Beautiful & challenging trail. View detailed trail descriptions, trail maps, reviews, photos, trail itineraries, directions and more on TrailLink. Showing results 1 - 90 of 360. Mile marker 4 on the right, 4.5 on the right and just past 5. We did encounter two large wasp nests, a tarantula, two small green snakes and a larger snake that slithered off the side of trail. Elk Falls Annual Open House. “You will find something more in woods than in books. No sources of water, so bring your own. The Elk River is formed by a collection of intermittent streams in southwestern Greenwood County, and flows for about 95 miles (153 km) generally east-southeast through Butler, Elk, and Montgomery counties, past the towns of Elk Falls, Longton and Elk City. Before that, the day was hot and sunny as runners traversed the limestone rock formations, hardwood forests, and prairies on the Elk River Hiking Trail in Independence, Kansas. The Elk River Hiking Trail is located on the northwest side of Elk City Lake. GetOutdoorsKansas is a website created by the Kansas Trails Council and the Kansas Wildscape Foundation. All streams are dry so water is the lake or river. Beautiful views and love those big rocks. I have lived in Kansas most of my life and I can’t believe I have never seen this before. There are large rocky bluffs, heavy timber, and tall grass prairie trails. You start off on a overgrown prairie trail that follows the Elk River. Weather was perfect for November. GPS: N37 15.415 W95 46.487. Also nearby is the Elk River Hiking Trail, a 15-mile trail from the west end of the dam to the US-160 bridge over the Elk River south of Elk City. Camping can be done at primitive campsites located all along the length of the trail. Wildlife watchers can see a variety of Kansas wildlife, including the large pileated woodpecker which is common in the mature trees along the Elk River. Get the App. We started at the east end and worked our way west, going the other way might have been better given the weather. What a beautiful trail! The Elk River Hiking Trail is located on the northwest side of Elk City Lake. The pink line is the GPS track log from a backpack trip of the Chapel Oaks KC Explorers Pathfinder Club superimposed on extracts from the USGS Elk City, KS and Table Mound,KS 7 ½ Minute Quadrangles. There are many trees down but it is a well marked trail so you can hike around the down trees. Just don’t understand littering!! Camp site had a beautiful view and a nice breeze on a warm day. Had a very enjoyable hike. Out of the 4 longer trails I found, 2 (Flint Hills Nature Trail and Prairie Spirit Trail) are gravel rails-to-trails that are more intended for bikers, 1 (Perry State Park) had comments about severe tick populations, and 1 (Elk River Hiking Trail) had reports of heavy flooding earlier in Spring. The Southwestern trailhead can be reached from Highway 160 south of Elk City, Kansas. Well worth the trip. Best Hiking Trail in Kansas, Elk River Trail, KS Posted on May 12, 2019 May 12, 2019 by Antigone I had seen several sources refer to the Elk River Trail, near Independence, KS, as the best hiking trail in Kansas, so my daughter and I decided to take an afternoon trip to experience it for ourselves! The trail is located at Elk City Lake which is approximately one mile west of Independence, north of U.S. 160. Add a Photo or Video to REFLECT your outdoor adventure! There are also several gravel roads intersecting the trail which can be accessed from County Roads north of the lake. The trail offers panoramic views from the tops of the many limestone bluffs on the northwestern shores of Elk City Lake. Enjoy the crisp clean air on the Friday and Saturday before Thanksgiving. Located along the Elk River in the beautiful Ozark mountains, you can truly experience the outdoors with friends and family at Elk River Floats & Resort of the Ozarks, which includes three campgrounds: Wayside, Kozy Kamp, and Trestle Park. These trails meander through the colorful oak and hickory forest surrounding the lake and lead the hiker through some of the most interesting rock formations in Kansas while providing spectacular views of the lake and Elk River. Hike the Elk River Hiking Trail. Elk River Hiking Trail is a 15.3 mile heavily trafficked point-to-point trail located near Elk City, Kansas that features a lake and is rated as moderate. Good weather. With more than 2 Elk City trails covering 15 miles, you’re bound to find a perfect trail like the Pathfinder Parkway or Southwind Rail Trail. The trail is very challenging. The Northeastern trailhead is located below the west end of the dam across from the Fish & Wildlife Office. Our group plans to come back to do the whole trail from point to point before our trip to hike Half Dome in Yosemite next fall! This is my 2nd time backpacking the entire trail. The Southwestern trailhead can be reached from Highway 160 south of Elk City. Next time I may bring an empty backpack to pick up other hikers trash! › Kansas › Elk City State Park › Elk River Hiking Trail › Photos Photos of Elk River Hiking Trail Elk River Hiking Trail. We hiked through several areas that had flowers and beautiful purple thistles. Added by Mike Ditch Jr. Immerse yourself in a secluded area of Kansas that feels anything but Kansas-like. A special encounter. Also 7.9, 8.5, 8.9 and 9.5 just a little bit down the old road or if you take the trail it is on the right down a bit. Two other trails, the Elk River hiking trail and the Timber Ridge hiking trail are also located at Elk City Lake but are not located on state park property. Some backpackers consider this the best hike in Kansas because there is so much to see in this tough route. The Elk River Hiking Trail offers panoramic views from the tops of the many limestone bluffs on the northwestern shores of Elk City Lake. Be careful! The trail is a 15 mile point-to-point trail which can be accessed from two main trailheads. Started on the east side.. veryyyy beautiful hike! The Elk River Hiking Trail is located on the northwest side of Elk City Lake. Saw armadillos, snakes, deer, and a bob cat family pretty cool! It was a nice trail but full of spiders. With its rocky ledges and outcroppings, it actually reminds me a bit more of trails you might find in the Ozarks or even portions of Appalachia. Backpacked this past weekend. Show more photos. Less than 100 people live here in town, but those 100 are a great bunch to meet if you run into any of them during your visit. Rocky terrain. it has become one of our favorites! Dogs are also able to use this trail but must be kept on leash. My group started there and hiked in three miles and back out. Mile marker 6t on the right next to the rock bluff. We did 13 miles in 7 hours with stops fir lunch and photo ops. The Northeastern trailhead is located below the west end of the dam across from the Fish & Wildlife Office. 53 were here. But it is actually 15.25 miles. We came across several armadillos, deer and a black snake. which is a trail head. It rises at the confluence of several headstreams near Howard and flows 80 miles (130 km) southeast past Elk City to join the Verdigris River just north of Independence. The Elk River Hiking Trail is located on the northwest side of Elk City Lake. Hiked the entire 15 mile trail, point to point, starting on the east side. . It joins the Verdigris River at the northern edge of the city of Independence. Great Fall colors. They were huge and let us pass without any problems. We hiked from the East side (Dam) starting at 1. 3. The river is dammed at Elk City to form a reservoir for flood control and We have now mapped over 5,000 miles of trails and routes in Kansas.Click here if you know about a trail we have missed and we’ll add it to the map! The Elk River Hiking Trail has been designated as a National Recreation Trail under the U.S. Department of the Interior's National Trail System and Backpacker magazine has rated it the best hike in Kansas. Not all are exact but close. The trail zig-zags along the river for roughly ten miles before you reach the lakeshore of Elk City Lake. Mile marker 7, 7.25 on the right. The trail treats the walker to an adventure in southeast Kansas on the cusp of the Chautauqua Hills and Osage Cuestas region. The trail offers a number of activity options and is accessible year-round. Take water, great workout. As you travel past the road around the corner is another campsite. The trail has blue trail blazes and mile markers. Kanawha County’s Elk River Trail provides access to Coonskin Park, a large park originally built by local residents in the 1950s and now managed by the Kanawha County Parks and Recreation Commission. With the aid of hand carved walking stick, and a patient husband, I made my goal. Here are some larger camp sites along the trail. Phone: 620-331-6295 Continuing along the lakeshore for another 4 miles give or take, be sure to take opportunities to stop and soak in your surroundings. I’d say it’s for more experienced hikers. The trail zig-zags along the river for roughly ten miles before you reach the lakeshore of Elk City Lake. Elk River, river of southeastern Kansas, U.S. I was two years out from a knee replacement, it was my goal to walk this trail again. The trail crosses several small streams and ravines and winds through narrow canyons and under rock overhangs. This trail is rated moderate but I would share that starting at the east trailhead at the start is rugged for the until Mile three. This trail is consistently ranked among the top trails in the state and so after hiking my way across the trails of Kansas for the past year I … Clinton Sanders Mound to North Shore Trails, Tomahawk Creek North Park Equestrian Trail, Shawnee Mission Park Bike Trail Connector, Shawnee Mission Park SW Equestrian Trailhead, Shawnee Mission Park Hiking Trail Connector1, Shawnee Mission Park Hiking Trail Connector2, Lawrence River Trail - Mud Creek Connector, Kansas River Trail Mile 54 - Bircham Park, Wakarusa River Access to Kansas River Trail, Clinton South Shore - East Rim Rock Trail (Blue), Clinton South Shore - East Benjamin Trail (Yellow), Wolf Creek South Pond and Prairie Lake Trails, Lake Shawnee Ensley Gardens - Gazebo Trails, Arboretum Trail to Children's Discovery Garden, Clinton South Shore - East Rockbottom Trail (Orange), Clinton South Shore - Center Rockbottom Trail (Orange), Clinton South Shore - West Rockbottom Trail (Orange), Clinton South Shore - West Benjamin Trail (Yellow), Clinton South Shore - West Rim Rock Trail (Blue), Clinton South Shore - Center Benjamin Trail (Yellow), Clinton South Shore - Center Rim Rock Trail (Blue), Tallgrass Prairie - Schoolhouse Nature Trail, Tallgrass Prairie - Southwind Nature Trail, Tallgrass Prairie - Springhill Nature Trail, Tallgrass Prairie - Gas House Cutoff Trail, Tallgrass Prairie - Scenic Overlook Trail, Tallgrass Prairie - Fox Creek Trail Connector1, Tallgrass Prairie - Fox Creek Trail Connector2, Tallgrass Prairie - Bottomland Trail Connector, Pratt County Veterans Lake Marsh Trail Loop, Dodge City Community College Fitness Trail, Shawnee Mission Park Trail Connection to Gary Haller Trail, Gary Haller to Shawnee Mission Park Trail, Lucyann C Vavra Memorial Park Trail Connector, Seaman High School - Dr. Carolyn Orozco Fitness Trail, Wyandotte County Lake - Masons First Linear Trail, Cottonwood Trail (Tuttle Creek State Park), Sand Hills State Park Rolling Hills Trail, Sand Hills State Park Bluestem Spur Trail, Kanopolis State Park Buffalo Tracks Trail, Republican River - Milford Dam to Kansas River, Perry Jefferson Point Equestrian Connector, Big Blue River - Black Vermillion to Swede Creek, Big Blue River - Blue Rapids to Black Vermillion, Delaware River - Valley Falls to 150th Street, Delaware River - Hamilton Road to Perry Lake, Arkansas River Trail - Raymond to Nickerson, Big Blue River - Swede Creek to Fancy Creek, Dyck Arboretum of the Plains - Lake Trail, Dyck Arboretum of the Plains - Prairie Trail, Kansas Children's Discovery Center Yellow Brick Road, Kansas Children's Discovery Center Toddler Bike Trail, Kansas Children's Discovery Center Forest Trail, Kansas Children's Discovery Center Prairie Trail, Ellis Schoenthaler Memorial Walking Trail, Abilene Garfield Elmentary School Fitness Trail, Harvey County East Park - West Side Trails, Harvey County East Park - Connector Trail, Cimarron National Grasslands Companion Trail, Cimarron National Grasslands Multi-Use Turkey Trail, Cimarron National Grasslands Turkey Trail - Non-Motorized, Big Basin Prairie Preserve Overlook Trail, Barber State Fishing Lake Red Cedar Trail, Chaplin Nature Center Wildlife Homes Trail, Chaplin Nature Center Trailhead Connector, St Phillipine Duchesne Memorial Park Nature Trail, St Phillipine Duchesne Memorial Park South Ridge Trail, St Phillipine Duchesne Memorial Park 14 Stations Trail, South Lawrence Trafficway to Sanders Mound, Little Jerusalem Badlands Gravel Rim Trail, Little Jerusalem Badlands Natural Rim Trail. 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