Perry Lake Hiking Trail

Perry Lake Hiking Trail 29-mile hiking trail at Perry Lake, Kansas with National Recreational Trail designation. Activities include hiking, backpacking, wildlife viewing, camping.

Welcome! The volunteers and organizations involved with the 29-mile Perry Lake Hiking Trail thank you for taking the time to stop by and learn more about this outstanding recreational resource located here in Northeast Kansas. We're proud to celebrate over 30 years as part of the National Recreational Trails system. Perry Lake Trail is often a surprise for first time visitors. The trail offers a r

ange of terrain and difficulty from easy, gentle slopes in the south to rugged, varying elevation changes in the north. Many folks refer to the Perry Lake area as the "Little Ozarks". A tribute to the beautiful, tree-covered hills that characterize the Delaware River watershed. Wildlife is abundant in the area and lucky hikers are likely to see deer, turkey, waterfowl, reptiles, small mammals and even the occasional Bald Eagle! There are many places along the trail that offer scenic views of the lake, with some portions very close to water's edge. Perry Lake Trail is a short drive from Lawrence, Topeka or Kansas City. From Topeka or Lawrence, US 24 highway will take you to Perry, Kansas and just below Perry Dam. From the town of Perry, the trail area is accessed from various points along Ferguson Road (see trail maps). With the exception of a short along-the-road portion of trail that completes the loop, Perry Lake Trail is located entirely on Corps of Engineers land. Click here to view the Corps of Engineers website and additional information about Perry Lake and Perry Lake Trail. Perry Lake Trail is designated for hiking only. The Corps website also provides information about the many other hiking, biking, equestrian and ATV trails available at Perry Lake. Want to help? Volunteer for one of our work outings (check the Events), contact us, OR make a donation via Kansas Trails Council's Friends of the Trails program (http://www.kansastrailscouncil.org/join/).

Myself and a few volunteers have been working the 7 miles between Old Quarry Road and Kiowa. This is a really nice secti...
05/03/2026

Myself and a few volunteers have been working the 7 miles between Old Quarry Road and Kiowa. This is a really nice section of the trail as it is mostly woodland and 'feels' very remote.

If you are into plants, the 3 miles between Kiowa Road and 94th street has a very high degree of plant diversity including Hazelnut, Bladdernut, Green Dragon, Jack-in-the-pulput, Pawpaw, ferns, and many others.

It has been very nice weather to hike, hope you are taking advantage of it. Yes, ticks are active, but there is a way to...
05/02/2026

It has been very nice weather to hike, hope you are taking advantage of it. Yes, ticks are active, but there is a way to effectively combat them. Spray your clothes in Permethrin. I buy the 10% concentrate and dilute it to 0.5%, which is the same as the ready to use products. Much cheaper. I have been out all week working on the trail and haven't had one tick. Google it!!

02/17/2026

For me long post, but please read.

Note that no one showed up at the volunteer event a few weeks ago. I believe changing the date for the 'event' may have caused confusion. Also not sure, with all the junk on FB anymore, if people are seeing the events or updates. Regardless, I will try again in the near future.

All that said, I am retired and not restricted to working weekends and I have a light schedule. If you want to help, send me a PM and we can coordinate a day.

Any help is appreciated as to date over 95% of maintenance has been done by only me since last August (this isn't a complaint as my plan was to get the trail in shape first then start to recruit volunteers).

02/06/2026

Reminder that work day is tomorrow.

Meet at Old Military Trail at 9:00 am.

Mike

My project while couped up inside. Unearthed my wife's never used Cricut she got 4 years ago, spent a whole day learning...
01/30/2026

My project while couped up inside.

Unearthed my wife's never used Cricut she got 4 years ago, spent a whole day learning how to use it, repurposed some old signs from the Corps bone yard (don't tell the Corps) by scaping off the lettering and cutting them down to size, and 'wah lah', new signs for the trailheads and trail junction.

New trail markers!! Installing these markers in the open fields where the grass/weeds can get higher than the blue cars...
01/08/2026

New trail markers!! Installing these markers in the open fields where the grass/weeds can get higher than the blue carsonite posts. Also adding some in the areas of high tree death due to the 2019 flood. Hopefully they won't be needed as plan is to mow more frequently and hikers can just follow the mowed path.

The tale of the missing memorial plaque: Near mile 12.5 (about 1 mile west of Old Military Trail trailhead) is a memori...
12/19/2025

The tale of the missing memorial plaque: Near mile 12.5 (about 1 mile west of Old Military Trail trailhead) is a memorial bench and brass plaque honoring Dorothy Moore, a past champion of the trail. The plaque was missing and was found by someone on the bank by the Old Town boat ramp. She emailed me and turned it into the Corps office who got it back to me. I reinstalled it today. How it got from the bench to the boat ramp across the lake is a complete mystery!!!

Finished yearly maintenance on the last section of the trail today, roughly from milepost 1 to 2.5. A few weeks ago cle...
11/26/2025

Finished yearly maintenance on the last section of the trail today, roughly from milepost 1 to 2.5. A few weeks ago cleaned up some trail north of Longview Campground and also some spots west of Old Military Trail.

For interest, included before and after pics of a good size tree. See if you can find the 80 lb. black dog in the before pic.

Mike

Let's take a look at a few photos of the Sept 25 workday as Mike and Dave sawed fallen trees, lopped what brush we could...
10/07/2025

Let's take a look at a few photos of the Sept 25 workday as Mike and Dave sawed fallen trees, lopped what brush we could, and blazed all but the easterly 1/4 mile of the trail between 94th St and Kiowa. A whole lot better, but will still need the weedwacker or DR mower. Interested in volunteering to assist??

Trail Maintenance Update:Every mile has been maintained except the one mile section shown in light blue below. This mea...
10/07/2025

Trail Maintenance Update:

Every mile has been maintained except the one mile section shown in light blue below. This means that all trees (except a few step overs) have been removed and the trail either mowed or weedeated (mostly mowed).

If you are out and note any blow downs, please email me at

[email protected]

Most sections of trail can use lopping of branches so if you have time, please pick a section and take loppers with you!!

Mike

09/20/2025

The only section left to maintain for fall hiking is the 3.5 mile section east of Ferguson Road starting at Old Military Trail trailhead.

I will be working this section Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday of next week.

Could use some help (as simple as painting and lopping). Please email me at: [email protected]

Mike

Address

Ferguson Road
Perry, KS
66066

Website

https://www.kansastrailscouncil.org/trails/

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