Jerry Smith Park - Trail Head

First timer here. It needs a map at the entrance with the trails you can find in your run. I assume there are more trails because I didn't see some of the things shown in the pictures here. I was trying to get to the lake but instead I found myself in a loop going back to the car, but I found the lake by following Prospect up. It's more like a big pond rather than a lake. I came in the middle of March so there were not many flowers but probably by the end of spring it will look different. I'll be back.

Nice trail and good little fishing pond. Parking is limited at times.

The trail we took on was a little short (not sure if there are others), but the views were great. We were surrounded by lots flowers and chirping birds. The only downside is that there was a lot of ticks. We found a total of 7 ticks on our two dogs so make sure to inspect them before you leave the park or before you bring them back home. Update: Decided to give this trail another try now that it's winter time. The ticks are still out and about; found 3 on my dogs. It's not pretty like in the warmer months and it is also very muddy so I wouldn't recommend this place for dog walking.

Easily the best Prarie area I have visited in the entirety of KC/LS. This state park easily lives up to it's title with it's sheer size alone, not to mention all of the other great things about it. For a state park, it's surprisingly quiet and slow, even on the weekend I went. The trail itself has a lot of informational signs about the area, and it's definitely one of the cleanest natural areas I've ever been to. There are tons of different areas and ecosystems to see, and the park is beautiful, even in the cold of winter.

I've walked the trail often but hadn't been out there for a few months. While the temperature was 98 it was still active among the critter community. (Bugs and Butterflys) There's plenty of color around the trail and plenty of sun is that's your preference. There are shaded areas of the trail as well. It's not completely flat but not overwhelming so it's a great path to walk at your leisure or at a fast pace. Bring a camera if time permits. There's simple beauty there.