Kansas Hiking & Trekking Guide 2026

Top trails

Routes worth lacing up your boots for.

1. 1

   Konza Prairie Nature Trail

   2.6 miles (A Loop), 4.3 miles (B Loop), 6.1 miles (C Loop)1–3.5 hours depending on loopmoderateGain: 200 ft (modest rolling hills)

2. 2

   Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve Trails

   Trailhead walks: 0.75–3 miles. Back-country trails: up to 8 miles.30 min–5 hours depending on trail choseneasyGain: 50–300 ft on undulating tallgrass prairie

3. 3

   Prairie Spirit Rail Trail

   51 miles one-way (Ottawa to Iola)4–8 hours for full trail one-way (best done as multi-day or partial)easyMinimal gain — converted rail corridor is nearly flat

4. 4

   Little Jerusalem Badlands State Park Trail

   1 mile round-trip to main overlook; 2 miles exploring full area45 min–2 hourseasyGain: 80 ft; terrain around chalk formations can be uneven

5. 5

   Elk City State Park Trails

   Multiple trails: 1–10 miles. Elk City Backpack Trail: 15 miles total.1–6 hours depending on trail selectedmoderateGain: 100–400 ft; rolling cross-timber woodland terrain

6. 6

   Cimarron National Grassland Trails

   Santa Fe Trail corridor: 23 miles; shorter nature loops: 2–5 miles1 hour to full day depending on chosen routeeasyGain: minimal (short-grass plains)

7. 7

   Wilson State Park Trails

   Post Rock Scenic Byway nature trails: 1–5 miles; rock climbing routes at Rocktown area1–4 hoursmoderateGain: 100–250 ft; Dakota sandstone formations create moderate scrambles

8. 8

   Cross Timbers Hiking Trail (Toronto Lake)

   14 miles total loop (can be hiked in sections from 2–14 miles)Full day for complete loop; 1–3 hours for sectionshardGain: 250–400 ft; cross-timber woodland and open meadow terrain

9. 9

   Mushroom Rock State Park Nature Walk

   0.5 miles informal loop around all 7 concretion formations30 min–1 houreasyGain: minimal; flat prairie terrain

Trail difficulty levels

Pick a route that matches your fitness and experience.

Local hazards

What to watch out for on the trail.