Goat

Dogs Leashed

Features Birding · Fall Colors · Views · Wildflowers · Wildlife

Very little rocks anywhere on this trail. Has less Bike traffic than the parallel Pony trail.

Goat was built as the main natural surface climb for trail users heading north from the bike/pedestrian bridge area. It is a multiuse trail so users may encounter bikes on this trail. The views are nice any time of the year but they are spectacular in the winter months and early spring offering one to see the entire Missouri River valley with Kansas on the other side. It is a multi-use trail and riders may encounter pedestrians.

It starts at the bottom of the hill near the bike/pedestrian bridge. The trail immediately begins the climb up using switchbacks. The first one offers a really nice view despite being near the bottom of the hill. After the initial climb, there is a recovery zone to allow one to catch their breath. More switchbacks follow with recovery zones interspersed before a steady climb that levels out bringing one to the start of Larceny and Randy's Traverse which are bike only trails. There is another climb that follows that is super fun when traveling in reverse. At the top of the climb, the trail intersects with the Crushed Limestone Trail providing access to the south end of Pony. Hikers and trail runners will encounter fewer mountain bikes on Goat.

From there, the trail goes downhill briefly before resuming the climb. A short recovery zone leads to two more switchbacks climbing up the hill. After the two switchbacks, one approaches a bermed turn clinging to the hillside. Use caution here as downhill traffic may be approaching from around the turn. The climbing continues briefly before leveling out. Try avoiding distraction from the nice view to the left. As one notices the trail getting close to the Crushed Limestone Trail, watch for intersecting traffic from Deroin to the left. Goat ends here at the intersection with Deroin, the Crushed Limestone Trail, and Pony.