Little Blue Trace — improved river-trail return
Missouri · Greenway
Join the signed Little Blue Trace main trail north from Phelps Road for up to three miles and retrace. Follow the developed concrete/rock course and stop at flood damage or barriers. Ordinary roads and natural riverbank spurs are excluded.
Plan your ride
- Location
- Independence · Missouri
- Ride length
- Up to 6 miles return
- Ride format
- Out and back
- Surface
- Concrete and improved crushed-rock main multi-use trail
- Road crossings
- Yield to walkers and slow at junctions. Stop and look at every street crossing; do not use traffic lanes to bypass a closure.
- Elevation
- River corridor with local access ramps and surface transitions; flood damage can add roughness.
- Starting location
- Little Blue Trace public Phelps Road trailhead, at Lee’s Summit Road, Independence, MO
Selected outward cap and the same return; turn earlier at the actual route end or a barrier. Parking walks are extra.
Selected named public map place with explicit place coordinates, not viewport coordinates. Follow the independently stated public arrival; no surveyed parking pin or navigable route.
Little Blue Trace — improved river-trail return — detailed guide
Source review: 2026-10-22. A dated source review does not guarantee current-day conditions.
A selected outing on a documented improved bicycle route. Follow the stated public start and course.
Start and parking
Start: Little Blue Trace public Phelps Road trailhead, at Lee’s Summit Road, Independence, MO.
County names Phelps Road as a public trail entrance and lists parking among the trail’s facilities. Use the signed open trailhead area; private shopping-center lots are not assumed available.
Ride and distance
Selected ride: Up to 6 miles return. Format: Out and back.
Ride: Join the signed Little Blue Trace main trail north from Phelps Road for up to three miles and retrace. Follow the developed concrete/rock course and stop at flood damage or barriers. Ordinary roads and natural riverbank spurs are excluded.
Selected outward cap and the same return; turn earlier at the actual route end or a barrier. Parking walks are extra.
Surface and effort
Concrete and improved crushed-rock main multi-use trail. River corridor with local access ramps and surface transitions; flood damage can add roughness.
Crossings and shared use
Yield to walkers and slow at junctions. Stop and look at every street crossing; do not use traffic lanes to bypass a closure. Yield to pedestrians, keep right, and slow at blind corners. Stop at barriers; never use a traffic-road detour to bypass a trail closure.
Hours, costs and access
Use daylight and obey posted trail, park and parking hours. Follow current public visitor-parking terms; reserved activities and events have separate conditions.
Reviewed 2026-10-22. Current county profile confirms bicycle paths, concrete/rock surface and public Phelps access. Separate older park and newer trail mileage/location summaries differ; this short selected return does not rely on the entire corridor mileage or guarantee all sections open. This is a source review, not a same-day inspection. Recheck the linked manager before travel.
Map and Directions
Use the named public start and its posted parking signs. The map reference identifies the facility or selected trail area; it is not a surveyed parking stall or navigable route line. Bicycle and e-bike rules can differ; only ordinary bicycle use is established unless noted.