Walking Into the New Year at Glen Elder

Hikers across Kansas rang in the new year by hitting the trails on January 1st for First Day Hikes at 24 Kansas State Parks. This national program, sponsored by America’s State Parks, invites people to start the year outdoors while exploring the natural beauty of their state parks.

This year, I visited Glen Elder State Park—a park I had been to before but hadn’t fully explored. Our self-guided hike took us about three miles through thick fog, winding past trees and tall grasses.

Beyond its scenic trails, Glen Elder State Park holds an important and often overlooked piece of history. Before the dam was built and Glen Elder Lake was formed, the area was known to Native Americans as Waconda, meaning “Great Spirit” in the Kansa language. This sacred site held deep significance for many Great Plains tribes. Today, visitors can find a replica of Waconda Springs within the park. To learn more about Waconda Springs and its history, please visit the Humanities Kansas link listed below. https://www.humanitieskansas.org/get-involved/kansas-stories/nature/waconda-springs-from-sacred-to-submerged