Bike Break: Three bike trails to visit while school is online

Intro

Even though we’re barely a week into online school, the hours on end of staring at my computer screen every day — paired up with my disastrous sleep schedule — are already making me feel like a zombie.

In order to disconnect from my Macbook and tap into nature, I left all technology back in the classroom — or in this case, my bedroom — and ventured out to test three different biking trails: Tomahawk Creek, Indian Creek and Turkey Creek. Without a doubt, I’d recommend these bike trails for days when your eyes need a break from the screen and your skin needs a revitalizing dose of Vitamin D.

Indian Creek Trail

With eight separate trailheads, Indian Creek trail provides a wide range of starting points to choose from, depending on which is most convenient for you. The entry point at Roe Park, which is closest to my house, is where I started and continued on for five miles before I had to call it quits.

First off: the park.

Naturally, as it’s in a busier part of town, Roe Park is a consistently crowded location. Since it’s a hotspot for playdates and sports practices alike, I found myself shouting “To your left!” more times than I’m used to on bike rides. Depending on which trailhead you start at, this may not be an issue for you. If it is, just remember to warn upcoming pedestrians you’re coming through.

Despite the ultra family-friendly nature of the area, I found that there was a healthy mixture of regular and seemingly experienced bikers along the path. As a line of bell-ringing and spandex-wearing bikers zipped past, I noticed their thick-tired bikes with LED lights at the front. There’s no need to gear up like these people to ride this trail, but it would be a good idea to gather the right equipment. Though the path is flat and mostly smooth, I rode over countless cracks in the pavement and bumps along the way. Thick wheels and a helmet are must-haves for this trail as it has slightly more challenging terrain than the others I visited.

Some parts of Indian Creek are covered by thick greenery, so you’ll feel like you’re surrounded by a forest — even when you can hear the faint sounds of passing cars. This is the kind of place I’d go to for a long, peaceful bike ride on days where my homework load is minimal.

A whopping 26 miles long, this massive trail runs from past State Line all the way down to Olathe and has many sections to explore if you want to try multiple routes. There are several trailheads along the way connecting to individual parks, including Leawood City Park, which doubles as the northern trailhead for our next trail: Tomahawk Creek.

Tomahawk Creek Trail

The Tomahawk Creek trail is 12.7 miles long in total — not my favorite mileage for a quick bike ride on a lazy afternoon.

But the beauty of this trail is that there are countless points along the way to stop at if you’re wanting to finish your biking trip early. I made it all the way to Tomahawk Park before turning back.

In the beginning — near Leawood City Park — I was greeted with a sparkling lake on the right and the barely visible Tomahawk Creek to the left.

The flexibility wasn’t the only thing that impressed me —if you’re a sucker for scenery, you won’t be disappointed here.

Despite the busy area surrounding the trail, I felt at times like I was deep into a “Hunger Games”-esque forest — with a few colorful hammocks and toddlers speeding on their trikes mixed in.

Most of the children and families were grouped near the many parks the trail passes through. Luckily, the path is wide enough that you’ll have plenty of room to stay six feet apart from mask-wearing passerby. It wasn’t Disneyland crowded, but if you’re looking for a low-key trail that not a lot of people know about, this may not be the place.

For the most part, the land is pretty flat, so feel free to bring a younger sibling along even if they aren’t a seasoned bike rider.

The steepest and most difficult part was near the end of my journey, at Tomahawk Park, four miles in, where there was a split in the path. If you keep left there, then it will definitely be a workout for your legs to get up that hill — I had to get off my bike and walk up at the very top. But it’s worth going up because you can speed back down the hill — achieving that “zero-gravity feeling” before heading back.

Turkey Creek Trail

With a flat, well-paved path, the Turkey Creek trail is a choice that best suits a leisurely bike ride without any challenging terrain to get in your way. 

The highlight of this easygoing trail is the well-balanced mixture of shade and sun, which is perfect for giving you that healthy dose of Vitamin D —  minus the sunburn and squinty-eye wrinkles.

Along with the convenient placement of trees en route, this trail is located among both industrial and residential communities, making it a prime spot if you’re planning on making stops along the way.

A few parks, restrooms and water fountains near the path make it easy and comfortable to bike for as long as you want before getting back to your homework.

The main feature of this easygoing trail is the crystal-clear stream that runs along its side — you guessed it, Turkey Creek. This creek, plus the scenic little waterfall, were the highlights of the ride.

This manicured, suburban path definitely isn’t the place to go for a mountain-biking marathon if that’s what you’re up for. However, what the Turkey Creek trail is ideal for is a short, relaxing trip to clear your mind after a long day of school.