Larry Mattonen Memorial Trail is one of several trails around Lake Jacomo between Lee’s Summit and the Blue Springs area of Kansas City, Missouri. It is located just off Colbern Road, a short 30-minute drive from Kansas City, Kansas. The park is open from 8 AM to 8 PM, seven days a week. It is a great hiking and biking destination, and dogs are allowed as long as they are leashed. 

Wooded path with redbud trees in bloom

If you plan to visit during the month of April when the Redbuds and spring flowers are in bloom, you are in for a treat. 

Eastern Redbud trees create a dense forest in this area, and when in bloom, their showy display of dark pink to purple blossoms is one of the season’s most dramatic displays. From a distance, the blooming redbuds look like purple clouds. When not in bloom, the trees’ trunks and branches are also attractive, with their irregular patterns. 

Map of the hiking trail
The loop is about 5 miles, with 450 ft elevation, and takes two hours to complete

Larry Mattonen trail is an easy, mostly gravel trail with only a little elevation gain that divides into two loops forming a figure 8.

Trail through the woods with green grass around

This hike is a peaceful, mostly forested walk with many pastoral scenes and is generally flat with only a few small elevation changes.

A view of a lake, framed by tree branches
There is a beautiful lake view along the trail with redbuds everywhere as a backdrop.
Limestone rocks and trees against a backdrop of a lake
Missouri limestone creates beautiful scenery all along the path and the lakeside.
A person hiking along a trail next to a large tree
Bucolic scene of Larry Mattonen trail
A close-up image of two blue and grey feathers on a bed of leaves
Treasures found along the way

If you have any hiking questions, please contact me.

Magda Born

mborn@kckpl.org

Community Services Librarian

Kansas City, Kansas Public Library

625 Minnesota Ave.

Kansas City, KS 66101          

913-295-8250 ext 1103