Topeka is the capital city of Kansas. It’s located along the Kansas River in the northeast corner of the state, approximately an hour west of Kansas City. Traditional land of the Oceti Sakowin, Kaw, Osage, and Kickapoo peoples, modern Topeka came up as a farming and trade city. It’s famous for the landmark Supreme Court decision Brown vs. Board of Education, which desegregated public schools, as well as its weird and wonderful tourist attractions — from Truckhenge to the Evel Knievel Museum. Topeka has several fine running routes, including a few long multi-use paths and lakefront parks. This MAP is an excellent overview of the 30 miles of paved trails and nearly 28 miles of natural surface trails running through forested, prairie and open natural areas
The Shunga Trail along Shunganunga Creek, and its neighbor the Landon Nature Trail, are two of the best running options in Topeka. Runners also love the scenic 7 mile loop around Lake Shawnee. Trail running options include MacLennan Park and Skyline Park. We’ve also mapped several routes in the college city of Lawrence, which sits halfway between Topeka and Kansas City.
Getting around Topeka is easy thanks to the Topeka Metro Bus System. If you plan to travel to routes outside the city center, a car might be useful. The only public transportation to nearby Lawrence and Kansas City is the Greyhound bus, but it takes a while due to the indirect route.
Kansas City Running Routes
