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.
There are a few ways to get to the trails. One way is to start at the Horsethief Canyon Trailhead in Kanopolis State Park. This will add a few miles to the hike, but it might be the best option if you’re camping in the park.
Getting There
The trailhead for these trails isn’t in the state park. From the state park, you’ll have to go north on Highway 141, turn west on Avenue K, and then south on 25th Road. There’s a parking lot on the east side of the road across the street from a house.
That route also takes you through Mushroom Rock State Park, one of the oddest places in Kansas. If you haven’t been there, you’ve got to check it out!
Once you get to the trailhead, you’ll see that maps are available. Be sure to grab one because there are a few places where you can get turned around and having the map will help you find your way.
At the trailhead, going left puts you on the Prairie Trail and going right takes you on the Alum Creek Trail. I recommend you start by going left because one of the most difficult parts of the trail is along that section. After hiking 12 miles, it can be pretty difficult. Not knowing this, I went right.
In this post, I’m only going to cover the Alum Creek Trail. I also hiked the Prairie Trail but for the sake of brevity, I’ll cover that trail in my next blog post.
Alum Creek Trail
Alum Creek Trail starts out as a mowed-grass surface on gently rolling hills. It leads you along some hillsides adjacent to the wooded creek lands below. You eventually come to a barbed wire fence and follow that until you get to the Alum Creek.
This creek crossing wasn’t too bad. The park maintainers have dumped a few bricks around the crossing which provide traction when walking down and up the creek bank. There are also some bricks in the creek that give you a few places to step to avoid getting your shoes too wet.
After crossing the creek, the trail bends around and follows the banks until it leads you to your first gate. This is where I figured out that the park is divide into paddocks. Ranchers keep cattle in the paddocks so be sure to shut the gates behind you.
Also, be a decent human being and don’t harass the animals if you come across any. All the paddocks were empty when I went through, but there was evidence (cow paddies) of livestock recently inhabiting the area.
You’ll come to a gravel road that goes through Gate 7. The road travels along high grounds between two creeks before descending to the bottomlands where you’ll cross one of the creeks.
There was also a lot of coyote scat on this section of the trail so be aware of your surroundings, especially if you’re hiking with dogs.
After crossing the creek, the trail returns to some high grounds and leads you to Gate 2. At this point, the Alum Trail and Prairie Trail meet.
You have the option to turn north onto Prairie Trail and go back to the trailhead. Doing this will still give you a good hike without so much distance. I think it would be about a 4.5-mile hike.
You can also go west to stay on Alum Creek Trail (blue trailblazers), or go east to get on the other part of Prairie Trail (orange trailblazers). I went west.
Shortly after this intersection, you’ll go through another gate which opens to a wildlife preserve. The trail descends down to wooded bottomlands where wildlife encounters are highly possible.
Spectacular Views
The trail ascends once again and you’ll come around a hill that offers an amazing overlook of the wildlife wetlands below. This spot was breathtaking.
It was a perfect place for me to stop and take a break. I was probably three or four miles into the hike and it was time to take rest for a few minutes.
As I ate, hydrated and rested, I watched all the activity going on below. Cranes and pelicans flew just above the water on their way to the next fishing spot. Ducks quacked and stayed busy; fish splashed around and jumped out of the water.
Looking left, I could see the lake, cliffs, canyons and campgrounds in the distance. Looking right, I saw the Smoky Hill River winding through the countryside. It was surrounded by wetlands where birds were gathered.
No boats…no humans…just nature. I heard nothing but the occasional rustling in the grass as a breeze came through, and birds calling out to each other. I probably spent about 45 minutes there enjoying the scenery, and I could’ve stayed there the rest of the day but I had to move on.
Back on the trail, I hiked along a ridge that went around the top of a ravine. As I approached a turn, a rafter of about 10 turkeys darted across the trail and into the trees! Before I could get my camera to my face, they were gone!
The next part of the trail went north next to a cove where I continued to watch birds enjoy their habitats below. As part of their habitat, I saw a protective structure on stilts perched on the hillside.
The trail continued north and down into a valley. I came up to the Red Rock Creek crossing, but the water was way too deep for me to cross. Looking at the map, I noticed that there was another crossing if I followed the trail further north.
The trail followed a fence line with wide open prairie to my left and a deep ravine to my right.
As I went through another gate, I noticed deep cattle ruts immediately to my right. At first I thought this was the trail, but after looking at the map and seeing the next blue trail blazer, I knew I had to keep going north.
I finally reached the next part of the trail. The blue trailblazers ended and the orange ones began. I was now on the Prairie Trail.
The Prairie Trail is optional. Hiking the Alum Creek Trail at Kanopolis Lake, Kansas, is an amazing experience on it’s own. But if you want to add to the challenge of the Alum Creek Trail, read my blog post, “Hiking Kansas: Prairie Trail at Kanopolis Lake.”
Safe travels!
Matt McCoy, writer and photographer, Rugged Kansas
Essential Info About the Alum Creek Trail
Location: North of Kanopolis Lake.
Fees: Free.
Dogs: Allowed but must be leashed.
Activities: Hiking, mountain biking and horseback riding.
Trail Construction: Natural surface, grass surface, loop trail, system trail.
Trail Length from Description Above: 6.6 miles (My total hike including the Prairie Trail was 12.6 miles)
Total Length Available: 8.3 miles (Alum Creek Trail only)
Seasons: Open Feb. 1 thru Oct. 31. Closed Nov. 1 thru Jan. 31.
Camping: No camping on the trails. RV and tent camping is available in the campgrounds surrounding Kanopolis Lake. There’s also a campground with horse corrals available in the state park.
Features: Wildlife, Open Prairie, Meadows, Woods, Hills, Ravines, Creeks, Rock Formations, Lake Views, Red Rock Canyon, Water Crossings
Hazards: Mosquitos were buzzing around me in the woods. Ticks and chiggers can be a problem on grass-surfaced trails. Bug spray is highly recommended. This is a long trail away from everything, be sure to have plenty of water to prevent heat related injuries. Parts of the trail are awkward to walk on, be sure to tighten your hiking shoes and treat hot spots on your feet when you start to feel them. Blisters are highly possible.
Website: https://ksoutdoors.com/State-Parks/Locations/Kanopolis/Trails
Facebook:
Kansas Wildlife, Parks & Tourism – Kanopolis State Park @KanopolisStatePark
Unofficial page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Kanopolis-State-Park/120011641378081
Other Kansas Hiking Trails you may like:
The Prairie Trail at Kanopolis Lake
The Two Section Trail at Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve
Wildlife Drive at the Quivira National Wildlife Refuge