B Y W AY S O F
Flint Hills National Scenic Byway | Frontier Military Historic Byway | Glacial Hills Scenic Byway | Gypsum Hills Scenic Byway Land and Sky Scenic Byway | Native Stone Scenic Byway | Post Rock Scenic Byway | Prairie Trail Scenic Byway | Route 66 Historic Byway Smoky Valley Scenic Byway | Western Vistas Historic Byway | Wetlands and Wildlife National Scenic Byway
what’s inside
HIT THE ROAD! A
M E SSAGE
F ROM
THE
SECRETARI E S
Our work takes us all over the state, and we’ve found that traveling the highways and back roads of Kansas is a truly amazing experience. We’re privileged to see parts of Kansas that many travelers may never see, meet the wonderful people who live and work in the Sunflower State, visit awe-inspiring natural treasures and experience a variety of cultural, historical, educational and entertaining events and destinations. In short, we’ve come to know Kansas in ways many travelers might never take the opportunity to experience. In 2016, we were pleased to add the Land and Sky Scenic Byway to our state’s impressive portfolio of travel experiences. It follows K-27 northward from Sharon Springs through Goodland, St. Francis and the magnificent Arikaree Breaks to the Kansas/Nebraska line. The 12 byways showcased in this guide connect travelers with places that aren’t readily visible from the major interstate routes. The byways help promote the natural beauty and heritage of Kansas; deliver authentic, quality experiences that stimulate economic prosperity from tourism; and enhance the positive image of Kansas. Our departments jointly manage the Kansas Byways Program. Two of the Kansas byways have achieved national status, and the remaining routes are designated as state byways. The byways program was established under the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) in 1991 as a grass-roots collaborative effort to help recognize, preserve and enhance selected roads throughout the U.S. Byways are designated based on their archaeological,
cultural, historic, natural, recreational, and scenic qualities. Although federal support has diminished greatly, the FHWA continues to be involved in providing grant opportunities for qualified projects. Each of our agencies provides staff and funding to support the program, market the byways and help guide the local byway committees in their efforts to promote and enhance their travel opportunities. The byways draw the wanderer in each of us into delightful journeys rather than a headlong rush to our destinations. We invite you to use this guide to create a trip that allows you to experience Kansas from a different perspective. Enjoy Kansans’ hospitality and learn their stories. Experience the excitement, the sublime beauty, the culture and the history of our state. Breathe the fresh air and enjoy the state’s attractions, events and destinations. We’re confident you’ll get to know Kansas a little better.
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FLINT HILLS National Scenic Byway
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FRONTIER MILITARY Historic Byway
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GLACIAL HILLS Scenic Byway
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GYPSUM HILLS Scenic Byway
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LAND AND SKY Scenic Byway
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NATIVE STONE Scenic Byway
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POST ROCK Scenic Byway
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PRAIRIE TRAIL Scenic Byway
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ROUTE 66 Historic Byway
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SMOKY VALLEY Scenic Byway
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WESTERN VISTAS Historic Byway
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WETLANDS AND WILDLIFE National Scenic Byway
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ROAD TRIP Your map of the Kansas Byways
photo credits Doug Stremel Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism
ROBIN JENNISON Secretary, Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism
Kansas Department of Transportation 700 SW Harrison Street Topeka, KS 66603-3754 (785) 296-4149
RICHARD CARLSON Interim Secretary of Transportation Director of the Kansas Turnpike Authority
Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks & Tourism 1020 S Kansas Avenue, Ste 200 Topeka, KS 66612 (800) 684-6966
www.ksbyways.com Kansas Byways
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FLINT HILLS national scenic byway
Kansas Byways
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experience The Kansas Flint Hills is a magnificent swath of land with a sweeping horizon that has escaped the impact of human progression over centuries. As resident of Cottonwood Falls (a picturesque burg in the midst of the National Scenic Byway) and longtime Flint Hills’ booster and historian Charley Klamm says, “Sometimes it’s hard to explain to city folk. It’s a place that’s worshipful, quiet, profound and more than scenery.” The 47.2-mile-long Flint Hills National Scenic Byway on Kansas Highway 177 does start with extraordinary scenery, though—native grasses, flowers of the tallgrass prairie, miles of softly undulating hills dotted with herds of grazing cattle and a few indigenous oaks and sycamores. The expansive Kansas sky provides a magnificent backdrop for the rugged grasslands, one of the world’s most endangered ecosystems. After generations of development and farming that claimed most of the prairie’s 170 million acres stretching across North America, the Flint Hills remain as part of the 4 percent that survived—a remarkably unspoiled natural vista that delights travelers who visit from across the globe. Spend a day or two exploring the quaint towns and historic sites along the byway and enjoy the solitude. Be sure to listen for sounds that define the Flint Hills—like a quail’s distinctive call, the whistle of a meadowlark, cows bawling, coyotes howling and horses neighing. It doesn’t get any more authentic than in the Kansas Flint Hills.
appreciate the nation’s last great expanse of tallgrass prairie. BURNING PRAIRIE A tradition of the ranching life in the Flint Hills is the phenomenon known as prairie burns, which occur most often in the spring. These help maintain the tallgrass prairie and get rid of old grass, weeds and invasive trees and foliage. Josh and Gwen Hoy, owners of the Flying W Ranch in Chase County’s Cottonwood River Valley, near Clements, and other ranchers throughout the Flint Hills host public visitors during burns. The Hoys, who have deep roots in the Flint Hills, are generous with their Kansas spread, opening the Flying W to guests for boisterous cattle drives and serene trail rides. Their much-anticipated Flames in the Flint Hills event each April attracts nearly 200 people eager to participate in lighting and managing a prairie fire. —Kimberly Stern
about the
byway GETTING THERE Located in Central Kansas, the northern starting point, Council Grove, is at the juncture of Kansas Highway 177 and U.S. Highway 56. The southern point is located at the Interstate 35 Cassoday exit. LENGTH 47.2 miles TIME TO TRAVEL 52 minutes, without stops ROADWAY Kansas Highway 177 WHEN TO SEE All four seasons, but especially in spring when ranchers perform the annual spring burning. SERVICES Gas, food and lodging
TALLGRASS PRAIRIE NATIONAL PRESERVE Celebrating its 20th year, the popular Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve, a partnership with The Nature Conservancy and U.S. National Park Service, is a good place to continue your Flint Hills journey. Take a self-guided tour of the ranch headquarters; hike a nature trail; or hop a bus (last Saturday in April through the last Saturday in October) for an up-close glimpse of the prairie’s fabled far-flung views. Often called the “Jewel of the Flint Hills,” the 11,000acre national preserve is the perfect place to
RESOURCES Chase County Chamber of Commerce (620) 273-8469 chasecountychamber.org Council Grove/Morris County Chamber of Commerce & Tourism (620) 767-5413 councilgrove.com
Kansas Byways
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about the
amenities
see
stay
KAW MISSION STATE HISTORICAL SITE
THE COTTAGE HOUSE
Council Grove (620) 767-5410 kawmission.org TALLGRASS PRAIRIE NATIONAL PRESERVE
Strong City (620) 273-8494 nps.gov/tapr CHASE COUNTY COURTHOUSE
Cottonwood Falls (620) 273-6319 chasecountychamber.org RONIGER MEMORIAL MUSEUM
Cottonwood Falls (620) 273-6310 chasecountychamber.org/ roniger-memorial-musuem PIONEER BLUFFS
Matfield Green (620) 753-3484 pioneerbluffs.org CASSODAY BIKE RUN
Cassoday cassodaybikerun.org
TRAILDAYS CAFÉ & MUSEUM
Council Grove (620) 767-7986 traildayscafeandmuseum.org
Council Grove (620) 767-6828 cottagehousehotel.com
HAYS HOUSE RESTAURANT
Council Grove (620) 767-5911 hayshouse.com
GRAND CENTRAL HOTEL
Cottonwood Falls (620) 273-6763 grandcentralhotel.com
Council Grove (620) 767-3043 saturdaymorningboutique.com VALERIE’S GIFTS AND SUCH
Council Grove (620) 767-6318 valeriesgifts.net
AD ASTRA FOOD & DRINK
Strong City (620) 273-8440
THE LARKINN COTTAGE ON COTTONWOOD
Cottonwood Falls (620) 273-1135 thelarkinn.com
KELLER FEED & WINE CO.
Cottonwood Falls (620) 273-5050 kellerfeedandwine.com
SPRING STREET B&B
Cottonwood Falls (316) 393-3194
GRAND CENTRAL HOTEL AND GRILL
Cottonwood Falls (620) 273-6763 grandcentralhotel.com
MATFIELD STATION
Matfield Green (620) 953-2035 matfieldstation.com
shop
eat
ALEXANDER ARTWORKS
Council Grove (620) 767-6698
ALDRICH APOTHECARY OLD FASHIONED SODA FOUNTAIN
JUNE CLEAVER’S CO.
Council Grove (620) 767-6731 aldrichapothecary.com
Kansas Byways
SATURDAY MORNING BOUTIQUE
Council Grove (620) 767-8333 junecleaversco.com
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SALTY COW MERCANTILE
Cottonwood Falls (620) 273-6381 squareup.com/store/salty-cowmercantile SYMPHONY IN THE FLINT HILLS STORE
Cottonwood Falls (620) 273-8955 shop.symphonyintheflinthills.org PRAIRIE PASTTIMES
Cottonwood Falls (620) 273-6003 THE BANK
Matfield Green (620) 753-3451 matfieldgreen.org/thebank
COME VISIT THE RICH HERITAGE OF KANSAS!
CONSTITuTIONAl * HAll *
WAKARuSA RIVER VAllEy
FREEdOM’S FRONTIER
Visit the historic Free State & Old Kansas Capitol in Topeka
Visit historical records & objects of Kansas! *Underground Railroad *Genealogical Records
Stories of our struggle for freedom. Visit Today!
Bloomington Park East Clinton, KS
www.freedomsfrontier.org
TOPEKA
429 S. Kansas Ave. Topeka
785-250-8228 www.oldkansascapitol.org
HEriTAgE MusEuM
785-748-0800
LAwrEncE
Learn more:
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Cresent Moon Winery 15930 246th St Lawrence, KS 66044 | 785-550-5353 moonandwine.com Crooked Post Winery 7397 K-92 Hwy Ozawkie, KS 66070 | 785-876-9990 crookedpostwinery.com Glaciers Edge Winery 1636 SE 85th Wakarusa, KS 66546 | 785-862-5421 glaciersedgewine.com Jefferson Hill Vineyards & Guest House 12381 Washington Road McLouth, KS 66054 | 913-796-6065 jeffersonhillvineyard.com
gift certificates available
bed & breakfast
association
A stay at one of our fine member properties
an unforgettable gift!
www.kbba.com
Images by Emily
Bunkhouse At wildfire rAnch
seAsons of the fox
the historic wolf hotel
tAil feAther inn
Medicine Lodge, KS
Lindsborg, KS
Ellinwood, KS
Grainfield, KS
bunkhouseatwildfireranch.com
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historicwolfhotel.com
tailfeatherinn.net
620-739-4788
800-756-3596
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tuck u inn At Glick MAnsion
c&w rAnch Bed & BreAkfAst
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Mill creek lodGe At VollAnd Point
Atchison, KS
Smolan, KS (Salina)
Sharon Springs, KS
Alma, KS
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913-367-9110
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the BArn Bed And BreAkfAst inn
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wildhorse xxxcAnyon And shAdy Porch
Anderson Bed & BreAkfAst
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xxx-xxx-xxxx 785-263-7774
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785.945-3225
Each bed and breakfast Inn has been inspected and approved by the KBBA and must operate at or above the standards of quality established by the association to continue their membership. Our members offer friendly, safe, and comfortable environment with breakfast as described on member’s individual website. Each member B&B assures its guests comfort, cleanliness and warm hospitality. With knowledge of the surrounding area, community events, historic sites, shopping, sports, and great restaurants, your innkeeper will assure you of a quality experience.
info@kbba
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888-572-2632
785-765-3300
785-539-4994
FRONTIER MILITARY historic byway
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experience The Frontier Military Historic Byway, connecting Fort Leavenworth to the north, with Fort Scott at the south and then heading toward the Oklahoma border, is a riveting snapshot of American history. Stretching for 168 miles along Kansas Highway 5, Interstate 435 and U.S. Highway 69 to Baxter Springs, the byway features many landmarks that preserve Kansas history, including the Permanent Indian Frontier and the site of “Bleeding Kansas.” This region was also the edge of civilization for the Westward Expansion. During the frontier days, the byway served as a military trail for the Army to convey supplies and transport troops between forts. Visitors can experience Kansas’ rich past at historic sites along the byway’s route. HISTORIC DESTINATIONS At Fort Scott National Historic Site, 20 structures are preserved, 11 of which are original buildings. The area encompasses three decades of American history: when the fort was established to protect the Permanent Indian Frontier in the late 1840s; after the fort was auctioned off and Fort Scott became a town and frontrow participant in the “Bleeding Kansas” era; and when the Army returned and established a military base that functioned as a Union supply base during the Civil War. The Mahaffie Stagecoach Stop & Farm in Olathe offers a living history perspective of 1860s farming, frontier life and stagecoach travel. This is the last remaining stagecoach stop open to the public on the Santa Fe Trail. The Baxter Springs Heritage Center and Museum includes exhibits on Quantrill’s Raid on Fort Blair, the Civil War and more.
Fort Leavenworth National Cemetery. The museum houses an extensive collection of weapons, uniforms and equipment that illustrate the history of Fort Leavenworth and the Frontier Army. Home of the Buffalo Soldiers, this area has the Buffalo Solider Monument and Memorial Park, paying homage to African Americans’ bravery and significant role in the U.S. Army. The Fort Leavenworth National Cemetery is a mustsee, one of the first 12 national cemeteries established by President Abraham Lincoln on July 17, 1862. The cemetery contains the remains of veterans dating back to the War of 1812, including Fort Leavenworth’s namesake, Col. Henry Leavenworth. Travel south along the Missouri river around the Kansas City metro area where many attractions await, including Johnson County Museum and Ernie Miller Nature Center. —Kimberly Stern
about the
byway GETTING THERE Located along the eastern edge of Kansas, the Frontier Military Byway runs north to south from Leavenworth to Baxter Springs mostly along Highway 69. Access communities include Merriam, Louisburg, Pleasanton, Fort Scott and Pittsburg. LENGTH 168 miles TIME TO TRAVEL 3 hours without stops ROADWAY U.S. Highway 69, north and south, and Kansas Highway 5 WHEN TO SEE All seasons RESOURCES Freedom’s Frontier National Heritage Area (785) 856-5300 freedomsfrontier.org
FORT LEAVENWORTH Fort Leavenworth is the oldest active United State Army post west of Washington, D.C., and is often dubbed the “Intellectual Center of the Army.” Take a selfguided Wayside Tour highlighting important sites around Leavenworth, which begins at the Frontier Army Museum and ends at the
Leavenworth Convention & Visitors Bureau (913) 758-2948 visitleavenworthks.com Atchison Chamber of Commerce (800) 234-1854 atchisonkansas.net Kansas Byways
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about the
amenities
see AMELIA EARHART MUSEUM
Atchison (913) 367-4217 ameliaearhartmuseum.org MINE CREEK CIVIL WAR BATTLEFIELD HISTORIC SITE
FORT SCOTT NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE
ROSE COTTAGE
MAMA MIA’S
Fort Scott nps.gov/fosc/index.htm
Baxter Springs (620) 856-2524 rosecottagekansas.com
Leavenworth (913) 682-2131 eatatmamamias.com
FRONTIER ARMY MUSEUM
UNION PARK GUEST HOUSE
shop
Leavenworth (913) 684-3191
Pleasanton (785) 352-8890
MAHAFFIE STAGECOACH STOP & FARM
BAXTER SPRINGS HERITAGE CENTER & MUSEUM
Olathe (913) 971-5111 mahaffie.org
Baxter Springs (620) 856-2385 baxterspringsmuseum.org FORT LEAVENWORTH NATIONAL CEMETERY
Leavenworth (913) 758-4105 cem.va.gov/cems/nchp/ ftleavenworth.asp FORT LEAVENWORTH VISITORS CENTER
Leavenworth (913) 684-5604
Leavenworth (913) 651-3991 unionparkgh.com
eat
MARAIS DES CYGNES WILDLIFE AREA
LOUISBURG CIDER MILL
Baxter Springs (620) 856-2266
Louisburg (913) 837-5202 louisburgcidermill.com
CHICKEN ANNIE’S ORIGINAL
Pittsburg (620) 231-9460 chickenanniesoriginal.com
stay
CHICKEN MARY’S
Paola (913) 557-9288 casasomerset.com
Louisburg (913) 377-4689 middlecreekwinery.com NEW LANCASTER GENERAL STORE
TENPENNY RESTAURANT
Paola (913) 377-4689 newlancastergeneralstore.com SOMERSET WINE TRAIL
Paola (913) 491-0038 somersetridge.com
Fort Scott (620) 223-3644 lyonstwinmansions.com
Kansas Byways
MIDDLE CREEK WINERY
Pittsburg (620) 231-9510 Leavenworth (913) 651-1010 thetenpenny.com
LYONS TWIN MANSIONS
Leavenworth (913) 680-0806 europottery.com
ANGELS ON THE ROUTE
Pleasanton (913) 352-8956 fws.gov/refuge/marais_des_cygnes
CASA SOMERSET BED & BREAKFAST
THE EUROPOTTERY SHOP
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GLACIAL HILLS scenic byway
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experience If you need proof that Kansas isn’t flat, travel the Glacial Hills Scenic Byway, named for the rolling topography, verdant valleys and fertile farmland left behind following the disappearance of glaciers millions of years ago. The byway, which begins at the intersection of Kansas Highway 7 and Kansas Highway 92 in Leavenworth, extends 63 miles through northeast Kansas. Situated near the Missouri River, the byway includes the communities of Atchison, Leavenworth, Troy and White Cloud—all places that helped shape Kansas’ commerce and culture and secure a notable bookmark in history. BOOM TOWN Atchison nestles up against the Missouri River and boasts colorful chapters of people, places and industry that marked a burgeoning landscape of prosperity with indelible thumbprints. Lewis and Clark, and an Army entourage, set up camp in the area on July 4, 1804, and celebrated the country’s independence with fireworks shot from a keelboat. Abraham Lincoln stayed in Atchison a couple of days during his famous 1859 campaign trip through Kansas and rode in a parade organized in his honor. The restored Santa Fe Depot is home to the Atchison County Historical Society Museum, which has a reproduction of Lincoln’s 1860 life mask in its collection, along with exhibits on Lewis and Clark and a sizable collection of firearms dating back to the Revolutionary War. The Atchison Rail Museum is located next door and recalls the town’s railroad glory days; visitors can view an outdoor collection of rail cars. The Amelia Earhart Birthplace Museum commemorates the legendary aviator’s Atchison childhood.
west the aspiring president ever visited). The town is home to one of sculptor Peter Toth’s 70 famous carved Indian heads, which you can see on a self-guided, 18-stop walking tour around the Doniphan County Courthouse Square Historic District. A local Barn Tour features eight barns, five of which are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. White Cloud is perched on the bluffs of the Missouri River and was one of the earliest towns in the fledgling Kansas Territory. Climb a viewing platform outside White Cloud for a breathtaking panoramic view of the sweeping Missouri River Valley and, on a clear day, see four states— Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska and Iowa. It’s from this vantage point that the beauty of Kansas is apparent—and why the original settlers, the Ioway tribe, and its chief, Ma-Hush-Kah (or White Cloud), loved the land. —Cecilia Harris
about the
byway GETTING THERE Located in the northernmost corner of Kansas, the byway runs from north to south starting at White Cloud and ending at Leavenworth. Additional communities include Troy and Atchison. LENGTH 63 miles TIME TO TRAVEL 1 hour and 6 minutes, without stops ROADWAY US Highway 73 and Kansas Highway 7, north and south WHEN TO SEE Fall SERVICES Gas, food and lodging.
TINY TOWNS Troy and White Cloud are small in stature— in fact, White Cloud’s population has dipped to under 150—but offer big reasons to visit. Troy is the site of one of Lincoln’s historic stops in 1859 where he reportedly gave a rousing two-hour stump speech (and it’s supposedly the farthest
RESOURCES Glacial Hills RC&D (785) 608-8801 Atchison Chamber of Commerce (800) 234-1854 atchisonkansas.net
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about the
amenities
see
DONIPHAN COUNTY TOURS & NATIONAL HISTORIC DISTRICT
AMELIA EARHART BIRTHPLACE MUSEUM
Atchison (913) 367-4217 ameliaearhartmuseum.org
Troy (785) 985-2235 dpcountyks.com FOUR STATE LOOKOUT
ATCHISON COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY MUSEUM
White Cloud (785) 442-3869
Atchison (913) 367-6238 atchisonhistory.org
stay THE INN ON OAK STREET
ATCHISON RAIL MUSEUM
Atchison (913) 367-2427
Atchison (913) 367-1515
TUCK U INN AT GLICK MANSION
PAOLUCCI’S
Atchison (913) 367-6105 paoluccibegley.com
Atchison (913) 367-9110 glickmansion.com
FEED STORE CAFE
eat
Troy (785) 985-3777
CUP ’A JOE
Atchison (913) 674-6547
shop GATEWAY TO KANSAS SHOPS
JERRY’S AGAIN
Atchison (913) 367-1533
Atchison (913) 367-0577
OUTBACK QUILT SHOP
Troy (785) 850-0375
Our Tasting Room is open 3 days a week
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GYPSUM HILLS scenic byway
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experience Travel the surprising topography of the Gypsum Hills Scenic Byway through the deep canyons and rugged high hills along Kansas Highway 160. You’ll be awestruck by the distinctive red bluffs created by iron-rich soil exposed to air—phenomena unique to Kansas— and flat-topped buttes capped with white gypsum along the 42-mile route from Medicine Lodge to Coldwater. See who in your car can be the first to spot Flower Pot Mound and Twin Peaks at the byway’s two overlooks. Want to leave the beaten path and really get back to nature? Turn off the byway onto the Gyp Hills Scenic Drive, just west of Medicine Lodge. Watch out for cattle on this mostly unpaved 22-mile side trip through open range where there are no fences to hold in livestock. Stay on the public roads as you pass over cattle guards (parallel bars over ditches to keep the animals from straying) and keep on the lookout for local ranchers on horseback tending their herds. WILDLIFE You’ll discover few signs of civilization but plenty of wildlife. If your bucket list includes birds, deer, turkey, pheasant, quail, prairie chicken and coyotes, you’re apt to find these among the native grasses, colorful wildflowers and red cedars. You might even spot beaver, bobcat, porcupine and armadillo, if you’re lucky. Reveling in the wide open spaces of this undisturbed nature, imagine Apache, Arapaho, Cheyenne, Comanche and Kiowa roaming the area more than a century ago in search of great bison herds before signing a peace treaty with the United States in 1867. If you’re a history buff, come back in 2018 and sit on a bluff overlooking a natural amphitheater at the east end of the byway as more than 1,000 actors perform the Medicine Lodge Peace Treaty Pageant, a reenactment not far from the original site.
and cheer on teams of ranch hands as they compete in daily chores like penning, calf branding and bronc riding during the Kansas Championship Ranch Rodeo. Bring your mount for an organized ride with Gypsum Hills Trail Rides or explore the open country of Gant-Larson Ranch on your own. No horse? The Ranch also offers hiking and camping; just beware of rattlers and other snakes. Spend the night at The Bunkhouse Bed and Breakfast at Wildfire Ranch, a hilltop retreat with a view of the Gypsum Hills area and its wildlife. —Cecilia Harris
about the
byway GETTING THERE The Gypsum Hills Scenic Byway runs west to east, beginning at Coldwater and ending at Medicine Lodge. From the west, the byway can be accessed by U.S. Highway 183 south from U.S. Highway 54. From the east take U.S. Highway 281 south from U.S. Highway 54. LENGTH 42 miles TIME TO TRAVEL 43 minutes, without stops ROADWAY Kansas Highway 160 WHEN TO SEE Spring and Fall RESOURCES Gypsum Hills Scenic Byway (620) 243-3059 gypsumhillsbyway@ gmail.com
HISTORY Experience the tribes’ Pow Wow during the Peace Treaty Indian Summer Days festival every September in Medicine Lodge. Watch a nightly show of historical re-enactments,
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about the
amenities
see CHIEF THEATER
Coldwater (620) 582-2705 COMANCHE COUNTY HISTORICAL MUSEUM:
Coldwater (620) 582-2108 STAN HERD MURALS
Coldwater BIANNUAL PEACE TREATY PAGEANT
Medicine Lodge (620) 886-9815 peacetreaty.org
eat
GYPSUM HILLS TRAIL RIDES
Medicine Lodge (620) 886-9822 gypsumhillstrailrides.com
DAVE’S PIZZA OVEN
Coldwater (620) 582-2775 davespizzaoven.com
stay
THE BLONDE GRILL
BUNKHOUSE BED AND BREAKFAST AT WILDFIRE RANCH
Coldwater (620) 582-2900 theblondegrill.com
Medicine Lodge (620) 739-4788 bunkhouseatwildfireranch.com
TIMBERWOLF CAFÉ AND INN
Coldwater (620) 582-2033 timberwolfcafeandinn.com
GYP HILL GUEST RANCH
Medicine Lodge (620) 886-3303 gyphillsguestranch.com
CARRY A. NATION HOME & STOCKADE MUSEUM
Medicine Lodge (620) 886-3553 medicinelodgestockade.org
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BURGER SHACK-N-SNACK
Medicine Lodge (620) 886-5752 BUSTER’S SALOON
Sun City (620) 248-3215
shop SAGEBRUSH GALLERY OF WESTERN ART
Medicine Lodge (620) 886-5163 earlkuhn.com
15930 246th St Lawrence, KS 66044 (785) 550-5353 moonandwine.com
1636 SE 85th Wakarusa, KS 66546 (785) 862-5421 glaciersedgewine.com
7397 K-92 Hwy | Ozawkie, KS 66070 (785) 876-9990 crookedpostwinery.com
New Lancaster General Store &
12381 Washington Road McLouth, KS 66054 (913) 796-6065 jeffersonhillvineyard.com
20250 Hudson Ranch Road Paxico, KS 66526 (785) 636-5533 prairiefirewinery.com
23622 Springhill Farm Drive Winfield, KS (620) 229-9463 Wheatstatewineco.com
Passport Stamps available at participating wineries
36688 New Lancaster Rd. | Paola, KS 66071 (913) 377-4689 middlecreekwinery.com
Taste the Wonderful Wines of Kansas
2327 North 400 Road Edgerton, KS 66021 (913) 893-6860 whitetailrunwinery.com
417 Lincoln Ave | Wamego KS 66547 (785) 456-7417 ozwinerykansas.com
1901 Lakin | Great Bend, KS 67530 (620) 603-6410 RosewoodWineCellar.com
Call or check our websites for hours and tasting times
LAND AND SKY scenic byway
Kansas Byways
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experience On the high plains of far northwestern Kansas, the state’s newest byway celebrates the people and practices that feed the country and world. The Land and Sky Scenic Byway—an 88-mile route along U.S. Highway 27 from Sharon Springs north to the Kansas-Nebraska state line—showcases agriculture, agribusinesses, and the communities they support. For the traveler who expects vast expanses of flat land, the byway also holds a few surprises. AGRICULTURE The history of agriculture here, as elsewhere in the state, is the story of resilience and revolution. When Mennonite immigrants introduced a new variety of wheat to Kansas in 1874, production skyrocketed. Wheat is now second only to cattle on the list of the state’s top agriculture products. The advent of machines, first powered by horses and later motorized, transformed farming operations. Today, residents see the future in agribusinesses, such as 21st Century Bean, a farmer-owned cooperative in Sharon Springs that processes and packages dried beans, and in agritourism enterprises like the Kuhrt Ranch in Edson. The ranch grew from a one-room sod house in the 1880s to a working farm and ranch resort where guests can enjoy the best of the state’s wildlife—pheasant, quail, wild turkeys, deer, coyotes, even the occasional bobcat— and arrange for custom hunting trips.
Van Gogh’s seven sunflower paintings on a “canvas” that measures 23-by-32 feet and sits atop an 80-foot-tall steel easel. Local artists, inspired by Cross’ work, have placed smaller paintings throughout Goodland city parks. ARIKAREE BREAKS At the northern edge of the byway, get off the main road and experience the unique topography of the Arikaree Breaks in Cheyenne County. Here, the typical high plains landscape of gently rolling hills gives way to an unexpectedly wild panorama of deep ravines and gullies cut through the loess (wind-blown silt) that formed the breaks. Though water can be scarce, cattle thrive on the grasses that cover the hills here, and some plants native to the Arikaree Breaks are not found anywhere else in Kansas. The Arikaree Breaks are 14 miles north of St. Francis on the northern edge of Cheyenne County. Please respect private property and stay on roads. —Julie Tollefson
about the
byway GETTING THERE Interstate 70, Exit 17, U.S. Highway 36, U.S. Highway 40. All three highways cross the scenic byway. LENGTH 88 miles TIME TO TRAVEL 1.5 hours, without stops ROADWAY Kansas Highway 27 WHEN TO SEE Wheat harvest, late June–early July; Sunflowers, early to mid-August– early September; Corn harvest, end of September–end of October; Milo harvest, September–October; Soybean harvest, September. SERVICES Gas, food and lodging are available in all three counties and in the communities of St. Francis, Goodland, and Sharon Springs. RESOURCES Cheyenne County Development Corporation (785) 332-3508 ccdcks.com
WORLD’S LARGEST PAINTING ON AN EASEL From Edson head west to Goodland, the Sunflower Capital of Kansas and site of one of the most unusual pieces of art in the state. Canadian artist Cameron Cross erected the third sculpture in his international Van Gogh Project series near the intersection of Cherry Avenue and U.S. Highway 24. The artwork reproduces one of
Sherman County Convention & Visitors Bureau (785) 890-3515 visitgoodland.com
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Wallace County Visitors Bureau (785) 891-3564 travelwallace.com ksbyways.org
about the
amenities
see
stay
CARNEGIE ARTS CENTER
KUHRT RANCH RESORT
Goodland (785) 890-6442 goodlandarts.org
Edson (785) 899-5306 kuhrtranch.com
ENNIS-HANDY HOUSE
MT. SUNFLOWER BED AND BREAKFAST
Goodland (785) 899-6773 goodlandnet.com/history GIANT VAN GOGH PAINTING
Goodland getruralkansas.org HIGH PLAINS MUSEUM
Goodland (785) 890-4595 highplainsmuseum.org KIDDER MASSACRE SITE
Goodland (785) 899-6773 getruralkansas.org ST. FRANCIS MOTORCYCLE MUSEUM
St. Francis (785) 332-2400 stfrancismotorcyclemuseum.org FORT WALLACE MUSEUM
Wallace (785) 891-3564 ftwallace.com
STEPHENS’ RESTAURANT
THE BUFFALO GUYS
Sharon Springs (785) 852-4182
Goodland (785) 899-9274 thebuffaloguys.com
FRESH SEVEN COFFEE
Sharon Springs (785) 852-4004 mtsunflowerbandb.com THE SPENCER HOUSE BED & BREAKFAST
St. Francis (785) 332-2513 thespencerhousebandb.com
St. Francis (785) 772-0823 freshsevencoffee.com
QUINCY GALLERY
HILLTOP DINER
COUNTRY STORE
St. Francis (785) 772-1536
Sharon Springs (785) 852-4256
THE OLD IRON PUB-BAR & GRILL
ANTIQUES NICE AS NEW
St. Francis (231) 834-5388
shop
eat
OLDE WESTPORT SPICE AND TRADING CO.
THE DAILY BREAD RESTAURANT
Goodland (800) 537-6470 oldewestportspice.com
Bird City (785) 734-2780 dailybreadfamilyrestaurant.com ANTHONY’S AT THE VAULT
Goodland (785) 890-3003 CLARK CROSSING CO.
Goodland (785) 262-9517
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St. Francis (785) 332-0308
Sharon Springs (620) 339-9391 antiquesniceasnew.com DENIM AND LACE
Sharon Springs (785) 852-4412 DONNA’S GIFT PALACE
St. Francis (785) 332-3300 donnasgiftpalace.com
NATIVE STONE scenic byway
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experience The Native Stone Scenic Byway starts small, in the tiny, unincorporated town of Dover, and ends big, with dramatic views of the Konza Prairie, a native tallgrass preserve. In between, the 75-mile drive is abundant with nature and history—beautifully maintained 19th-century limestone buildings and fences, an abolitionist church and even a mountain. Limestone is the bedrock of this region; eight million acres of it lie just below the soil surface, and from that comes many of the region’s main features. TASTY STOPS Settled in 1856, Dover is a little town with two big attractions: the 135-year-old, lovingly kept 1878 Sage Inn and the Sommerset Hall Café across the street. The Sage, built of native stone, once served travelers on the Southwest Trail and is now a bed and breakfast. The Sommerset Hall Café, a white clapboard building that still looks very much like the general store it was originally in the 1800s, offers breakfast and lunch daily, and on Friday nights, a buffet of home-cooked specialties, including roast beef and fried chicken with all the fixings. Nestled in the Flint Hills, Lake Wabaunsee is 235-acre, spring-fed lake worth a stop, located five miles west of Eskridge on Kansas Highway 4 and Kansas Highway 99. Along the shore, you’ll notice cottages and year-round homes; stay a little longer in one of these cabins to take in nature’s beauty. Where the byway turns north on U.S. Highway 99, the native stone fences begin, rising and falling with the prairie hills as the road winds toward Alma, “The City of Native Stone.” Built in 1867, Alma’s downtown is on the National Register of Historic Places. Stop into the Wabaunsee County Historical Museum to see original tools used for digging and moving stone and pick up a map to take a walking/driving tour of the city’s historic buildings. The Alma Creamery, which has been making cheese since 1942, is a tasty stop on the way out of town.
Beecher Bible and Rifle Colony. Hiking trails are cut through a quiet 45-acre park, which features a tall lone hill covered in windswept prairie grass and ruts from a road that in the 1800s was used to transport slaves to freedom. Four miles on— after the byway turns left onto Kansas Highway 18—is the Beecher Bible and Rifle Church in Wabaunsee , built in 1862 by the abolitionist Beecher Rifle Colony. Tours of the limestone church, with its gabled roof and bell tower, are available by request; the church has services on Sunday mornings. Kansas Highway 18 meets Kansas Highway 177 just east of Manhattan, through the Flint Hills. A scenic overlook on Kansas Highway 177, the last leg, offers a seemingly limitless view of the Konza Prairie to the west. See rolling hills with pockets of trees, blackened in the spring from controlled prairie burns, which in April lights up the night sky, and later lush green, turning golden in the fall. —Carol Holstead
about the
byway GETTING THERE Access from Interstate 70, traveling east or west, can be found at Kansas Highway 99, Kansas Highway 4, or Kansas Highway 177 junctions. LENGTH 75 miles TIME TO TRAVEL 1.5 hours, without stops ROADWAY Kansas Highway 4, Kansas Highway 99, Kansas Highway 18 and Kansas Highway 177 WHEN TO SEE Spring SERVICES Limited services along Kansas Highway 4 and Kansas Highway 18 RESOURCES Wabaunsee County Economic Development (785) 765-4655 wabaunsee.com
NATURAL HISTORY From Alma, the byway continues north of Interstate 70, looping up past Mount Mitchell Heritage Prairie Park, which honors Captain William Mitchell, a leader of the Freestate
Manhattan Convention and Visitors Bureau (785) 776-8829 manhattancvb.com Kansas Byways
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about the
amenities
see
stay
ECHO CLIFF PARK
GEM RESORT
Dover (785) 256-6050 travelks.com
Alma (785) 458-2167 gemresort.com
LAKE WABAUNSEE
VOLLAND STORE
Eskridge lakewabaunsee.com
Alma (405) 633-1273 thevollandstore.com
WABAUNSEE COUNTY HISTORICAL MUSEUM
Alma (785) 765-2200 MOUNT MITCHELL HERITAGE PARK
COFFEE CUP CAFÉ AND DOLLY’S DINER
Eskridge (785) 449-2818
Alma (785) 765-3300 millcreeklodgevollandpoint.com
Wamego mountmitchellprairie.org
eat
BEECHER BIBLE AND RIFLE CHURCH
Dover (785) 256-6223 sommersethallcafe.com
Wabaunsee mountmitchellprairie.org
THE LODGE AT LAKE WABAUNSEE
Alma (785) 765-3522
North Shore of Lake Wabaunsee (785) 449-2100
ALMA BAKERY AND SWEET SHOPPE
BOURBON AND BAKER
CHUNKY’S SNACK SHACK
Alma (785) 765-3310
SOMMERSET HALL CAFÉ
shop ANTIQUE EMPORIUM OF ALMA
Alma (785) 765-3332
Alma (785) 765-2322
HAMBLETT HOME
Wabaunsee County (785) 539-9999
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Manhattan (785) 320-4959 bourbonandbakermanhattan.com
ALMA ’BOUT THE BURGER
PILLSBURY CROSSING
Kansas Byways
Alma (785) 765-2366
ALMA CREAMERY
Alma (785) 765-2235 almabakeryandsweetshoppe.com
MILL CREEK LODGE AT VOLLAND POINT
FARMACY CAFÉ
ksbyways.org
Alma (785) 321-9500
GRown HERE
/
MAdE HERE
TASTE
Visit the Heart of the Flint Hills
... in Wabaunsee County
The Flint Hills
Growers of Award-Winning Kansas Wines
Take time for yourself ... in Wabaunsee County. Plan your trip today!
wabaunsee.com Also stop in Topeka to visit our store and tasting room!
The Local Depot
Brookwood Shopping Center 2900 SW Oakley Topeka, KS
785-636-5533
www.prairiefirewinery.com 20250
HudSon
RAncH
Rd,
PAxico,
KS
66526
Stone Fence Antique Restoration Workshops Emporium of Alma held Annually in the Historic Downtown Alma 322 Missouri Alma, KS 785.765.3332
Spring and Fall
wabaunsee.com
Mon-Sat: 10:00 am - 6:00 pm Sun: 12:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Alma Creamery
509 East Third Alma, KS 66401 785.765.3522
Hours: Mon-Fri 8-5 Sat 9-3
Home of the “Nibblin’ Good” Alma Cheese!
Big Red Building • Exit #324 off I-70
Mon - Fri: 9am - 5pm & Sat: 10am - 4pm Closed Sunday
POST ROCK scenic byway
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experience The first things you’ll notice as you travel the Post Rock Scenic Byway are the numerous limestone fence posts bordering lush green pastures where cattle graze. Follow Kansas Highway 232 as it winds through the rolling Smoky Hills to see where innovative Germans and Czechoslovakians settled this land. Because trees were in short supply, they used this native rock to build the posts—for which the byway is named—and the magnificent houses, barns, bridges and churches you see out your car window. ART SCAVENGER HUNT Just for fun, conduct an architectural scavenger hunt of unique embellishments on limestone structures in Wilson and Lucas, at either end of the byway. Take a close-up look at century-old decorative blocks of stone hewn by early-day masons and displayed in the Post Rock Courtyard behind the Grassroots Arts Center in Lucas. Step inside the center’s three buildings and discover a motorcycle made from more than 179,000 can pull tabs and other distinctive works by artists in this “Grassroots Art Capital of Kansas.” Look for an all-seeing eye and other cryptic sculptures at the world-renowned Garden of Eden created by eccentric artist Samuel Perry Dinsmoor, examine the World’s Largest Collection of the World’s Smallest Versions of the World’s Largest Things, and take a look at the town’s public restroom, a quirky mosaic art installation aptly titled Bowl Plaza (voted 2nd Best Restroom in United States in 2015). In Wilson, the “Czech Capital of Kansas,” snap a selfie next to the World’s Largest Czech Egg and shop the Kansas Originals Market for Kansas-made art, crafts and food.
catfish; Bassmaster magazine rated it among the 100 best fishing lakes in the nation. Consider camping on the north shore’s Lucas Park, one of the top 10 racing sites in the country for remote-controlled model sailplanes. Take a hike in the Rocktown Natural Area and have your camera ready for majestic views of the lake, abundant wildlife and 15- to 30-foot Dakota sandstone cliffs marked with Native American petroglyphs. Bike through red sandstone formations with 10- to 40-foot drop-offs on the Switchgrass Mountain Bike Trail—designated “Epic” by the International Mountain Bicycling Association—at Wilson State Park’s Hell Creek Area where white-tailed deer, pheasant and turkey roam. Or take a leisurely walk on Cedar Trail in the Otoe Area and spot some of the 200 species of birds that visit the lake. —Cecilia Harris
about the
byway GETTING THERE Exit north onto Kansas Highway 232 from Interstate 70, or travel the short distance south to Wilson and begin the byway at its most southern point. LENGTH 18 miles TIME TO TRAVEL 21 minutes ROADWAY Kansas Highway 232 WHEN TO SEE All seasons SERVICES General services found in Lucas and Wilson.
INTO THE WILD Drive over rolling hills dotted with blooming wildflowers toward the Dakota sandstone bluffs surrounding Wilson Lake. Launch your boat on a body of water deemed “the clearest lake in Kansas” and set your lures—you just might snag a state-fishing record and catch walleye, white bass or channel
RESOURCES Lucas Area Chamber of Commerce (785) 525-6288 postrockscenicbyway.com
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about the
amenities
see GARDEN OF EDEN
Lucas (785) 525-6395 garden-of-eden-lucaskansas.com GRASSROOTS ART CENTER
Lucas (785) 525-6118 grassrootsart.net BOWL PLAZA
Lucas (785) 525-6288 lucaskansas.com POST ROCK SCULPTURES
Ellsworth, Lincoln and Russell counties (785) 525-6288 postrockscenicbyway.com
stay
WORLD’S LARGEST CZECH EGG
SET IN STONE CABIN AND RV PARK
Wilson (785) 658-2272 wilsonkschamber.com/worldslargest-czech-egg
Lucas (785) 525-7742 set-in-stone.net
WILSON STATE PARK AND WILSON LAKE
MIDLAND RAILROAD HOTEL AND SAMPLE ROOM TAVERN
Wilson (785) 658-2551 ksoutdoors.com
Wilson (785) 658-2284 Midlandrailroadhotel.com
WORLD’S LARGEST COLLECTION OF WORLD’S SMALLEST VERSIONS OF WORLD’S LARGEST THINGS MUSEUM
SIMPLE HAVEN BED AND BREAKFAST
Wilson (785) 658-3814 simplehavenbandb.com
Lucas (785) 760-0826 worldslargestthings.com
eat
CZECH FESTIVAL
BRANT’S MEAT MARKET
Wilson (785) 658-2272 wilsonczechfest.com
Lucas (785) 525-6464 brantsmarket.com
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GRANDMA’S SODA SHOP
Wilson (785) 658-2200 MADE FROM SCRATCH
Wilson (785) 658-3300 K-18 CAFÉ
Lucas (785) 525-6262
shop KANSAS ORIGINALS MARKET AND GALLERY
Wilson (877) 457-6233 Kansasoriginals.com AUNT GERTIE’S ANTIQUES, COLLECTIBLES & REPURPOSED
Lucas facebook.com/auntgerties
Proud Past – Brilliant Future 785-528-3714 (Osage City Hall) www.OsageCity.com
Medicine Lodge - where our Heritage comes to Life!
We’re A Wine Store … And More!
Kansas Championship Ranch Rodeo
Carry A. Nation Home & Stockade Museum Hwy 160 Gypsum Hills Scenic Byway
2016 September 23-24 2017 September 24-25
Peace Treaty PowWow Award-Winning Wines Free Wine Tasting Fun Shopping Customized Gift Baskets Unique Gifts & Products Free Food Samples on Saturdays
2016 September 23-25 2017 September 24-26
Wine Taste While You Browse Support Employment For People with Developmental Disabilities by purchasing Rosewood Wine Cellar Products.
1901 Lakin Downtown Great Bend, KS (620) 603-6410 Hours:
Mondays-Thursdays 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays 10 a.m. – 8 p.m.
RosewoodWineCellar.com
PRAIRIE TRAIL scenic byway
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experience Traveling along the Prairie Trail Scenic Byway offers historic glimpses of the movement of cattle and cowboys on the Chisholm Trail, traders heading to New Mexico along the Santa Fe Trail and European immigrants looking for a better life. This 80-mile route follows in the steps of early explorers, such as Zebulon Pike and William F. “Buffalo Bill” Cody; pioneers and Native Americans; as well as Swedish immigrants who saw opportunity in the vast open prairie and fertile river valley. From the south the byway goes through Canton with its two water towers—one labeled “Cold” and the other “Hot.” After winding through the western edge of the Flint Hills, travelers can make a quick side trip by turning west on Pueblo Road to the Maxwell Wildlife Refuge—home to one of the few surviving herds of wild buffalo. Tram tours of the refuge can be made by reservation. SWEDISH HERITAGE Heading west from Roxbury on Smoky Valley Road, the byway offers panoramic views of the prairie and Twin Mounds hills to the south. As the byway turns north at Old US Highway 81, it heads toward Lindsborg, the “Swedish Capital of Kansas,” and home of the Birger Sandzén Memorial Gallery, which houses the largest collection of Sandzén’s impressionist paintings. Lindsborg is also home to several other galleries, museums, and many shopping, dining and lodging options. Just north of town is Coronado Heights, a WPA-era lookout and picnic spot constructed of native Dakota sandstone, often referred to as a “castle” because of its architecture. From the top visitors can soak up a 360-degree view of the Smoky Hill River Valley.
hiking, horseback riding and mountain biking opportunities, the park also features more than 200 campsites and natural trails. Nearby, Mushroom Rock State Park gets its name from the unique geologic rock formations found there that resemble mushrooms. These rocks are actually hoodoos, formed through a process of erosion and weathering, in which the hard Dakota Sandstone capstone resisted erosion while the underlying softer stone did not. This five-acre park consists of two mushroom pedestals and numerous other rock formations. The byway extends westward to Ellsworth with its rich cowboy and cattle history. Ellsworth was once known as the “wickedest cattle town in the West,” and visitors can enjoy a leisurely walking tour of the original cowtown business district located along the Kansas Pacific Railroad. —Lou Ann Thomas
about the
byway GETTING THERE Exit 225 south from Interstate 70 on Kansas Highway 156 to Ellsworth. Turn east on Kansas Highway 140 for the intersection Kansas Highway 141, head south passing Mushroom Rock State Park and Kanopolis State Park and Reservoir. Continue to the intersection of Kansas Highway 4 and turn east toward the cities of Marquette and Lindsborg. Take a right turn onto 14th Avenue and a left turn to head east on Smoky Hill Road. Later take a right turn south onto 27th Avenue. U.S. Highway 56 marks the end of the byway. LENGTH 80 miles TIME TO TRAVEL 1.5 hours ROADWAY Kansas Highway 156, Kansas Highway 4 (country roads)
MILESTONES As the byway continues west on Kansas Highway 4, it passes through Marquette, another Swedish community, and home to the Kansas Motorcycle Museum. From Kansas Highway 4 the byway heads north on Kansas Highway 141, allowing travelers a stop at the picturesque Kanopolis State Park and Reservoir. In addition to a variety of watersports,
WHEN TO SEE All seasons SERVICES Ample services available along this byway RESOURCES Prairie Trail Scenic Byway prairietrailbyway.com
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about the
amenities
see KANSAS MOTORCYCLE MUSEUM
Marquette (785) 546-2449 ksmotorcyclemuseum.org MAXWELL WILDLIFE REFUGE
Canton (620) 628-4455 maxwellwildliferefuge.com
SWEDISH COUNTRY INN
BRICK HOUSE GRILL
Lindsborg (785) 227-2985 swedishcountryinn.com
Lindsborg (785) 227-3200 COURTYARD BAKERY
eat
Lindsborg (785) 227-3007
SWEDISH CROWN RESTAURANT
WHITE PEACOCK
Lindsborg (785) 227-3422 theswedishcrown.com
Lindsborg (785) 212-6108 thewhitepeacockcoffee.com
ÖL STUGA BIRGER SANDZEN MEMORIAL GALLERY
Lindsborg sandzen.org
stay
PRETTY BOY FLOYD’S STEAK AND SHINE
Lindsborg (785) 227-8762
Ellsworth (785) 427-2183
THE OLD GRIND
Lindsborg (785) 212-6077
SEASONS OF THE FOX BED & BREAKFAST
Lindsborg (800) 756-3596 seasonsofthefox.com VETEHUSET
Lindsborg (855) 872-3487 vete-hus.com
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shop SMALL WORLD GALLERY
Lindsborg (785) 227-4442 ibiswoman.com HEMSLÖJD
Lindsborg (785) 227-2983 hemslojd.com ROBSON’S CARD AND GIFT SHOP
Ellsworth (785) 472-3931
10-5pm Wed-Sat | 1-5pm Sun
(785) 887-6148 | www.lecomptonkansas.com
Established 1874
New Lancaster General Store
Step back in time! Kansas art, wine, foods, gifts, antiques
Middle Creek Winery
36688 New Lancaster Rd, P.O. Box 372, Paola, KS 66071 2 ½ miles W. of 69 Hwy. at 359th St. exit • 913 377-4689 newlancastergeneralstore.com
Share Our Sky of Wonder!
• Cedar Bluff State Park, Reservoir & Wildlife Area • Smoky Valley Scenic Byway • Halfway between Kansas City & Denver on 70
WaKeeney Travel & Tourism
877-962-7248 | www.WaKeeney.org El QuartElEjo MusEuM
jErry thoMas GallEry and CollECtion
Along the Western Vistas Historic Byway is a beautiful facility housing both the El QuartElEjo MusEuM and jErry thoMas GallEry and CollECtion.
The El QuartElEjo MusEuM leads you through the history of Scott County from the fossil remains of the inland ocean of millions of years ago, through modern day agriculture. Included in the exhibit gallery are rocks and fossils, early Indian encampment scenes, a replica of El Quartelejo Pueblo (located at the Lake Scott State Park), and other historic displays. The jErry thoMas GallEry and CollECtion features beautiful wildlife and Western artwork of nationally acclaimed artist Jerry Thomas, and includes Jerry’s incredible Western Heritage, Native American, and U.S. Cavalry collection, which showcases amazing artifacts and memorabilia from The Battle of The Little Bighorn, items from the Indian and Civil War eras, and the finest collection of The Battle of Punished Woman’s Fork memorabilia anywhere.
902 W. HigHWay 96, Scott city, KanSaS 67871 | (620) 872-5912 www.elquartelejomuseum.org
www.jerrythomasart.com
ROUTE 66 historic byway
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experience Galena, Riverton and Baxter Springs are not big towns, but when it comes to historic highways, they sit on the mother of historic routes. Historic Route 66, known as “the Mother Road,” starts in Chicago and ends 2,451 miles later in Santa Monica, California. A mere 13.2 miles of the route squeak across the southeastern portion of Kansas, but to travelers, those miles are just as important as any other. “There are old highways all over the U.S., but this one received the designation of ‘the Mother Road,’” says Galena mayor Dale Oglesby. “There’s so much publicity, so much fame, the movies … it’s popular worldwide.” HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE Tourists come from far and wide to visit the Mother Road, and the three towns on this route, recognizing the historical significance of Route 66, welcome everyone with fun and interactive attractions. The Kansas portion of Route 66 boasts five places on the National Historic Register: the Galena Viaduct, the Rainbow Arch Bridge, Nelson’s Old Riverton Store, the historic Phillips 66 in Baxter Springs and the 3.2-mile section of the original Kansas Route 66, south of the Rainbow Bridge and north of Baxter Springs. Mayor Oglesby suggests visitors to Galena make time to admire the 100-yearold locomotive or the old flat car with mining equipment—both of which have significance to the mining history of the area. There’s also an old jail where visitors can have their photos taken, historic museums and several great restaurants. Along with mining, classic cars of the 1950s and 1960s are another theme tied to Route 66. “Mater”—the old tow truck in the animated movie Cars—was inspired by a 1951 International Harvester that sits outside Cars on the Route in Galena. The biggest weekend for classic cars is the first Saturday in October when the annual Route 66 Cruise’n Car Show is held in Baxter Springs.
ON THE ROAD Janet Miller, director of Cherokee County Economic Development, says there are fun attractions for both young and old along the Kansas portion of Route 66. Some activities, such as the Galena Viaduct and Rainbow Arch Bridge, can be accomplished as quickly as the time it takes to drive by the site. Others require a longer visit, for example, exploring the 20,000-square-foot Baxter Springs Heritage Center and Museum. For kids, Miller recommends Schermerhorn Park, Schermerhorn Cave and the Southeast Kansas Nature Center in Galena. Kids can play, learn about nature, admire the cave and even wade in the river. All of the adventures at the Nature Center work up an appetite. For a step back in time, Nelson’s Old Riverton Store serves sandwiches with freshly cut deli meats and cheeses and old-time sodas. The store is known internationally as one of the most authentic stores of its kind on Route 66. —Seth Jones
about the
byway GETTING THERE Take U.S. Highway 69 south to U.S. Highway 166 and head east. At Baxter Springs, head south to Kansas/Oklahoma state line, the official start of the byway; head north again for the full experience. The byway ends at the Kansas/Missouri state line. LENGTH 13.2 miles TIME TO TRAVEL 25 minutes ROADWAY Route 66 WHEN TO SEE Summer SERVICES All services available along the byway. RESOURCES Baxter Springs Chamber of Commerce (620) 856-3131 baxterspringschamber.com
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Cherokee County Economic Development (620) 762-0717 cherokeecountykansas.com ksbyways.org
about the
amenities
see GALENA VIADUCT
Galena GALENA MINING AND HISTORICAL MUSEUM
Galena (620) 783-2192 RAINBOW ARCH BRIDGE
Cherokee County BAXTER SPRINGS HERITAGE CENTER AND MUSEUM
Baxter Springs (620) 856-2385 baxterspringsmuseum.org
SOUTHEAST KANSAS NATURE CENTER
Galena (620) 783-5207 ksoutdoors.com VETERANS MEMORIAL PARK
BAXTER SPRINGS FLEA MARKET
BAXTER SPRINGS SMOKEHOUSE
Baxter Springs (620) 429-0170
Baxter Springs (620) 856-3287 baxterspringssmokehouse.com
stay ROSE COTTAGE
CARS ON THE ROUTE
Baxter Springs (620) 856-2524 rosecottagekansas.com
Galena (620) 783-1366 VAN’S STEAKHOUSE
Baxter Springs (620) 856-5506
BAXTER INN-4-LESS
U.S. Highway 166 West of Baxter Springs PHILLIPS 66 GAS STATION
GALENA MOTEL
Baxter Springs (620) 856-2385
shop
ANGELS ON THE ROUTE
Baxter Springs (620) 856-2266 angelsontheroute.homestead.com
Baxter Springs (620) 845-2106 route66motels.com/baxterinn4-less.htm
NATIONAL CEMETERY PLOT
eat
MI TORITO
Galena (620) 783-2883
Galena (620) 783-5428
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Baxter Springs (620) 856-4500 THE FANCY FARMER
Baxter Springs (620) 856-4000 NELSON’S OLD RIVERTON STORE
Riverton (620) 848-3330 eislerbros.com SACS 66
Baxter Springs (620) 856-5570
SMOKY VALLEY scenic byway
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experience The Smoky Valley Scenic Byway may be short at 60 miles, but those miles are packed full of native wildflowers, such as coneflowers, yucca, indian blanket and sky blue pitcher sage. The byway also marks the transition between the mixed-grass prairie and the short-grass prairie of the plains. History, rugged limestone outcroppings and one of the state’s most beautiful state parks and reservoirs also welcome travelers along this picturesque drive. Named for the Smoky Hills, which frequently appear hazy at sunrise and sunset, the byway passes by the Cedar Bluff State Park, Reservoir and Wildlife Area, which is named for the 100foot tall, cedar-covered limestone bluffs rising above the south shoreline. The state park is an outdoor enthusiast’s mecca, with opportunities for fishing, hunting, hiking and boating. OUTDOORS The 15,000 acres of state park, reservoir and wildlife are divided into two areas—the Bluffton Area on the north shore, and the Page Creek Area along the south. The Bluffton Area is more developed with two boat ramps, 92 utility campsites, two community shelters, two large shower houses, six rental cabins and numerous primitive campsites and picnic areas. The Page Creek Area, although not as developed, has lots of primitive camping with large shade trees and a sandy shoreline. It also offers a stunning view from limestone bluffs that are 100 feet tall and a great spot to watch the sunrise or set. A portion of the Page Creek Wildlife Area has been designated as a handicapped-accessible hunting area, and the Agave Ridge Hiking & Biking Trail is also located on the south shore, where visitors may enjoy the flora and fauna. The 9,000-acre wildlife area around the state park is home to a variety of small game, pheasants, waterfowl, quail, deer and turkey. It is open for hunting, fishing and trapping during specified seasons.
a threshing machine to Brigham Young in Salt Lake City was attacked when the freighters stopped for the night. You can still see a portion of the thresher in the Trego County Historical Museum in WaKeeney. Today’s travelers along the byway will see many of the same natural wonders as those early travelers saw along the Butterfield Overland Despatch. The BOD opened shortly after the Civil War to carry passengers and goods from Fort Leavenworth to Denver. The old trail is marked with limestone markers engraved with BOD. Look for one of these markers on Kansas Highway 147 just south of the turn into the Bluffton Area at Cedar Bluff State Park. —Lou Ann Thomas
about the
byway GETTING THERE Head south on U.S. Highway 283, 26 miles, at Interstate 70 Exit 127 (WaKeeney), head east on Kansas Highway 4 at Ransom for 9 miles to Kansas Highway 147. Continue north on Kansas Highway 147 for 24 miles to Interstate 70 Exit 135. LENGTH 60 miles TIME TO TRAVEL 2 hours ROADWAY U.S. Highway 283, Kansas Highway 4 and Kansas Highway 147 WHEN TO SEE Spring to summer SERVICES All services in WaKeeney
HISTORY Near Cedar Bluff State Park is Threshing Machine Canyon. Names of some early travelers, some over 200 years old, can still be seen carved into the limestone. The canyon is named for the site where a wagon train carrying
RESOURCES WaKeeney Travel & Tourism (785) 743-8325 wakeeney.org
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about the
amenities
see CEDAR BLUFF STATE PARK
Trego County (785) 726-3214 ksoutdoors.com CHRISTMAS CITY OF THE HIGH PLAINS
WaKeeney (785) 743-8325 wakeeney.org F-14 TOMCAT FIGHTER JET
WaKeeney (785) 743-8325 wakeeney.org KANSAS VETERANS’ CEMETERY
WaKeeney (785) 743-5685 kcva.ks.gov/veteran-cemeteries/ wakeeney
TREGO COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY MUSEUM
WESTERN KANSAS SALOON & GRILL
WaKeeney (785) 743-2964 tregohistorical.org
WaKeeney (785) 743-2050 wksaloon.com
ZION LUTHERAN CHURCH
stay
WaKeeney (785) 743-6629
BUTTERFIELD TRAIL BUNKHOUSE
WaKeeney (785) 743-2322 butterfieldtrailbunkhouse.com
TREGO COUNTY FAIR
WaKeeney (785) 743-5806 tregocountyfair.com
SALINE RIVER HUNTING LODGE AND GUIDE SERVICE
CASTLE ROCK
WaKeeney (785) 743-5878 salinelodge.com
Collyer (I-70 Exit 115) naturalkansas.org/castle.htm
eat
BEST WESTERN PLUS WAKEENEY INN & SUITES
JAKE & CHET’S CAFÉ
WaKeeney (785) 743-2700 bestwestern.com
WaKeeney (785) 743-2211
SUPER 8 MOTEL
WaKeeney (785) 743-6442 super8.com
shop GIBSON HEALTH MART PHARMACY
WaKeeney (785) 743-5753 gibsonhealthmart.com SHILOH VINEYARD & WINERY
WaKeeney (785) 743-2152 shilohvineyard.com SPORT HAVEN
Trego County (785) 726-4457 THE STUDIO & KANSAS ART GALLERY
WaKeeney (785) 814-7170
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WESTERN VISTAS historic byway
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experience With stunning views that stretch unobstructed from horizon to horizon, and a landscape steeped in the rich history of adventure that created this country, the Western Vistas Historic Byway offers visitors a unique high plains experience. The 102 miles of Kansas’ first historic byway traverses two storied highways—north-south on U.S. Highway 83 and east-west on U.S. Highway 40—from Scott City to Oakley to Sharon Springs. The byway’s eight national historic sites and half dozen museums weave a tale of westward expansion and wide-open spaces. Stop at the informational kiosk, about 17 miles north of Scott City, and imagine this land before highways and cities. Designed by local artist Jerry Thomas with a seating area carved from native limestone, the kiosk overlooks buffalo pastures to the south and west. In the distance, Monument Rocks— chalk arches and buttes formed 80 million years ago when seas covered the area—rise from the prairie. RUINS On a more personal level, take Kansas Highway 95 and enjoy nature at Scott State Park, a 1,020-acre gem nestled in a canyon north of Scott City. Explore one of the park’s nature trails on foot or on horseback for a chance to glimpse turkey, deer and bobcats. Or take to the water to boat, swim, or fish in Scott State Fishing Lake. Park lands offer rich opportunities for the history buff, from the archeological remains of a 17th-century Native-American pueblo, El Quartelejo, to the frontier-era Steele home. A historical monument at nearby Punished Woman’s Fork/Battle Canyon marks the site of the last fight in Kansas between Native Americans and U.S. troops.
history crossed these plains: Wild Bill Hickok, Buffalo Bill Cody, William Comstock (a Fort Wallace scout). A few miles to the east, the Butterfield Trail Museum in Russell Springs preserves the history of the Butterfield’s Overland Despatch, an 1860s stagecoach and freight line that ran along the Smoky Hill Trail from Atchison to Denver before the arrival of railroads made stage lines obsolete. The museum organizes an annual “hay powered” trail ride—horses and wagons—to celebrate the Old West. The byway, like the state, peaks at Mount Sunflower near the Kansas-Colorado border. Though not truly a mountain, the site represents the state’s highest point at 4,039 feet above sea level. —Julie Tollefson
about the
byway LOCATION Via Interstate 70 Exits 17 Goodland south to U.S. Highway 40, east to Oakley, U.S. Highway 83, south to Kansas Highway 95, U.S. Highway 83, south to Scott City. Oakley, Interstate Exits 70 or 76 to U.S. Highway 40 west or U.S. Highway 83 south. LENGTH 102 Miles TIME TO TRAVEL 1.5 hours ROADWAY U.S. Highway 40 west from Sharon Springs to U.S. Highway 83 south from Oakley to Kansas Highway 95 west through Scott Lake State Park, east to U.S. Highway 83, south to Scott City WHEN TO SEE All seasons
LEGENDS Farther west, the stretch of U.S. Highway 40 near the Fort Wallace Museum serves up magnificent views of bluffs to the south, giving travelers a first-hand glimpse at how the Smoky Hill River got its name. Some of the most legendary names in Wild West
SERVICES Available in Sharon Springs, Oakley, Scott City RESOURCES Western Vistas Historic Byway (785) 891-3707 westernvistashistoricbyway.com
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about the
amenities
see
KEYSTONE GALLERY
BUFFALO BILL CULTURAL CENTER AND BRONZE SCULPTURE
Scott City (620) 872-2762 keystonegallery.com
Oakley (785) 671-1000 buffalobilloakley.org
MONUMENT ROCKS
BUTTERFIELD TRAIL MUSEUM AND HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION
Russell Springs (785) 751-4242 butterfieldtrailmuseum.org EL QUARTELEJO MUSEUM
Scott City (620) 872-5912 elquartelejomuseum.org JERRY THOMAS GALLERY AND COLLECTION
Scott City (785) 410-6667 jerrythomasartgallery.com FICK FOSSIL AND HISTORY MUSEUM AND MEMORIAL GARDENS
LAKE SCOTT STATE PARK CABINS
Scott City (620) 872-3840
Scott City ksoutdoors.com
THE TAYLOR HOUSE
MT. SUNFLOWER B & B
North of Scott City, south of Oakley; access via county dirt roads keystonegallery.com
Scott City (620) 214-7669
Sharon Springs (785) 852-4004 mtsunflowerbandb.com
MOUNT SUNFLOWER
Sharon Springs (785) 852-4182 stephensofkansas.com
STEPHENS RESTAURANT
West of Sharon Springs on U.S. 40; access via county dirt roads kansastravel.org
stay
NATURE CONSERVANCY/ SMOKY VALLEY RANCH
HIGH PLAINS CAMPING
SMOKY RIVER RENDEZVOUS
Winona (785) 846-7785 smokyriverrend.com
shop
Logan County nature.org
Oakley (785) 672-3538 highplainscamping.com
THE GENERAL STORE
RHEA’S ANTIQUE PUMP ORGAN MUSEUM
KANSAS COUNTRY INN
SMOKY RIVER QUILT SHOPPE
Oakley (785) 672-3131 kansascountryinn.com
Oakley (785) 671-3070 smokyriverquiltshoppe.com
THE LOGAN HOUSE
EVERYTHING’S-A-BLOOMIN’
Russell Springs (785) 751-4247 theloganhouse.com
Oakley (785) 672-3060 everythingsabloomin.com
CAMP LAKESIDE
GIFTOLOGISTS
Scott City (620) 872-2021 camplakeside.net
Scott City (620) 872-2146
Sharon Springs (785) 852-4951
eat COLONIAL STEAKHOUSE
Oakley (785) 671-4839
Oakley (785) 672-4720 colonialsteakhouse.com
FORT WALLACE MUSEUM
SUNSHINE BAKERY
Wallace (785) 891-3564 ftwallace.com
MAJESTIC THEATRE RESTAURANT
Oakley (785) 672-9448 oakleybakery.com
PANACHE THE VINTAGE INN
Scott City (620) 872-2164
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Sharon Springs (785) 852-4256
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Scott City (785) 874-0434
WETLANDS AND WILDLIFE national scenic byway
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experience Grab your binoculars and watch in awe as hundreds of American white pelicans lift off the water in a mass exodus along the Wetlands and Wildlife National Scenic Byway. It’s a scene sure to take your breath away. Whether you are a birdwatcher eager to identify species in the wild, a photographer hoping to capture wildlife in their natural habitat, or someone who simply enjoys nature, this 77-mile trek on Kansas highways 4 and 156 (country roads) is for you. Cheyenne Bottoms Wildlife Area and Quivira National Wildlife Refuge anchor this byway, offering prime wildlife viewing opportunities found nowhere else in the world. FLYWAY The two are critical stopovers for millions of migrating waterfowl and shorebirds because of their diverse natural wetland ecosystems, so plan your trip during the spring and fall to see the most species in the biggest numbers. As you trek through Cheyenne Bottoms, the largest inland freshwater marsh in the country, look for sandhill cranes and egrets in the spring, great blue heron and whooping cranes in the fall, and bald eagles in the winter. A must-stop is the Kansas Wetlands Education Center to learn the importance of these wetlands explained through state-of-the-art exhibits and naturalists who can answer your every question. As you leisurely stroll the nature trail through the nearby woods, listen for the sound of songbirds and watch for monarchs, foxes, wood rats and other wildlife.
Conservancy, examine early-day natural buffalo wallows and envision a herd rolling on the ground to shed hair and insects more than a century ago, leaving the 30-foot-wide depressions still seen on the prairie. At the other end of the byway is Quivira National Wildlife Refuge, an inland saltwater marsh, rare in the Midwest. For the best viewing, take Big Salt Marsh Wildlife Drive, a one-way road through the marshes and along lakes bordered by cattails. The marsh, sand dunes, timber and prairie support a number of endangered species including the least tern and snowy plover. Sip at a soda fountain in Stafford, descend into Ellinwood’s historic underground, see other members of the animal kingdom at Brit Spaugh Zoo and Raptor Center in Great Bend. Walk a nature trail near Claflin, step inside a farm store in Hoisington, drive by Hudson’s working flour mill, and check out a science center at St. John. There’s no shortage of wildlife experience in this area. —Cecilia Harris
about the
byway GETTING THERE Take U.S. Highway 281 south from Interstate 70 to begin at the northern part of the byway, just east of Hoisington. LENGTH 77 miles TIME TO TRAVEL 90 minutes ROADWAY Kansas Highway 156, Kansas Highway 4, U.S. Highway 281, and Barton County roads NE 10 Avenue and NE 30 Road. WHEN TO SEE All seasons, although the best seasons are spring, fall and summer. SERVICES All services available along the byway RESOURCES The Great Bend Convention and Visitors Bureau (620) 792-2750 visitgreatbend.com
TOURING Pick up a map, self-guided driving tour guide and flora and fauna checklists, and explore Cheyenne Bottoms Wildlife Area on your own. Audio and video tours may be downloaded online. Or, choose between the center’s two guided tours that include its history, bird and wildlife identification, and a stop at the observation tower. At the nearby Cheyenne Bottoms Preserve managed by The Nature
Wetlands and Wildlife National Scenic Byway (620) 793-1800 kansaswetlandsandwildlife scenicbyway.com
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Barton County Chamber of Commerce (417) 682-3595 bartoncounty.org ksbyways.org
about the
amenities
see CAMP ALDRICH
Claflin (620) 786-7457 bartonccc.edu UNDERGROUND TUNNELS
Ellinwood (620) 617-6915 ellinwoodchamber.com CHEYENNE BOTTOMS WILDLIFE AREA
Great Bend (620) 793-3066 naturalkansas.org SANTAS AROUND THE WORLD
Great Bend (620) 792-1614 getruralkansas.org GREAT BEND BRIT SPAUGH ZOO AND RAPTOR CENTER
Great Bend (620) 793-4226 greatbendzoo.com KANSAS QUILT WALK & GREAT BEND MURAL PROJECT
Great Bend visitgreatbend.com
KANSAS WETLANDS EDUCATION CENTER
STAFFORD COUNTY MUSEUM
Stafford (620) 234-5664 staffordcounty.org/museum
Great Bend (620) 566-1456 wetlandscenter.fhsu.edu HOISINGTON POST OFFICE SECTION ART MURAL
SQUEAKS CLUB INC. BAR & GRILL
St. John (620) 549-3390
eat
stay
GRANNY’S KITCHEN
THE HISTORIC WOLF HOTEL
Hoisington (620) 653-4311 hoisingtonkansas.com
Great Bend (620) 793-7441 visitgreatbend.com
Ellinwood (620) 617-6915 historicwolfhotel.com
KINDSCHER’S MULE BARN HARDWARE STORE
GREAT BEND COFFEE COMPANY
THE HENDERSON HOUSE INN AND RETREAT CENTER
Hoisington (620) 292-6080 STAFFORD COUNTY FLOUR MILLS
Great Bend (620) 603-6465 visitgreatbend.com
Stafford (316) 682-5803 hendersonbandb.com
KIOWA KITCHEN
shop
Stafford (800) 530-5640 hudsoncream.com
Great Bend (620) 793-9855 visitgreatbend.com
ST. JOHN SCIENCE CENTER
THE STAFFORD MERCANTILE
St. John (620) 549-3347 stjohnsciencemuseum.org
Stafford (620) 234-5051 staffordcounty.org
QUIVIRA NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE
WHEATLAND CAFÉ
Hudson (620) 458-4761 hudsonkansas.org
Stafford (620) 486-2393 fws.gov/quivira
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ELLINWOOD EMPORIUM ANTIQUES
Ellinwood (620) 564-2498
road
trip There’s more to the byways than you think. Due to the state’s unique physiographic regions, the byways are placed in scenic and historic areas that provide travelers experiences among distinctive landscapes.
PHYSIOGRAPHIC REGIONS HIGH PLAINS Excellent farmland slopes gently downward from the west. ARKANSAS RIVER LOWLANDS Irregular hills and dunes follow an ancient river path. RED HILLS Sandstone and shale mix with areas of rugged hills, buttes and mesas. SMOKY HILLS A larger sea once covered this area of astonishing rock formations. WELLINGTON AND MCPHERSON LOWLANDS Permeable sand covers an area surrounded by salt mines and marshes. FLINT HILLS This scenic pastureland is named for the flint rock that covers the bluestem slopes. GLACIATED REGION Rounded hills and broad valleys feature glacial deposits of quartzite. OSAGE QUESTAS This broad terrace panorama has steeper eastern slopes than western slopes. CHAUTAUQUA HILLS This province is only a few miles wide, with underlying thick sandstone. CHEROKEE LOWLANDS Bituminous coal veins near the surface of this region reveal its mining history. OZARK PLATEAU The extreme southeast corner of the state is rich with fossils. MAP KEY
SCENIC BYWAY
HISTORIC BYWAY