Kansas City Area Outings

Sierra Club outings are open to members and non-members alike. If you would like to attend an outing, contact the leader of that trip at least a week in advance of the outing. Please see the bottom of this page for Participant Guidelines and the Carpooling Policy.

Download Fall & Winter 2008 outings brochure (get free PDF Reader) Feb-Jul — Maintenance, Hidden Valley Park, Kansas City, MO. Get on our list if you are interested in being contacted to help lop the invasive honeysuckle at Hidden Valley in our ongoing efforts. Doris Sherrick (816) 779-6708 djsher@fairpoint.net Aug-Jan — Maintenance, Hidden Valley Park, Kansas City, MO Get on our list if you are interested in being contacted to help lop the invasive honeysuckle at Hidden Valley in our ongoing efforts. Doris Sherrick (816) 779-6708 djsher@fairpoint.net

Upcoming Outings

September 12 - 14 (Friday - Sunday) Beginner Backpack on the Pigeon Roost Trail, War Eagle, AR
A fun, 8-mile loop on a well-marked trail near Beaver Lake in NW Arkansas. We'll stop for cornbread at War Eagle Mill on Sunday. $10 donation requested. Renee Andriani 913-341-4753 randri@kc.rr.com   

September 21 (Sunday) Woodland Day Hike at Kill Creek Park, Desoto, KS
We’ll follow up June’s prairie hike with a trek through the woodland areas of Kill Creek Park. $5 donation requested. Steve Hassler 913-707-3296 hassler@planetkc.com   

September 27 - 28 (Saturday - Sunday) Float Trip, James River south of Springfield, MO
Bypass the crowds and explore a quiet Ozark stream on our laid back canoe/kayak float trip. Catch the sunset and see the stars Saturday night from our sandbar campsite; and share your stories around the campfire. $5 donation requested. Terry DeFraties 913-385-7374 theerustbucket@aol.com   

September 27-28 (Saturday - Sunday) Ozark Trail Association Mega Event, Steelville, MO
Help build a portion of the Ozark Trail at this non-Sierra Club event. Good food. Good fun and a little trail building on the side. For more info contact Jeff Goetter at ota.volunteer@gmail.com or visit their website www.ozarktrail.com   

October 4 (Saturday) Backcountry Hike at the Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve,
Strong City, KS
We'll enjoy the beauty of the Flint Hills with an easy, 6 mile hike, and explore the historic barn and ranch house. We'll finish up with a casual dinner at the Hays House in nearby Council Grove before heading back to KC. $5 donation requested. Renee Andriani 913-341-4753 randri@kc.rr.com   

October 11 - 12 (Saturday - Sunday) Easy Backpack, Clinton Lake, KS
This short 4.5 mile loop passes through wooded hills and fields with good views of the lake. $5 donation requested. Eileen McManus, 816-523-7823 eileen4250@sbcglobal.net   

October 25 - 26 (Saturday - Sunday) Car Camping at Tuttle Creek State Park, Manhattan, KS
We’ll set up camp in the state park, then day hike in the nearby Flint Hills and reminisce around the campfire Saturday evening. $10 donation requested. Anne McDonald 913-384-6645 pamcdonald@kc.rr.com   

November 8 (Saturday) Perry Lake Trail Maintenance, Perry, KS
Join us as we begin our 18th season of trail maintenance by refurbishing the part of the trail between Old Military Trail and 94th Street that flanks a new stream bridge to be built this fall. Steve Hassler 913-707-3296 hassler@planetkc.com   

November 14 – 16 (Friday - Sunday) Car Camping at Indian Cave State Park, Brownville, NE
Indian Cave State Park is located within a majestic hardwood forest that overlooks the Missouri River in southeast Nebraska. There are 22 miles of hiking trails in the park. $10 donation requested. Anne McDonald 913-384-6645 pamcdonald@kc.rr.com   

November 20 - 23 (Thursday - Sunday) Backpacking on the Ozark Trail, Shannon County, MO
We’ll hike a 30 mile contiguous portion of the Blair Creek and Current River sections of the OT, $10 donation requested. Dave Patton, 816-461-6091 davedahiker@yahoo.com   

November 29 (Saturday) Annual Squaw Creek NWR Bird watching Trip, Mound City, MO
Nearly a half million ducks & geese stop at Squaw Creek on their way south each winter. 200 Bald and Golden eagles pass through or winter here as well. We’ll spend the afternoon at this 7,000 acre wetlands and welcome them all to Missouri. Great for kids of all ages. $5 donation requested. Dave Patton, 816-461-6091 davedahiker@yahoo.com   

December 12 - 14 (Friday - Sunday) Winter Backpacking at Hercules Glades Wilderness, Forsyth MO
Yes, it might be cold but Hercules Glades in the winter can be quite spectacular. Cold weather won’t stop us, but hazardous driving conditions will cause us to cancel. $10 donation requested. Dave Patton, 816-461-6091 davedahiker@yahoo.com   

January 3 (Saturday) Day Hiking at Fleming Park, Jackson County, MO
Enjoy the crisp winter air as we hike and explore some off trail ravines and woodlands. Bring your lunch, and we’ll provide the hot chocolate. $5 donation requested. Paul Gross, 816-228-6563 wildwoodp@hotmail.com   

January 16 - 18 (Friday - Sunday) Winter Backpack at Devil’s Backbone Wilderness, West Plains, MO
Let winter weave its magic spell and enjoy the solitude of the wilderness in cold weather. Dress warm and you won’t run any icy fingers (or toes) up and down the Devil’s Backbone. Cold weather won’t stop us, but hazardous driving conditions will cause us to cancel. $10 donation requested. Bob Wilshire 913-384-6645 rjwilshire@kc.rr.com   

Jan 31 (Saturday) Day Hike and Geocaching Adventure, Shawnee Mission Park, KS
Get out of the cabin and stretch your legs on this high tech scavenger hunt. Great fun for kids too. $5 donation requested. Dave Patton, 816-461-6091 davedahiker@yahoo.com   

Participation Guidelines
Sierra Club outings are open to members and non-members alike. If you would like to attend an outing, contact the leader of that trip at least a week in advance of the outing. A monetary donation may be requested on some outings. Any monies donated go towards supporting and perpetuating our outings program. Check the latest outings updates at: http://missouri.sierraclub.org/thb/outings or http://kansas.sierraclub.org/EventsSearch.asp. Trip leaders may restrict the size of the group and may screen participants for the skills and equipment necessary for the particular type of outing being conducted. All participants on Sierra Club outings are required to sign a standard liability waiver. If you would like to read the liability waiver before you choose to participate on an outing, please go to: http://www.sierraclub.org/outings/chapter/forms, or contact the Outings Department at (415) 977-5528 for a printed version. A note about carpooling: In the interests of facilitating the logistics of some outings, it is customary that participants make carpooling arrangements. The Sierra Club does not have insurance for carpooling arrangements and assumes no liability for them.

Carpooling Policy
Carpooling, ride sharing or anything similar is strictly a private arrangement among the participants. Participants assume the risks associated with this travel. Pets are not allowed on outings unless specifically approved in advance by the leader. All outings are non smoking.

The Thomas Hart Benton Group (Missouri) and the Kanza Group (Kansas) share outings. For general information about local Sierra Club outings contact:

WE SUPPORT LEAVE NO TRACE PRINCIPLES:

- Plan Ahead and Prepare
- Concentrate Use in Resistant Areas
- Avoid Places Where Impact is Just Beginning
- Pack It In, Pack It Out
- Properly Dispose of What You Can't Pack Out
- Leave What You Find
- Use Fire Responsibly