Hiking Trails at Battle of Punished Woman Fork

The hiking trails at Battle of Punished Woman Fork park take you through a moment in Kansas history that you’ll never forget.

The park is located just south of Historic Lake Scott State Park in western Kansas. Depending on how much you want to explore, you could spend 10 minutes or a few hours learning about the historic battle.

About Battle of Punished Woman Fork Park

The Battle of Punished Woman Fork Park is a state and national historic landmark. It’s on private property but it’s open to the public.

The area is the scene of the last battle in Kansas between the U.S. government and Indian tribes.

There’s a small parking lot with a monument at the top of a hill. The monument describes the battle that took place on Sept. 27, 1878.

Click here to learn more about the park and the battle.

Hiking the Punished Woman Fork Battlefield

There are several ways to begin your hike, and there doesn’t seem to be an established hiking trail in the traditional sense.

I started my hike on the south side of the hill and headed south down the canyon wall.

The terrain was rugged and full of yucca plants. It looked like cattle may have formed some of the trails because there were cow patties everywhere!

The trail went down to flat, open area. To avoid trespassing on a farmer’s land, I cut across to the other side of the canyon using one of the random cattle trails.

When I got to the other side, I turned north and hiked along the canyon wall. This is Packhorse Canyon, where the Cheyenne kept their horses and possessions during the battle. They abandoned them here when they made their escape.

I hiked the floor of the canyon all the way back to where the canyon wall formed an overhanging bluff.

After exploring Packhorse Canyon, I hiked up the canyon walls to the top of the hills. The breeze crossing the hills were welcomed compared to the hot, still air in the canyon.

As I walked around the rim of the canyon, I found the rifle pits that were used by the Cheyenne.

It was surreal and exciting to stand in the same spot as the warriors who fought in the battle more than 140 years ago.

After seeing all the rifle pits, I hiked north along a creek bed that the Cheyenne used as their escape route.

I went as far as I could until I felt like I was about to trespass, then I turned around.

Back at the canyon, I went down into the canyon where Sanctuary Cave is located. This is where the women, children, and elderly were staged during the battle.

In all, I hiked about 2.5 miles with lots of ups and downs. It’s a short hike but it wore me out!

Safe travels!

Matt McCoy, writer and photographer, Rugged Kansas

Essential Info about the Punished Woman Fork Battlefield

Location: The Battle for Punished Woman Fork Park is located just west of Kansas Highway 95. It’s about a mile south of Historic Lake Scott State Park, and about 12 miles north of Scott City.

Fees: Free

Dogs: Allowed, must be leashed

Activities: Hiking

Trail Construction: Natural surface, loop options

Trail Length: 2.5 miles (according to the description above

Total Length Available: It’s hard to say since there were no signs or traditional hiking trails.

Seasons: Open all year.

Camping: No camping on the hiking trail. There are campgrounds at Historic Lake Scott State Park.

Features: Canyons, Hills, Views, Wildlife, Shortgrass Meadows, Creek Beds, Rugged Terrain

Historic Significance: The Battle of Punished Woman Fork took place on Sept. 27, 1878, in Scott County, Kansas. It was the last battle between the U.S. Army and Indian tribes in Kansas.

Click here to visit Western Vistas’ website to learn more about the battle.