West Ridge Trail

West Ridge Trail offers some of the best panoramic views available of the Missouri River valley bordering Ft. Leavenworth, Kan. Also in view are the city of Leavenworth to the southwest and the Iatan Power Plant to the northwest. This trail offers excellent opportunities for observing native and migrating birds as well as a variety of native flowers and animals. Signs along the trail provide information on the park's role as an Important Birding Area and lists birds common to the park.

The trail intersects with Harpst Trail and Paved Bicycle Trail and is normally accessed from the overlook parking area by using Harpst Trail. When combined with hiking times on Harpst Trail and Paved Bicycle Trail, actual hiking time could be up to 2.5 hours. Sections of the trail are steep with numerous exposed tree roots and occasionally muddy conditions. The trail surface is all natural and will usually either be bare soil or a loose-leaf cover.

White Connector 1 (0.20 miles) links the West Ridge and Harpst trails to Weston Bluffs Trail. The connector takes hikers from the scenic bluffs above the Missouri River on the West Ridge/Harpst trails down to Weston Bluffs Trail that follows the park's western border and parallels the Missouri River and the Burlington Northern Railway.

Trailhead & GPS Location:
39.38778, -94.87955

You may experience:

• Natural Surface-dirt/mud/gravel, shifting rock, slippery surface, etc.
• Rocks, roots and/or downed vegetation on trail
• Steep grades and inclines more than 10%
• Bluffs or drop-offs next to trail