Volunteers ensure Topeka-area hikers, bikers and walkers have miles of adventure

Evert Nelson, Topeka Capital-Journal
Updated ·5 min read
A footstep holds water on a section of the Shawnee County North Community Center's trail system. Local organizations, such as Top City Trails Alliance and Kansas River Council, work year round to maintain sections of trail like this that may have erosion and poor drainage.
A footstep holds water on a section of the Shawnee County North Community Center's trail system. Local organizations, such as Top City Trails Alliance and Kansas River Council, work year round to maintain sections of trail like this that may have erosion and poor drainage.

The weather this time of the year is, well, predictably unpredictable for Kansas. One day, you’re outside enjoying a warm and sunny afternoon, and the next it’s snowing.

For the miles of natural trails around Shawnee County, this change of weather can quickly become a problem.

Just as potholes are created each year from vehicles traveling on asphalt during the winter’s freeze-thaw cycle, the same is true for the unpaved trails when wet used by walkers, runners and riders.

"It's going to take a lot of work," Rick Bean, president of Top City Trails Alliance (TCTA), told The Topeka Capital-Journal last Sunday.

More: Topeka is seeing a lot of potholes, 'and we're not even into pothole season yet'

From left, Mark Ferretti, Rick Bean Justin Lillibridge and Bob Jurgens clear fallen trees and honeysuckle to create a new section of trail earlier this month. The goal of this section is to smooth out an almost 90-degree turn and also help with water runoff.
From left, Mark Ferretti, Rick Bean Justin Lillibridge and Bob Jurgens clear fallen trees and honeysuckle to create a new section of trail earlier this month. The goal of this section is to smooth out an almost 90-degree turn and also help with water runoff.

"In the wintertime and in the springtime, you got runoff, you got rain, you've got erosion going on," Bean said. "Things that we're trying to develop and work on."

The nonprofit organization, which formed in 2021, is the latest to help maintain some of the natural surface trails in Shawnee County alongside Kansas Trails Council, Adopt-a-Trail volunteer work and Shawnee County Parks and Recreation.

Currently, members of TCTA are focusing their efforts at Kaw River State Park, which is owned by the state of Kansas, and Skyline Park's Azura Trails.

"We're looking at (Kaw River State Park) as a whole to try and make it better for the hikers, you know, the bikers, the trail runners," Bean said." And don't forget the dog walkers, because there's a lot of dog walkers that come out here just leisurely doing their thing."

Trail enthusiasts develop new areas for hikers and bikers to enjoy

Trevor Dabney uses a Pulaski axe to grade a new section of trail and form a switchback at Kaw River State Park.
Trevor Dabney uses a Pulaski axe to grade a new section of trail and form a switchback at Kaw River State Park.

On March 12, volunteers joined members of TCTA to help fix erosion damage at the Kaw River State Park trail system and work on bettering a route for an upcoming National Interscholastic Cycling Association, or NICA, race that will conclude its season in May.

One member, Trevor Dabney, could be seen leading a group of eager trail builders down the winding path toward a portion of the trail known as "Botton Dweller" on the fitness app Strava.

Dabney has taken it upon himself to build many of the newer trails, including a downhill bike-specific route in the park.

The latest trail Dabney is working on with TCTA will connect the Kaw River State Park to existing trails at the Kansas Museum of History at 6425 S.W. 6th Avenue through a greenway.

"I'd like to see even more connected," Dabney said. "Some guys at Rossville want to connect the levy to Topeka. If we do that, and they already want do the levees, you could go up Soldier (Creek). You could go maybe up to Meriden, using the old railroad.

"You could jump off here and ride or you can jump on and go to over (Shawnee Lake) and ride Dornwood."

The process to build trails boils down to time, money and effort.

Working alongside Dabney was another avid trail builder, Lyle Riedy. The now-retired Seaman school teacher has been building trails since the early 1990s starting out in western Kansas.

From left, Trever Dabney, Alex Sage and Lisle Riedy carry their tools up a steep hill at Kaw River State Park after working for a few hours on a section of trail.
From left, Trever Dabney, Alex Sage and Lisle Riedy carry their tools up a steep hill at Kaw River State Park after working for a few hours on a section of trail.

"I was going to school out in Hays, Kansas, and there's a little trail around by the campus," Riedy recalled during a break. "I started doing some volunteer work there. And then when I moved here, 1996 is when we started building Perry, and that's when I went full blown.

"I'm a trail builder as a passion, not just volunteer."

Over the years, the trails at Perry State Park played host to races and became known for its rough terrain that stretches over 20 miles.

"We used a lot of what nature provided us as far as deer trails and some of the natural contour of the land," Riedy said. "We first built trails where we could go. And then as we started working with power tools, chainsaws, trimmers, we started building trails where they should go."

He explained a good trail should find positive contact points, or places that you want to go, such as a vista to look out from or feature to ride through. He said it's important to mind areas to avoid, such as swamps and road crossings.

The area where Riedy, Dabney and others were working on was on a steep hill and cuts sharply from one direction to the other, known as a switchback, with packed berms and limestone rocks positioned on water runoff points.

"The trails here have opened the door for so many new trail users," Riedy said. "And, of course from that in, they're expanding, traveling farther out like to Perry or Clinton or other places."

Topeka area has trails for everyone

A group of kayakers follow Friends of the Kaw river guides on a beginner paddle event last September.
A group of kayakers follow Friends of the Kaw river guides on a beginner paddle event last September.

There’s a variety of trails in Shawnee County beyond the more than 50 miles meant for walking, running and biking.

Just south of the Kansas River in the Oakland Community lies an established ATV park meant for motorsport enthusiasts with jumps and trails meant for dirt bikes and small off-road vehicles.

The Kansas River is also part of the Kansas River Trail and benefits from the influx of rain this time of year for those who enjoy paddling in kayaks or canoes.

The organization Friends of the Kaw offers group paddle trips beginning in April and cleanup events throughout the year. Compass Point, home of Dirty Girl Adventures, also hosts kayaking, backpacking and hiking trips as well as supplies outdoor gear from its NOTO storefront.

This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: Volunteers ensure Topeka-area hikers, bikers have miles of adventure