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 Chaplin Nature Center has hiking trails throughout the 230-acre private park located about 50 miles south of Wichita, Kansas, and 5 miles northwest of Arkansas City. It’s an amazing plot of land complete with tallgrass prairie, woodlands, creeks and Arkansas River sandbars.
I started my day at the visitor’s center which is a log cabin that has maps, restrooms and exhibits inside. I checked in with the park’s naturalist, Shawn, prior to heading out. He’s an awesome guy who seemed to enjoy visitors.
Hiking Down to the River
My hike started just behind the visitor’s center on the Bluff Trail. This trail has an upper portion and a lower portion. I took the upper trail to start with, which led me through deep woods along the top of a ridge.
The trail crosses a bridge and comes down a staircase before leading to the River Trail.
The River Trail goes through deeply wooded river bottomland that hugs the river bank. The trail was relatively flat and lined with gigantic trees including massive cottonwoods, walnut, oak and elm.
The hiking trail crosses over Spring Creek via a bridge and hugs the creek for a ways before splitting off. I walked through the woods for a while longer before coming to the Sandbar Trail.
The Sandbar Trail led me out of the woods and onto a beach…that’s right, a beach! I’ll admit, Kansas beaches aren’t as impressive as others, but this beach has something you can’t find on the coasts — solitude.
As I was walking out to the sandbar, a bright green snake was just hanging out on the sandy trail! He looked to be about two-and-a-half feet long and very photogenic.
I hung out on the sandbar for a long while. The day was extremely hot, humid and windy. The breeze coming through the river channel felt pretty good after being in the muggy woods.
The Maintenance Road and Other Hiking Trails
Heading back into the woods, the trail led to a mowed-grass clearing with a giant chair built out of logs and wood planks. I’ll admit it…I climbed up on it like a little kid.
Soon after, I came to four corners which marked the beginning of my next loop—The Maintenance Road.
The Maintenance Road is a mowed-grass surfaced trail that goes along a tree line all the way around an open tallgrass prairie. It’s a really nice loop that offers views of both grassland and woodland.
After looping the prairie, The Maintenance Road intersected the River trail again. I turned right to go into the woods and turned right again to get on the Spring Creek Trail.
As the name suggests, the Spring Creek Trail goes along the Spring Creek. I was surprised at how clear the water was. The hiking trail led to a bridge where I sat and rested for a minute, ate my lunch and watched the dragonflies play in the water.
Replenished, I hiked along the bottom of a bluff until I reached the Lost Prairie Trail.
The Lost Prairie Trail went straight up the bluff on a path wide enough for one person. At the top, the path widened again and wound through deeply wooded ravines and hills that offered views. This was the most challenging part of the hike.
The Prairie Trail
The hiking trail led me out of the woods and onto the Prairie Trail. The Prairie Trail goes around the tallgrass prairie that you see when you drive onto the park. The hiking trail spans both sides of the road all the way to the property’s boundaries.
The Prairie Trail also led me back to my starting point at the visitor’s center. But I wanted to check one more thing out before I left.
Behind the visitor’s center there is a grand staircase that’s part of the Bluff Trail. This staircase is pretty amazing. In fact, the entire hike was well worth the trip!
The next time you want to go hiking in Kansas, consider the Chaplin Nature Center. They’re doing an amazing job at maintaining a place that’s welcoming and perfect for hikers.
I hope you enjoy the hike.
Safe travels!
Matt McCoy, writer and photographer, Rugged Kansas
Location: Chaplin Nature Center, 27814 27th Drive, Arkansas City, Kansas, 67002
Fees: None, donations welcomed
Dogs: Not allowed
Activities: Hiking. The visitor’s center can be rented for meetings, weddings, family reunions and parties. Call 620-442-4133 for more information.
Trail Construction: Natural surface, mowed grass surface, system with optional loops
Trail Length from Description Above: 4.7 miles
Total Length Available: 4 miles
Camping: No camping in the park
Features: Creeks, Wildlife, Woods, River, Pastures, Scenic Views, Staircases, Bridges, Beach
History: According to the CNC brochure, “The area that is now known as the Chaplin Nature Center was farmed by Hazel and Stedman Chaplin. The Chaplins managed the farm in a way to protect and enhance the wildlife potential of the area. They dreamed of preserving the area and someday converting it into a nature center. In 1973, the property was purchased by the Wichita Audubon Society.”
Hazards: Ticks are always a problem on grass-surface trails, check yourself often. You may also suffer chigger and mosquito bites. Bug spray is highly recommended. There is no airflow in the wooded areas even on a windy day. Drink plenty of water and take breaks every now and then.
Websites: http://www.wichitaaudubon.org/cnc.html
Facebook: @chaplinnaturecenter
Other Kansas hiking trails you may like:
Prairie Trail at Kanopolis Lake
The Two Section Trail at Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve
Lehigh Portland Trails in Iola