NCK Outdoors organization is a non-profit 501(c)3 organization, so all donations are tax deductible. Visit www.nckoutdoors. com to learn more or follow NCK Outdoors on Facebook and Instagram for updates of trail development, group bike rides and other summer events.
