This collection of trails was built of the site of a former cement plant and quarry along the banks of Elm Creek in Iola, Kansas. There are over 2.25 miles of gravel rail-trails occupying the railbeds of three legacy lines: The Missouri Pacific, the Missouri-Kansas-Texas (MKT) and the Atchinson, Topeka & Santa Fe. In addition, there are 5.5 miles of single track mountain biking trails winding through-out the property. Riders will be treated to a variety of landscapes from rocky bluffs to elevated lake views to wooded wetlands. A picture perfect sunset is the reward at the end of a long day out on the trails.
The Eastern Trailhead is located at 1600th and Nebraska Road in Iola, Kansas. It features a gravel parking lot. The Western Trailhead is located adjacent to Elm Creek Park South, at the intersection of Washington Avenue and Elm Creek.
The Lehigh Trail, at the south edge of Iola, KS has something for everyone. The main trail offers a hard-packed limestone screening surface, firm enough for hiking, biking, wheel chairs, and strollers, and is an excellent surface for the casual hiker/biker. For those who want something more challenging, there are single-track trails over rocks, through wooded areas, through tall grass, and along the edge of its namesake rock quarry. Lehigh has it all!
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