The Johnson County Arboretum and Botanical Gardens are a park located just outside Kansas City in Overland Park, Kansas. The Park charges an admission of $3.00 but is free on Tuesdays. They have several hiking trails from easy, paved circular trails of less than a mile, to more challenging unpaved double-back trails that run up through the rock bluffs surrounding the creek nearby. One of my favorites is the statue trail, which is paved and circular. Every few hundred feet you are presented with a different statue.




Some of the wildflowers from the trail
The pond trail follows a circular pond and even has a paddock where you can feed koi and some water turtles. The path also has a statue of Claude Monet painting.


There are several wooded trails they tend to be longer in length and some more of a challenge since they run along the ridge on the creek bluffs.

Flowers and waterfalls from the trails

Pros: Wide variety of paved and unpaved trails from beginner to intermediate skill levels. The ridge trail was a bit strenuous for me but the view was rewarding. The statue trail is really a nice place for a relaxing stroll. It’s exercise and it’s art.
Cons: Everyday except Tuesday which is free, there is a small $3.00 admission. Very popular park with people (and unfortunately mosquitos) so no real alone time.