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Trail of the Month Program
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Hikers' Comments on Hiking/Bicycling Trail
Weston Bend State Park

	Month Hiked	Comments from participants of the 2007 Trail of the Month Program
	September 2007	Started at the picnic area parking lot and took the trail spurt to the main trail and walked the main trail all the way around the lake. Easy trail to hike even though it is long. It offers some excellent views of the lake. It would be a great hike once the trees change color in the fall.
	September 2007	This was a lovely trail to hike. Some of the curves would have been a little tight on my road bike. We hiked in the morning when it was still cool.
	July 2007	Great trail! Something different around every bend.
	July 2007	If you're walking, you might want to walk the trail clockwise and get the sunny part out of the way first. There are some hills (and plenty of strategically placed benches) that would be easy for an intermediate rider. There was lots of butterfly and dragonfly activity today. We also saw a rather large arachnid crossing the trail and caught a glimpse of a large deer running away from the trail.
	July 2007	I usually bike this trail but hiked it this time. Just as pleasant and rewarding to hike. If you're up for it, don't miss the “overlook” at sunset in another area of the park!
	July 2007	It is a nice paved trail and very pretty. Several benches along the way if you need to rest. There were also several steep hills but the paved trail made them easier to hike.
	July 2007	Hilly and steep at times. It was cool because of the views of the Missouri River. I also road my bike afterwards on the bike trail. I had a great time with my family.
	June 2007	A well maintained paved trail that had a few steep hills. We took the spur to the left (Harpst Pass) and hiked a little of the West Ridge Trail to view the river. We then retraced our steps to get back to the paved trail. It was worth the extra hike, even though we were chased by a horse fly. We saw six bunnies while hiking this trail.
	June 2007	Start in the opposite direction of the bike trail to avoid the big hill.
	June 2007	Nice paved trail but still gives you the feeling of being out in the woods. As you get deeper into the trail, you are under a beautiful canopy of trees. There are some pretty good hills to boot. I really enjoyed this trail. Thumbs up!
	June 2007	I saw numerous unconcerned rabbits and deer. Although we hiked it, this trail would have been great fun on a bike--small hills. It is 95 percent shady with lovely vegetation.
	May 2007	Lots of butterflies and birds were singing. A real nice paved trail. Nice to have road a bike one.
	May 2007	It is an easy trail; my kids liked it. We enjoyed how peaceful it was; the sink holes were interesting. There was a neat pond and lots of frogs.
	May 2007	Great trail, in one of our favorite parks in the Kansas City area. Want to return in fall when leaves turn to do it again -- should have some great photo opportunities. One word of caution -- in muggy weather especially, don't forget the insect repellent. Mosquitoes may be an aggravation.
	May 2007	Be sure to wear mosquito repellant so you can walk slowly and enjoy the woods.
	May 2007	You should really walk this trail if you are not fit. There are some really STEEP portions that make biking difficult. This is a beautiful trail with lots of shade to keep you cool. The trail is paved and makes for a poison ivy free walk. If you are into mountain biking, this trail would be a ride in the park for you. All around good exercise nonetheless. -- Check out the overlook in the park, too, for a great view of the Mighty Missouri.
	May 2007	Late spring is the best time to go. The forest is full of lush vegetation from the deepest river valleys to the tallest treetops. Since the trail is paved, this is a good trail for not-so-rugged biking, but be forewarned that there are many steep and steady inclines throughout. Fortunately, there are a few benches to help you rest along the way. If you have extra time and energy, take the overlook detour along the Harpst Trail for a great view of the Missouri River.
	May 2007	I started the trail by going left at the beginning, which was downhill for a while. Then I reached the steep hills. I am glad that I had a walking stick to help my balance! The mosquitoes were so bad that I felt like a beekeeper without protection. The trail is paved and challenging but afterwards I felt great even if I was a pint lighter!
	May 2007	If you are not real physically fit, this is a hard trail. There are lots of steep hills and also long hills. I didn't know if I would make the entire trail but I finished it. The trail was clean and nicely kept. It was our first trail of the season. I hope it was the hardest one to do and we have it completed. Looking forward to doing more trails.
	May 2007	Paved trail with a few hills, easy to hike, lots of woods and large rocks, a flowing stream, many benches along the way to rest.