Camping In The Flint Hills Of Kansas

Welcome to Kansas, nicknamed the Sunflower State, but also known as the Jayhawk State, the Midway State, and the Wheat State. This region of plains and prairie is the breadbasket of the country, growing more wheat than any other state in the union. The ranch, east of Augusta, is owned by Jim and Sally Reeves. Monte Chain, a spokesman for the buyer, said the group will use the land for cow-calf production. The Chain ranch has land holdings in several states for its 2,000 head of cows.

These items will not appear on regional searches. Some of the most diverse flora and fauna in Kansas can be found in the Cross Timbers region thanks to the dense oak, forested floodplains, rolling meadows, and hills of hickory woodlands. Campers can also check out a few picnic areas, an 18-hole disc golf course, volleyball courts, horseshoe pits, an archery range, and a shooting range. People say Kansas is “flatter than a pancake.” But that doesn’t mean there aren’t any exciting outdoor opportunities in the Sunflower State! Plenty of locations are worthy of a weekend excursion in the Great Plains. Everything you need to know to have a safe and enjoyable visit with your pet.

The prairie is open year-round 24/7 except during times of prescribed fire. The hiking trails consist of old gravel ranch roads and mowed paths; a truly rustic and natural environment. It’s a good idea to wear clothing and footwear you don’t mind getting dirty. The Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve in Chase County and the Konza Prairie southwest of Manhattan in Riley County are two excellent locations to experience the Flint Hills. Both have miles of hiking trails open to the public.

Top Searched National Parks

However, the most ambitious rail-trails project is the Flint Hills Nature Trail. When completed, this section of rail-trail will be the seventh longest in the nation and will stretch 117 miles from Osawatomie to Herington. Currently, the trail is not fully open but there are many sections that are ready to ride.

El Dorado State Park is located on the edge of the Flint Hills and boasts 8,000 acres of water with 98 miles of shoreline. As the largest camping facility in the state, this 2,000-acre park and 4,000-acre wildlife area includes trails for hikers, bike riders, and equestrians. On the water, anglers will be busy catching a variety of sportfish. The best Kansas campgrounds offer lakes and rivers for kayaking, fishing, and other water sports.

Pitch Your Tent At This Incredible Kansas Park For An Unforgettable Adventure

But for sheer inspiration and grandeur I’ll choose the main trail into the back country of the Tallgrass Prairie Preserve. It only takes about a mile of hiking to get yourself into the most vast, quiet expanse of prairie with very few obstructions on the horizon, which is so rare. You can really lose yourself there with a few miles of easy walking.

Cottonwood Falls is also home to the legendary Emma Chase Cafe and Music Hall. The food is certainly good but the main attraction each Friday night is the acoustic jam session. Check out the full schedule of performers and get ready for some authentic music from the heart of the Flint Hills. It’s an experience like no other and has been named one of the “8 Wonders of Kansas Customs” by the Kansas Sampler Foundation. Each Friday features a different genre, ranging from acoustic country, gospel, bluegrass, and old-fashioned rock-n-roll.

You own these lands and you are entitled to use them. We especially like camping on Forest Service land, BLM areas, WMA’s and county or city parks. Flint Hills Trail State Park crosses the Flint Hills, one of the last remaining tallgrass prairie ecosystems in the world. It is home to abundant prairie plants and wildlife species, spectacular views, national historic sites, and a diverse set of recreational areas. On eastern portions of the trail, hikers and bikers travel along the Marais Des Cygnes River, between rushing waters and towering bluffs, through rolling farmland and riparian woodlands. Flint Hills Trail State Park connects with Prairie Spirit Trail State Park in Ottawa.

Completed in 1968, Marion Reservoir encompasses 6,200 acres of water surrounded by another 6,000 acres of public lands. Mound Valley is located on the crystal clear Big Hill Lake in southeast Kansas. Camping, picnicking, horseback riding, hiking, swimming, fishing and other outdoor activities abound.This f…

It is provided as a means to help locate new camp sites that have not yet been reported on the site. For Sara, one of the best moments of every journey is turning a corner or climbing above a ridge and an epic view reveals itself. That moment is one-of-a-kind and no two people experience it the same way. The rugged shoreline and rocky outcrops of Wilson Lake and the surrounding area are home to a variety of deer, pheasant, waterfowl, songbirds, and furbearers. In the water, anglers can look for white and striped bass. Learn what is available, where to park, and more so your visit will be enjoyable.

Sleep Among Old Oaks And Elms At The Serenity Creek Treehouse In Kansas

If you are looking for a community to enjoy outdoor life in a countryside setting with abundant wildlife, you should come to Alma, Kansas. Plenty of chicken, deer, quails, and prairies add more life to our calm and serene neighborhoods. Deposit solid human waste in catholes dug 6 to 8 inches deep at least 200 feet from water, camp, and trails. Hain State Fishing Lake – Located near Spearville, free primitive camping is allowed anywhere on the area. Enjoy multi-use trails or go further in the great outdoors,with backcountry camping . Glen Elder State Park is situated on the north shore of Waconda Lake.

The park is located on the Prairie Trail Scenic Byway in the Smoky Hills region. Kanopolis State Park campgrounds offer a mixture of RV and tent sites, primitive and utility camping sites, as well as a handful of some cabins. At Cross Timbers State Park, you can camp within easy walking distance of lake and river access. The park’s campgrounds offer full hookups for RV campers, and a mixture of utility and primitive campsites for tents. The park also has a basketball court, beaches, picnic tables, and a playground.

Flint Hills Nature Trail Challenge

The City of Alma, also known as the ‘City of Native Stone,’ is a small community nestled in the heart of the Flint Hills, Kansas, with a population of fewer than 1000 people. Whether you are young or old, single or married, a family with or without children, we are a fast-growing city in a picturesque setting offering a high standard of living for all. Nebo State Fishing Lake – Located near Holton, free primitive camping is permitted anywhere around the lake. Clark State Fishing Lake – Located near Kingsdown, free primitive camping is allowed throughout the area. Barber State Fishing Lake – Located near Medicine Lodge, free primitive camping is allowed anywhere within the area.

You can choose from more than 100 campsites, some with sewer, water, and electric hookups. There are also equestrian sites, cabins, and yurts to rent. There are 40 miles of trails open 24/7 year-round. The popular Southwind Nature Trail winds you through 1.75 miles of forest and tallgrass.

Have A Whole Modern Cabin To Yourself In Uniontown, Kansas For A Scenic Small Town Stay

Dispersed camping is also sometimes called “backpack camping” or “wild camping” . Tell us the route you want to take and we’ll give you some suggestions for how to get there, along with free and low cost camping along the way. Our routes show total mileage as well as driving time and turn by turn directions. In most cases, we’ll provide alternate routes as well. Only campsites with all of the selected features will be displayed.

Clinton Lake

Because the soil is cherty and thin (you don’t have to dig deep to reach solid rock), the land is better suited for ranching than farming. As surrounding prairies were plowed up and planted in crops, the Flint Hills region remained largely unscathed. It is now the last sizable remnant of a tall grass prairie that once stretched across a vast swath of North America. Today, only 4% of the original tallgrass prairie ecosystem survives, the largest piece being in the Flint Hills.

In 1948, after serving his country in WWII, Earl Shaffer set off on foot from Georgia on an epic journey of over 2000 miles that culminated at the top of Mount Katahdin in Maine. With gear that would be considered primitive by today’s standards, Shaffer became the first individual to thru-hike the Appalachian Trail. At the time, this feat was thought to be an impossibility to complete. According to the Appalachian Trail Conservancy, thousands of hikers now attempt to thru-hike the trail each year but the majority fail to complete the journey.