To find the best hiking trails in Kansas, you have to go explore. I’ve compiled a list of my favorite hiking trails in Kansas on this page to make it easier for you to find what you’re looking for.
This isn’t an exhaustive list of hiking trails in Kansas since I still have a lot of exploring to do. But it’s enough to get you started.
My List of Best Hiking Trails in Kansas
The Smoky Valley Ranch Trail stands in complete contrast to the flatlands you see from the highway. It’s the perfect hiking trail for anyone who wants to explore the Western Vistas of Kansas.
Crusher Hill Trail is a six-mile loop hiking trail at Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve, a few miles north of Strong City, Kansas. The Crusher Hill Trail makes you feel like you’re miles away from it all!
Hiking the Kaw Nation Memorial Trail gives you incredible views of Kansas and the Flint Hills, and offers a few other surprises along the way.
The Tallgrass Prairie Scenic Overlook Trail
The Scenic Overlook Trail, Prairie Fire Loop, and Davis Trail are hiking trails at the Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve, which is one of my favorite places in Kansas!
The Fancy Creek Trail is a hiking and mountain biking trail located in the Fancy Creek State Park at Tuttle Creek Lake, north of Manhattan, Kansas. It’s a six-mile loop trail with surprisingly rough terrain.
The Fox Creek Trail is an 8.5-mile hiking trail located in Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve, north of Strong City and Cottonwood Falls, Kansas. It’s a grass-surfaced hiking trail in the middle of one of my favorite geographic wonders, the Flint Hills.
The Southwind Nature Trail is a two mile hiking trail at the Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve that offers huge views of the Kansas Flint Hills. The trailhead is in front of the manor house at the base of a hill.
Tucked away on a gravel road in south central Kansas is the Chaplin Nature Center; a great place to hike, explore, and connect with nature. The Chaplin Nature Center has 4 miles of Kansas hiking trails that take you through a few different kinds of terrain.
The hiking trails at Sand Hills State Park in Hutchinson, Kansas, are perfect for anyone who hasn’t experienced this unique region. The park is northeast of Hutchinson right off of Highway 61.
The Badger Creek Trail North is a hiking and mountain biking trail located at the northeast side of Fall River Lake in Greenwood County, Kansas. The terrain is very rugged, rocky and heavily wooded.
The Catclaw Trail and Post Oak Trail are Kansas hiking and mountain biking trails located on the east side of Fall River Lake in the Quarry Bay area.
The Prairie Trail is part of the hiking trail system at Kanopolis Lake, Kansas, that connects the Alum Creek Trail and the Horsethief Canyon Trail and is open to hikers, mountain bikers and horseback riders.
The Alum Creek Trail and Prairie Trail are hiking, mountain biking and horseback riding trails at the north end of Kanopolis Lake, Kansas. The two trails cover about 14 miles of diverse terrain in the beautiful Smoky Hills.
The Two Section hiking trail is an old ranch road that goes through grazing lands that the Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve leases to local cattle ranchers in Kansas.
Hiking Wildlife Drive at the Quivira Wildlife National Refuge in Stafford, Kansas, was a great experience and one that I highly recommend. The Quivira Wildlife National Refuge is in the Sandhills Region of Kansas.
Hiking the Lehigh Portland Trails in Iola, Kansas, led to a few surprises. By hiking these trails, I came across multiple things that I never expected to see in our state! The Lehigh Portland Trails are multi-use trails for hikers, trail runners and bikers.
The Bridle Trail at Lake Scott State Park is an eight-mile hiking trail that goes around the small lake in western Kansas. The terrain is surprisingly similar to that of the Rocky Mountain foothills in Colorado!