The Sunflower State
Kansas
Tallgrass prairies, Flint Hills ridges, and the crossroads of the American frontier.
Kansas at a Glance
Tallgrass Prairie
Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve near Strong City protects one of the last large tracts of unplowed tallgrass prairie in the world
Flint Hills
The Flint Hills of eastern Kansas are the largest remaining tallgrass prairie in North America, with rolling limestone ridges covered in big bluestem grass
Cimarron Grasslands
Cimarron National Grassland in the southwest preserves the largest contiguous piece of public land in Kansas at 108,000 acres
Prairie Birds
Kansas is a critical stopover on the Central Flyway for millions of shorebirds, cranes, and waterfowl each spring and fall
Santa Fe Trail
Visible wagon ruts from the historic Santa Fe Trail can still be seen in Cimarron National Grassland
Bison
Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve maintains a herd of 1,000+ bison, managed cooperatively with The Nature Conservancy
When to Visit
April through June and September through November. Summer heat and dryness can be extreme, particularly in the western part of the state. Spring prairie wildflower and bird migrations are the highlights of the year.
Top Activities
Gateway Cities
Emporia
Flint Hills town nearest Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve, with access to the Flint Hills National Wildlife Refuge and Chase State Fishing Lake.
Liberal
Southwest Kansas gateway to Cimarron National Grassland and the preserved Santa Fe Trail wagon ruts near the Oklahoma border.
Did You Know?
Kansas has more miles of rivers and streams than any other state in the Great Plains.
The Flint Hills were bypassed by the plow because the flinty limestone soil broke iron plow blades, inadvertently preserving the prairie.
The Santa Fe Trail through Cimarron National Grassland is one of the best-preserved sections of the historic route in the country.
Kansas produces more wheat than any other state and leads the nation in winter wheat production.
Cheyenne Bottoms Wildlife Area near Great Bend is the most important migratory shorebird stopover in the interior of North America.