Hillsdale Lake
16 mi south · US Army Corps of Engineers
Managed by the Kansas State Park System, Hillsdale offers camping, fishing, boating, hunting, hiking, equestrian trails, and relaxation within 40 minutes of the Kansas City Metropolitan Area.
Outdoors
Biking and mountain biking near Olathe
Trails and recreation areas near Olathe open to biking and mountain biking.
17places to ride
16 mito the closest
4within 30 miles
March–June, September–Novemberbest months
Good to know: Wilderness areas are closed to bikes; check each area’s trail rules and yield to hikers and horses.
Closest picks
Blue Springs Lake
28 mi east · US Army Corps of Engineers
Blue Springs is a 720 acre lake located in Blue Springs and Lee's Summit Missouri. There are 6 picinic shelters, swimming beach, primitive bicking/hicking trails and marina. Blue Springs is operated Jackson County Parks and Recreation.
Overlook Park
28 mi west · US Army Corps of Engineers
This day-use picnic area, located just north of Clinton Lake in the hills of Kansas, is the perfect spot for a party or family gathering.
Map of all 17 places
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Within 30 miles (4)
Hillsdale Lake
Managed by the Kansas State Park System, Hillsdale offers camping, fishing, boating, hunting, hiking, equestrian trails, and relaxation within 40 minutes of the Kansas City Metropolitan Area.
- Biking
- Boating
- Camping
- Fishing
- Horseback riding
- Nature education
- Picnicking
- Water sports
Blue Springs Lake
Blue Springs is a 720 acre lake located in Blue Springs and Lee's Summit Missouri. There are 6 picinic shelters, swimming beach, primitive bicking/hicking trails and marina. Blue Springs is operated Jackson County Parks and Recreation.
- Biking
- Boating
- Camping
- Fishing
- Picnicking
- Water sports
- Wildlife viewing
Overlook Park
This day-use picnic area, located just north of Clinton Lake in the hills of Kansas, is the perfect spot for a party or family gathering.
- Biking
- Birding
- Camping
- Hiking
- Mountain Biking
- Photography
- Picnicking
- Ranger Station
Bloomington East
Bloomington East Park includes Cedar Ridge, Hickory/Walnut, and Oak Campgrounds, Ash and Elm Group Camps, and Bloomington Beach Picnic Shelters.
- Amphitheater
- Biking
- Birding
- Camping
- Canoeing
- Disc Golf
- Fishing
- Hiking
30 to 75 miles (7)
Perry Lake
Located conveniently near the cities of Topeka, Lawrence, and Kansas City, Perry Lake boasts a wide variety of recreational opportunities.
- Biking
- Boating
- Camping
- Fishing
- Hiking
- Horseback riding
- Hotel/Lodge/Resort Privately Owned
- Nature education
Slough Creek
Slough Creek Campground is situated on Perry Lake in the lush Kansas forest. As the largest and most popular recreation area at the lake, Slough Creek is an ideal destination for family camping trips.
- Biking
- Boating
- Camping
- Fishing
- Hiking
Smithville Lake
Within 30 minutes of downtown Kansas City, this 7,190-acre lake offers city and county operated water-related recreation facilities including a regional visitor center and an 36-hole golf course.
- Biking
- Boating
- Camping
- Fishing
- Hiking
- Horseback riding
- Hotel/Lodge/Resort Privately Owned
- Picnicking
Longview
Longview Campground is situated on Perry Lake in the lush Kansas forest, offering peaceful, family-oriented camping. Longview offers families the chance to camp together in a group camp setting overlooking the lake.
- Biking
- Boating
- Camping
- Fishing
- Hiking
Old Town
***WATER WILL NOT BE AVAILABLE DURING THE NON-PEAK SEASON. WATER AT ALL CAMPSITES, SHOWER BUILDINGS AND DUMPSTATIONS WILL BE TURNED OFF.
- Biking
- Boating
- Camping
- Fishing
- Hiking
Melvern Lake
Melvern Lake is situated on the eastern edge of Kansas' Flinthills Region. It draws outdoor enthusiasts from a wide range of disciplines. Melvern Lake covers approximately 7,000 acres of water and 18,000 acres of land open for public use.
- Biking
- Boating
- Camping
- Fishing
- Hiking
- History
- Horseback riding
- Hotel/Lodge/Resort Privately Owned
Outlet(Melvern)
Outlet Campground is situated below the Melvern Lake Dam on the eastern edge of the Flint Hills of Kansas. Visitors enjoy the area's wide range of recreational activities, including boating, fishing, hiking and hunting.
- Biking
- Birding
- Boating
- Camping
- Fishing
- Hiking
- Kayaking
- Mountain Biking
75 miles and farther (6)
Loess Bluffs National Wildlife Refuge
Loess Bluffs National Wildlife Refuge is located in northwest Missouri, near Mound City.
- Biking
- Birding
- Fishing
- Hiking
- Hunting
- Photography
- Picnicking
- Ranger programs
Harry S. Truman Lake
Located adjacent to the Lake of the Ozarks, Truman features excellent fishing, a regional visitor center and powerplant exhibit area. Rugged hills, scenic bluffs, hardwood forest and prairie offer some of the best scenery in the State.
- Biking
- Boating
- Camping
- Fishing
- Hiking
- Horseback riding
- Hotel/Lodge/Resort Privately Owned
- Off-highway vehicles
Tuttle Creek Lake
Situated in the scenic Flint Hills, Tuttle Creek Lake provides 12,500 surface acres of water and 100 miles of shoreline, making it the second largest lake in Kansas.
- Biking
- Boating
- Camping
- Fishing
- Hiking
- Horseback riding
- Hotel/Lodge/Resort Privately Owned
- Nature education
Toronto Lake
Kansas' only granite outcrop is located here, at the scene of a short-lived gold rush in 1887.
- Biking
- Boating
- Camping
- Fishing
- Hiking
- Hotel/Lodge/Resort Privately Owned
- Nature education
- Picnicking
Fall River Lake
Flowers, birds and game enhance this project in rolling prairie country. The 10,900-acre Fall River Game Management Area is located here.
- Biking
- Boating
- Camping
- Fishing
- Hiking
- Hotel/Lodge/Resort Privately Owned
- Nature education
- Picnicking
Milford Lake
The Milford Education Center and Fish Hatchery are located below the dam. From Topeka, 65 mi W on I-70, 5 mi N on US77, 2 mi W on K-57 hwy.
- Biking
- Boating
- Camping
- Fishing
- Hiking
- Horseback riding
- Hotel/Lodge/Resort Privately Owned
- Nature education
Distances are straight-line miles from downtown Olathe. Listings come from Recreation.gov’s federal recreation database; check each official page for hours, fees, fire restrictions and closures before you go.
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Questions
Where is the closest place for biking near Olathe?
Hillsdale Lake (US Army Corps of Engineers), about 16 miles south of Olathe as the crow flies. Next are Blue Springs Lake (28 mi) and Overlook Park (28 mi).
When is the best time for biking near Olathe?
Based on Olathe’s average highs, March–June, September–November. Conditions at higher elevations can be much cooler.
Who manages these places?
Federal agencies including US Army Corps of Engineers, Fish and Wildlife Service. Each listing links to its official page for hours, fees, closures and current conditions.