James A. Reed Wildlife Memorial Loop

This is a popular fishing destination; however, with a 15-mile multi-use trail, which primarily loops around multiple lakes and sometimes in the woods, you can add and subtract to make it a very nice hike. Most of the trail is in fields/pasture areas. The James A. Reed Memorial Wildlife Area is located in Jackson County, south of Highway 50, near Lee's Summit. This wildlife area was established in 1952 when Mrs. Nell Reed donated 731 acres of land to the Missouri Department of Conservation in memory of her husband, Senator James A. Reed. Additional tracts were purchased using federal monies and Department funds to bring the area to its present 3,084 acres. Development of the area and lake construction began in 1957. Over 250 acres of water have been impounded to form 12 lakes, ranging in size from one to 42 acres. Most lakes contain largemouth bass, channel catfish, crappie, bluegill, green sunfish, redear sunfish, and bullheads. Striped bass hybrids have been stocked in several of the lakes. The area also has numerous small ponds. Woodlands, native grass plantings, shrub plantings, and cropfields are managed to provide year-round food for wildlife. Giant Canada geese nest and winter at the Reed Area. The area also supports good numbers of deer. This wildlife area was acquired, developed, and is managed in part through the Dingell-Johnson Sport Fish Restoration Act administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.