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!
I started my hike at the visitor’s center near the entrance of the park.
From this point, the trail starts in a treed section and quickly ascends up a hill to give you an overlook of the spring-fed pond below.
There are some interesting boulders sticking out of the ground along this section.
After the treed section, the views open to wide open grassland filled with yucca plants, sagebrush and many other native grasses. The trail flattens out but you can see the big hills ahead of you.
On one hilltop, there’s a small shack that’s a really cool place to hang out. There’s also a monument dedicated to the Steele family, the original owners of this land who entrusted it to the Kansas Forestry, Fish and Game Commission in 1928.
I looked around but I never found an easy way up this hill. The trails leading up to the shack aren’t part of the main trail, so it’s extremely rugged and may be difficult to get up there. But it’s worth it!
After hanging out at the shack for a little while, I went back down to the main trail.
The trail hugged the canyon walls which made it twist up and down and curve around.
It led to an old stone house foundation that had a park bench on it. This was a perfect place to eat lunch and enjoy the lake views.
Back on the trail, it continued to hug the canyon walls, twist and turn, and give up-close-and-personal views of the rocky terrain that surrounds the lake.
The trail curved toward the west and went over a small dam that appeared to have held a large pond at one time. This is one of those secret things that you wouldn’t see unless you were hiking!
Not far after that, the views open up to a beautiful valley between a few peaks. This was one of those spots that made me just stop and stare for a while (the overcast day didn’t do me any favors for photography).
Moving right along, the trail goes to a parking area for horse trailers. It crosses the road and curves toward the east.
This section offers open views to the east, woods to the south and canyon walls to the north. There’s even a disc golf course along this part. For me, this was the prettiest section of the trail!
The trail crosses the road again. Be sure to look for the sign that tells you where to get back on the trail. I was paying attention to the cars on the road and didn’t see the sign at first.
This section gets you around that water outlet. It’s probably not a safe area when they’re letting water out of the lake.
The trail makes its way around and you can hike along the dam to get panoramic views of the lake and surrounding campgrounds.
From this point on, the trail stays pretty close to the road. It’s a mowed grass trail that connects the parks and campgrounds on the east side of the lake.
From this section of the trail, you can look across the lake and see all the big hills that you were on not too long ago.
After a few miles, the trail leads back to the visitor’s center.
When I finished, I was glad I went on the rocky, rugged sections on the west side of the lake first; and hiked the flatter, grassy section on the east side last. My legs and ankles were screaming at me by the end of this hike! I can’t imagine how I would’ve felt if I did this in reverse.
In all, this hike was well-worth my trip to western Kansas. I’ve crossed these lands all my life—destination Colorado—and I never knew that this little spot was there the whole time.
Hiking the Bridle Trail at Lake Scott State Park, Kansas, is definitely one of the hikes that should be on your bucket list!
Safe travels!
Matt McCoy, writer and photographer, Rugged Kansas
Location: The Bridle hiking trail is in Lake Scott State Park, north of Scott City, Kansas.
Fees: State park permit required.
Dogs: Allowed but must be leashed.
Activities: Hiking, trail running, mountain biking and horseback riding.
Trail Construction: Natural surface, grass surface, loop trail.
Trail Length from Description Above: 7.5 miles
Total Length Available: 8 miles
Historical Significance: According to the park’s brochure, “Herbert Steele first came to Scott County in 1888 and found the present state park area to be an ideal location for homesteading. He married Eliza Landon five years later. Their first home was a simple dugout, which they later updated to a four-room house using sandstone gathered from the surrounding bluffs.”
“The Steele’s wanted their homestead to become a public park and recreation area. This dream became reality in 1928 when the Kansas Forestry, Fish and Game Commission acquired the 1,280-acres, which is now the park, including the 640 acres of the Steele homestead.”
Other historic sites in and around the park include the El Cuartelejo Indian Pueblo and the site of the Battle of Punished Woman’s Fork.
Seasons: Open all year. The trail doesn’t go through hunting grounds but there are hunting grounds on the west end of the park. Wear bright orange clothing if you’re hiking during hunting season.
Camping: There are a few tent camping spots along the trail. RV and tent camping is available in the campgrounds surrounding Lake Scott.
Features: Wildlife, Meadows, Woods, Hills, Ravines, Rock Formations, Lake Views, Canyon, Water Crossings, Historic Buildings
Hazards: Mosquitos were buzzing around me on the east side of the lake. Ticks and chiggers can be a problem on grass-surfaced trails. Bug spray is highly recommended. 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. Canyons tend to hold heat. Prevent heat-related injuries by drinking plenty of water and taking breaks as needed.
Websites:
https://ksoutdoors.com/State-Parks/Locations/Historic-Lake-Scott
Facebook:
Lake Scott State Park @lakescottstatepark
Friends of Lake Scott State Park @FriendsofLakeScott Western Vistas Historic Byway @wvhbks
Other Kansas hiking trails you may like:
The Prairie Trail at Kanopolis Lake
The Alum Creek Trail at Kanopolis Lake
Wildlife Drive at Quivira Wildlife National Refuge