The free admission is another huge plus, however I strongly, strongly, strongly encourage everyone who visits to donate to keep the prairie open for public enjoyment. Visit the Bison. Extensive research is conducted here on prairie ecosystems. The Konza Prairie Trail is a special beloved attraction in the area. The Outbound works best with JavaScript enabled. The trail offers two distinctive landscapes. Let's Explore. Home to some of the most beautiful views in Kansas (and the Flint Hills), the Konza Prairie in Manhattan features miles of native plants and beautiful scenery. The Outbound works best with JavaScript enabled. This cove at Tuttle Creek Lake is not in an official park, but it is open to the public. The prairie has turned almost a burnt orange, the leaves are changing colors, and in general hiking is easier in cooler weather. Konza Prairie Nature Trail Loop is a 2.7 mile moderately trafficked loop trail located near Manhattan, Kansas that features a river and is good for all skill levels. With the afternoon sun beating down through the trees it illuminated the colorful leaves, which made for a great sight. Find hikes, backpacking, photo spots, and more around Manhattan. I love the Konza Prairie. Please explore responsibly! It is a place I have come to again and again. The Konza Prairie Trail is a special beloved attraction in the area. Date of experience: October 2019. The bridge has been repaired and is now back in place. GIS05 GIS Coverages Defining Konza Prairie Burn History (1977-present) Pam Blackmore : 1977 to 2019: GIS10 GIS Coverage Defining Roads in and around Konza Prairie (1977-present) Pam Blackmore : 1977 to 2019: GIS11 A GIS Coverage Defining Nature Trails on Konza Prairie (1982-present) Pam … Overall this has to be my favorite trail in Kansas and I don't mind the 1.5 hour drive one bit. Search campgrounds, glamping, and hotels near Manhattan. This is beginning to threaten public access to the Konza Prairie Trail. The Konza Prairie Biological Station is a 3,487-hectare (8,616 acre, 13.5 sq mi) preserve of native tallgrass prairie in the Flint Hills of northeastern Kansas. Helpful. The trail markers takes you left when the trail forks just after you cross Kings Creek. Another couple miles and you arrive back at the trailhead. Today's adventure embarks on the Konza Prairie, highlighting the beaty of the Godwin Hill Loop Trail. Home. Be here an hour before sunrise on a partly cloudy morning and watch as nature puts forth its finest firework sho... Carnahan Creek Park is located 20 miles north of Manhattan, Kansas near the historic Carnahan Church on the north shore of Tuttle Creek Reservoir. Needing a change of scenery in Kansas? We went here 3 times during are week long vacation. We want to acknowledge and thank the past, present, and future generations of all Native Nations and Indigenous Peoples whose ancestral lands we travel, explore, and play on. After you reach the top of one of the hills you get a view of miles and miles of prairie and it is breathtaking. RILEY COUNTY, Kan. (WIBW) - A body has been found on the Konza Prairie Nature Trail. Vehicles remaining after this time are subject to being towed at the vehicle owner's expense. It is a place I have come to again and again. Some things might require luck, but other events are more predictable. This is the second of 3 loops from the trailhead. © 2021 The Outbound Collective - Terms of Use - Privacy Policy. Christmas Bird Count! Konza Prairie's hiking trails wind through lowland gallery forest, cross Kings Creek, and climb over ancient limestone ledges into the native tallgrass prairie. Hiking trails ***NOTICE: The Konza Prairie Nature Trail is open and ready for visitors again. This brochure is for a self-guided hike of the first Nature Trail loop of 2.6 miles (map on the back). The Konza Prairie Trail offers many things to many people -- runners, hikers, photographers, and those interested in nature. Kansas is somewhat known for its relatively flat land with nearly identical scenery across the entire state. Have you done this adventure? The trails and parking area are closed within 1-hour after sunset. The view from Radio Tower Hill at Konza Prairie Nature Trail on Wednesday. Head to the Konza Prairie to experience some of the best views that Kansas has to offer. Konza Nature Nugget - Tuesday, January 19th. Remain on designated roads and trails at all times. It was as if time was standing still. I was awe struck at the beauty and specialness of the moment. This part of the trail offers an entirely different scene than on the prairie. Locations. Website Created by Mikaela Rader. And surrounding her were fireflies flickering on and off. Konza Prairie. Spend the day hiking with Mother Nature on gravel nature trails or take a picnic supper to view the Kansas sunset in all its colorful glory. Continued public access to the Konza Prairie depends on everyone’s cooperation by observing the following rules. The Konza Prairie hosts a variety of wildlife including numerous white-tailed deer and turkeys. It's a great hike through the priairie and the flint hills of Kansas. The sun had just crossed the horizon and dusk was beginning to set in. If you time your visit well, you will be rewarded with a memorable experience. The trail offers a choice of 3 loops: The Nature Trail Loop at 2.6 miles, The Kings Creek Loop at 4.6 miles, and the Godwin Hill Loop at 6.1 miles. KOnza Environmental Education Program. On another occasion, I happened to get lucky and witness monarch butterflies advancing across the Konza Prairie during their yearly migration. It was beyond epic seeing thousands and thousands of butterflies in every direction and everywhere I looked. Im curious to go back this winter to see how different everything looks! This trail is so beautiful. Eventually you are surrounded by trees and are walking by Kings Creek. The Konquer the Konza 25K and 10K is a trail race on the Konza Prairie in the Flint Hills of Manhattan, KS Race is capped at 300 runners. I had never seen anything like that before. The Flint Hills is the ultimate destination for many Kansas hikers and most people are familiar with the excellent hiking opportunities at Konza Prairie and the Tallgrass Prairie Preserve. Jared Hall/AllTrails Six miles of easy hiking can … For those wanting to venture out and explore more of the Flint Hills, we recommend the 5-miles of trails at Camp Alexander. The hike is about 6 miles long and has some decent elevation (for Kansas) at certain points. Brochures, trail guides and an interpretive kiosk are found at the trailhead. Konza Prairie Biological Station exists a short distance from these trails, within an 8,600-acre preserve run by The Nature Conservancy and K-State. Just a couple dollars helps to keep this trail maintained and up and running! I'd love to go back when the wildflowers are in bloom. Always practice Leave No Trace ethics on your In the summer the prairies are lush green and filled with many types of flora and fauna. All trails start from the same trailhead. surprisingly good views over the slightly hilly landscape. The Konza Prairie Trail is a special beloved attraction in the area. The incline is the only reason I mark this is as intermediate because there is a few inclines/declines. The trail is covered with pea gravel and is extremely well maintained, which always a plus! After you reach the top you follow the trail on top of the hill, having views in every direction you turn. Six miles of hiking trails are open daily from dawn to dusk. If you're lucky you can walk right by hundreds of Bison that happen to live there as well (they have so many miles to roam sometimes you can't see them). It … During springtime the Konza Prairie begins the transformation from a brown dormant landscape to a lush green and vibrant one. The trail is lined with limestone pea gravel or follows a service road that is either bare dirt or limestone gravel. Starting at the trailhead, this very well-maintained trail is an easy, 4.6 mile loop. The Konza Prairie Biological Station, located just south of Manhattan, KS, is a 8,600 acre site devoted to a 3-pronged mission of research, education and conservation. However, a public nature trail takes visitors on a scenic hike across the virgin tallgrass prairie and atop the limestone-capped hills overlooking the property. One place where that differs is the Konza Prairie, a part of the larger Flint Hills. Please leave your dog at home though as they are threatening to close the trail to the public if dog are brought as it messes with the ecological of the area. The trail is very well marked and maintained and leads to a high ridge that gives you outstanding views out over the Flint Hills and to Manhattan. The Konza Prairie is a preserve for a native tallgrass prairie ecosystem. Konza Prairie. Smoking, or any open flame, is prohibited. It is set on 3,487 hectare of native tallgrass prairie. It is located south of Manhattan, Kansas and its southern boundary parallels Interstate 70. Virtual Field Trip. Almost immediately into the trail you cross a small river in a wooded area and then start the upward incline through the prairie. Hiking the Godwin Hill Loop will show you the best aspects of Kansas all in one hike! adventures and follow local regulations. The public nature trail is a great hike with beautiful views. There are small numbered markers along the trail that point out noteworthy things. Starting at the trailhead, this very well-maintained trail is an easy, 4.6 mile loop. A trail guide is available at the trailhead that describes key points and geography of the Flint hills prairie. A little over halfway through, as you start to loop around, you start walking downward out of the hills. The trail is primarily used for hiking, walking, and trail running and is best used from April until June. Wildflowers are common during the springtime, but there are years where the landscape becomes carpeted with wildflowers. So you have a few options on when to loop back to the trailhead. It is set on 3,487 hectare of native tallgrass prairie. There have been increasing problems with people bringing dogs. I've done the full trail twice (once in the late fall and once in late winter). Be the first to leave a review! Find hikes, backpacking, photo spots, and more around Manhattan. Hiking the Konza Prairie Trail can be especially rewarding during these times. In the growing twilight I spot a deer 100 yards away. This hike will have 24 numbered stops. The cross sections to turn and loop back are clearly marked so if you decide to cut your hike shorter you easily can without having to backtrack. Always practice Leave No Trace ethics on your Fires on the Prairie. Manhattan got nearly 1 1/2 inches of rain during an overnight thunderstorm on Wednesday, but the afternoon was sunny and hot. Be here an hour before sunrise on a partly cloudy morning and watch as nature puts forth its finest firework sho... Carnahan Creek Park is located 20 miles north of Manhattan, Kansas near the historic Carnahan Church on the north shore of Tuttle Creek Reservoir. Parking right before the Prairie Biological Station, the trailhead is clearly marked for all to see. Even years afterwards, it is an image in my mind’s eye that holds special meaning for me and one that I enjoy reflecting on. Our trails are for hiking only. Please explore responsibly! adventures and follow local regulations. Search campgrounds, glamping, and hotels near Manhattan. Length 2.7 miElevation gain 265 ftRoute type Loop Create your website today. All trails start from the same trailhead. It is set on 3,487 hectare of native tallgrass prairie. Konza Prairie is mostly a research station so you need to stay on the trails and do not bring pets with you. Mild temperatures and amble rain make this spectacle much more likely to occur. Please be aware that long term ecological research is being conducted by Kansas State University. For example, one summer evening I was heading back to the trailhead after taking in a grand sunset. At the highest points, enjoy spectacular views of the Flint Hills and the Kansas River Valley. Konza Prairie Community Health Center is a not-for-profit charitable organization and one of several hundred Community Health Centers partially funded by the federal government. On one side of the trail, there are many trees with open meadows as the trail follows along Kings Creek. Bicycles, motorcycles, and any all-terrain vehicles are not permitted. Nature Trail. The longer trails are extensions of the shorter trails. The pathways are well maintained and the views are spectacular, especially in the spring when many of the surrounding pastures are engulfed in flames during the annual burnings. For visitors again a few inclines/declines during these times ’ re feeling that day practice No. Explore more of the larger Flint hills being conducted by Kansas state University rain an! The landscape becomes carpeted with wildflowers Tuttle Creek Lake is not in an official park, but events... 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