Flint Hills Nature Trail:
Kansas
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Description:
The Flint Hills Nature Trail runs for 117 miles (east-west) across northeast Kansas, linking seven counties and dozens of towns between Osawatomie and Herington. As of 2011, the rail-trail was the 7th longest in the United States but many sections remain unimproved and rough going, making it difficult to attempt on a road bike but fine for mountain or hybrid and cyclocross bikes, and horses. Thus, some sections of trail are still under development. For specific details, see the latest trail condition report on the local website (under Related Links to the right). In addition, some sections of the trail have gates, which you can either go through or, in one case, climb over. Whenever you encounter a gate, please close it again behind you.

The trail traces a course through the Flint Hills, one of the last remaining tall-grass prairie ecosystems in the world. Along the trail you will encounter prairie flora and fauna, historic areas and unmatched views of the surrounding prairie and countryside. Wildlife includes bobwhite quail, wild turkeys, prairie chickens and bobcats.

From Herington at the western end through Allen and Admire, you encounter the tall-grass prairie; from the eastern end in Osawatomie, about 50 miles southwest of Kansas City, the Flint Hills Nature Trail is more wooded. For much of this stretch through Ottawa and on to Osage City, the trail follows the Marais des Cygnes River, with the water just north of the pathway and river bluffs to the south.

The trail is built upon an old railroad corridor, which was developed beginning in 1886—the Council Grove, Osage City & Ottawa Railway (which serviced coal mining) and the Missouri Pacific. The route fell out of service in the 1980s. Rails-to-Trails Conservancy later acquired and railbanked the corridor in 1995 and then transferred it to Kanza Rail Trails Conservancy (KRTC) to develop. In 2001 the all-volunteer nonprofit KRTC begun trail construction.
As the overseeing body, KRTC divided the trail into geographic divisions, which manage the day-to-day operations and development of their local sections. As of 2010, 50 miles of the trail have been completed. KRTC hopes to have the trail fully smoothed-out with crushed stone in the next three to five years.

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Parking & Trail Access:
The Osawatomie Trailhead is located directly south of the Kansas City metropolitan area. To get there, follow John Brown Highway west through town. The trail begins at the western city limit along the south side of the road.

The Vassar Trailhead is located beside an old grain elevator (which is visible for several miles) near downtown Vassar. From US-75 Highway in Osage County, go east on K-68 Highway to K-268 Highway, then go north a couple miles to Vassar.

Parking areas are also found in Rantoul in Franklin County and in Admire in Lyon County. Parking is allowed at road crossings as long as cars don't block the public road or trail.
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Reviews: [6 trail ratings]
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Follow-up review (Osawatamie to Rantoul)
By rob1974 in October, 2011
This past weekend we rode the section of trail between Osawatamie and Rantoul, KS (didn't have time for a longer ride). We first tried to park at the school and ride from there, but the railroad tracks still haven't been removed from that section and it's overgrown with weeds, so we got onto the trail about a mile west of town, where it crosses over the road. Within the first mile or so, there was a road crossing that was a little steep and rocky, but I took my mountain bike this time instead of my cyclocross bike, and the crossing was no problem on the mountain bike. I would have probably needed to walk the cyclocross bike across if I had that, but it's only about 50 feet from one side to the other, so no biggy. After that it was just hard packed gravel the rest of the way, and although this section isn't in the Flint Hills, there was still some really great scenery, especially along the river section. This section of trail also has alot more trees, so we were riding in a shaded canopy for a good portion of the ride. Sure this trail might not be as maintained as other rail trails, but I think it's a great trail regardless. The Katy is a state park trail, so it is maintained with state money, and has ammenities along the way. This is a nature trail, so it's not going to have all the ammenities, or be as well maintained, but I think that's part of what makes it more appealing....to me anyway

Rob
Flint Hills Nature Trail (between Allen, KS and Council Grove, KS)
By Rob1974 in October, 2011
We rode the 21 mile section of the trail starting in Allen, KS and riding to Council Grove, KS. About 7 miles into the ride west of Allen the trail opned up into the Flint Hills with incredible views. I don't know what the rest of the trail is like, but the section we rode was awsome! Here's a link to a bunch of photos I took along the way. I also recommend lunch at the Hays House in Council Grove. We fueled up there for the 21 mile ride back to the vehicle.

https://picasaweb.google.com/115546008325983184888/FlintHillsNatureTrailRide#
Trailhead a Herrington
By jacgillam in September, 2011
Started on the trail in Herrington heading east. In the first 2.5 miles we had to cross 3 barbed wire fences or gates. Do the local farmers know that this is a rail-trail and not their property? The railbed is the same large railroad rock that has always been there, overgrown with trees and weeds. We gave up after our 2.5 miles and hopped on to a dirt road and took highway 56. Has great potential but almost impassible at this point.
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