Hiking Konza Prairie

Thursday, July 10, 2014 , 10 Comments


This has been on my to do list for years and finally my girlfriend and I made the drive and hiked Konza Prarie. Managed by Kansas State University, the prairie is 3,487 hectares of native prairie in the Flint Hills of Kansas. The primary purpose of the park is to study the ecology of grasslands, the effects of burn management, and also the relationship of grazers (Bison) on the landscape. While we went with the hope of seeing Bison on our hike, the area open to the public is limited and there were no Bison in our vicinity that day. 

The trail itself is very well maintained, easily traversable but does have a few notable moderately inclined areas, but otherwise is easy to navigate. You can choose three different loops once there: the nature trail which is  2.5 miles long, the Kings Creek loop at 4.4 miles, and the Godwin Hill Loop at 6 miles total distance. We had intended to hike the entire trail system but the Godwin Hill Loop was closed at the time for renovation so we ended up hiking the Kings Creek Loop. In total it took us a little less than 2 1/2 hours to complete. The landscape is beautiful and easily transports your imagination back to how Kanas looked prior to man. Well worth the hike if you are in the area or live nearby. 































10 Comments:

Joseph Hord said...

That looks like some beautiful country! It would've been interesting to see what the prairies looked like 300 years ago, I imagine it would be a lot like those pictures.

Atlas said...

Kansas may not be Colorado but it has its beauty for sure, you just have to dig a little harder to find it. And yes I imagine this is what it did look like so many years ago.

Mark Kautz said...

Truely awesome country. Sorry you missed the Bison. Would have made some great pictures. Maybe next time.

Atlas said...

Mark, yep we were pretty bummed we didn't see any Bison.

Juan said...

Amazing looking country there, man!

TexWisGirl said...

it's gorgeous! having made the drive to and from wis and texas several times, the flint hills always amazed me (and terrified me as i was worried about running out of gas w/ nothing else in sight). but the prairies are beautiful! you showed them well.

Hibernation said...

That's a really neat looking spot. I've spent my life with trees over head, seeing all that "Wide open space" is amazing. Beautiful!
Will

Mel said...

My first trip to Kansas several years ago really through me for a loop. The flat prairies I expected, what I didn't expect was all the lush green for miles and miles. Never been on this trail system, but, think I would enjoy it. Thanks for sharing.

CARF said...

That sky looks digitally painted! Beautiful pictures, bummer about not spotting any Bison, but I'm sure you'll see them next time. That tree is something else! I wonder how long it's been like that, and how much longer it can continue on.

Trust me you can't get this kind of beauty or exercise from going to a gym--awesome images and great post!!