Between UG budget meetings, teaching two 4-credit hour Neuroscience classes at Rockhurst University and a working on an audio project that I almost didn't get finished, I haven't posted a blog since June 22.
Let's change that today.
Earlier this summer, the Unified Government, in collaboration with the Kaw Valley Drainage District opened a 1.3 mile stretch of the Kaw River levee for hiking and biking.
Yesterday, I finally got around to taking a walk on the "Armourdale Hike & Bike Route: Island View Loop".
What I encountered was a relatively flat and surprisingly smooth trail that is well-insulated from vehicle traffic.
You access the trail west of 18th Street under the Kansas Avenue bridge on the north (east) bank of the river. Here's a map that BikeWalkKC posted on their web site (http://bikewalkkc.org/content/first-kck-levee-trail-now-open).
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| (Click on any photo to view a larger copy.) |
The trail runs east from Kansas Avenue under the 18th Street Expressway and ends at 12th Street. Here are a few photos from my walk.
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| Don't go up on the Kansas Avenue bridge! Take the "low road" between the bridge (on the left) and the Procter and Gamble building (on the right) |
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| At the end of the road under the bridge, you'll find the levee wall. There's not much in the way of marked spaces, but there's plenty of room to park. |
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| You have to cross some railroad tracks to get to the trail. Don't worry, they're not in use! |
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| It's a short walk next to the levee wall to get up to the trail on top of the levee. |
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| You don't see a ton of the river because there are lots of trees along the river bank. But early in your walk, you can see the island in the river just west of 18th Street Expressway. |
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| Once you get east of 18th Street Expressway you actually feel like you're out in the country. Well, except for the rumble of big motors on the surrounding roads and the train horns from the south side of the river... |
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| ... and the old train cars awaiting salvage... |
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| ... and a car parts lot... |
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| A locked gate marks the end of the available trail. That's the 12th Street bridge in the background to the right. Maybe we'll open more of the levee sometime in the future. |
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| You get great views heading back west as well. |
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| After you get back past 18th Street Expressway there's a great view of the Kaw River as it winds off to the north and west. |
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| Pretty neat. Bet this will look spectacular when the leaves turn in the fall. |
Nice little walk. I'll be back. Maybe I'll see you there!
Until then, have a great week.
~ Brian
bmckiernan@wycokck.org
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