Recreation Around Ottawa
Outdoor recreation around Ottawa is stronger than the town's size might suggest. Ottawa Main Street promotes the city as the point where the Prairie Spirit Trail and Flint Hills Trail State Park intersect, creating access to more than 170 miles of trail riding and walking across the region.
Trails, Golf, and Disc Golf
The trail network is the clearest recreation anchor, but Ottawa also has a public golf course and disc golf options. The Ottawa Golf Course is a historic 9-hole public course along the Marais des Cygnes River, and Franklin County tourism highlights the 18-hole disc golf course at Kanza Park.
Family and Dog-Friendly Options
For lower-key recreation, the city and county also point visitors toward the Prairie Spirit corridor, Forest Park, and the Bark Park in the northwest corner of Forest Park. Those work well for shorter outdoor stops when you do not want a longer trail outing.
Planning Notes
- Confirm site access rules and hours ahead of time.
- Prepare for Kansas weather shifts and wind on open trail segments.
- Combine outdoor stops with downtown time for a balanced day rather than overloading one outing.
- Use the Franklin County walking and biking page or the City parks page for current trail and facility context.