Top 5 Winter Hikes in Kansas

Winter in Kansas can be brutal, and most people wouldn’t consider it a good season to be outdoors, let alone hiking. However, those who take advantage of a warm afternoon, or are just a little off their rocker and brave the elements enjoy several benefits unique to winter hiking.

The first is solitude. Don’t get me wrong a busy state park and the hum of boats on the water are great, but we can enjoy that in the warmer months. There’s something special about being the only one out on a trail: the chance to soak it all in and encounter wildlife that a crowded trail just can’t provide.

The second advantage is something we spend the warmer months wishing away: no mosquitoes! The same goes for ticks, rattlesnakes, and poison ivy. While these should still be considered, the risk of encountering them is significantly lower.

The third advantage is our health. Winter is a good time to slow down, but exercise is still important, and getting outdoors provides countless physical and mental benefits.

So where should you go? I’ve put together a list of my top five winter hikes across Kansas. Full disclosure, I haven't had the chance to visit Little Jerusalem in the Winter, but any time at Little J is a good time. Leaving it off this list just because I haven't hiked in in the winter would be a shame.

1. Elk City State Park / Elk River Hiking Trail This 14.5-mile point-to-point trail is located in Montgomery County. The Elk River Hiking Trail is one of the few places in Kansas where backpacking and camping along the trail are permitted. This well-marked route will leave you asking, “Are we in Kansas?” thanks to its astonishing views from limestone bluffs.

My brother and I made this a two-day trip, camping about halfway in late winter before the new spring growth made it feel even more like the Ozarks. If you plan to camp, I’ll pass along a lesson from our trip: when we visited, it was an especially dry winter. The spring-fed streams we planned to pull water from were not flowing, and we had to wait until the end of the trail to refill our supply before heading back. If you’re just looking for a day hike, I suggest starting from the dam side, the first few miles are some of the best hiking you’ll find in Kansas.

2. Kanopolis Lake State Park / Horsethief Canyon Trail to Red Rock Canyon This 6.3-mile loop in Ellsworth County begins at a parking lot that serves as the starting point for several trails, each marked with a different color. It’s important to know which color corresponds to which trail; a map is available at the visitor center when entering the park. The trail is almost entirely sand and is often used by horseback riders. It winds along a spring that, in winter, is usually low enough to cross via a beaver dam. The route offers stunning views of sandstone bluffs and caves within the canyon. I’ve visited this trail often, but my favorite trip was just after a light snowfall, when the red sandstone and brown grasses looked especially vibrant against the Kansas sky. If you’re a geocacher, be sure to search for a few caches along the trail.

3. Wilson Lake State Park / Rock Town Trail This 2.6-mile loop in Russell County is popular in the summer, but in winter you’ll often have it to yourself, and It’s a great place to catch a sunset! The trail follows a grassy path through rolling hills and tall prairie grasses surrounding the lake. The highlight is a cluster of rock outcroppings along the shoreline. Sit for a while and watch the sun dip into the western sky before heading back as the days light fades.

4. Little Jerusalem State Park / Life on the Rocks Trail This 2.4-mile out-and-back trail in Logan County will have you wondering if you're in the Badlands of South Dakota. The natural-surface path leads hikers along the edge of Niobrara Chalk formations deposited roughly 85 million years ago, when the area was a vast inland sea. I found myself looking down for most of this hike, though the uninterrupted view of the western Kansas horizon is just as beautiful. One important note: unlike the other hikes on this list, there is little protection from the elements, so plan accordingly.

5. Allegawaho Memorial Heritage Park / Kanza Heritage Trail This 2-mile loop in Morris County is unique to the others on this list. The park sits on 168 acres of native homeland belonging to the Kaw Nation. The mowed path leads through tall grass prairie to a short scramble up a steep hill that provides an unobstructed view of the Flint Hills. As you descend, you’re greeted by a magnificent Bur Oak known as Grandfather Oak, which stands above the creek bed. Along the trail, visitors can learn about the Kanza people, for whom our state is named. Several culturally significant monuments and a sacred rock Iⁿ‘zhúje‘waxóbe sit along the route. Respect for the land and these monuments should be at the forefront of every visitor’s mind.

Photos and article by Tanner Colvin