Kansas is chock-full of breathtaking spots to spend your time in. There’s everything from lakes, to rock formations, to stunning waterfalls. We’ve got everything we need! Plus, it’s a great excuse to get out there in nature and take a relaxing day away from home. Not only are these beautiful places to visit when the weather is nice, but they also show hidden beauty when the weather’s bad as well. Come take a look!
- Kanopolis State Park
Vincent Parsons/Flickr This gorgeous state park is filled with natural Kansas beauty. However, the best parts are on the Horsethief trail, where you can explore smooth caves and check out the carvings of people long gone (and those who were there last week).
- Clinton Lake
Patrick Emerson/Flickr Clinton Lake is a great place to spend some time to yourself and reflect on your inner thoughts. Of course, the sunsets reflecting off of the water sure help with that, too.
- Grinter Farms
Laura Gilchrist/Flickr Thousands of people flock to Grinter Farms each fall to see the sunflower fields as they bloom and show off our state’s biggest pride. You can pay to take some home with you, but odds are it’ll be hard to take photos while you’re there unless you don’t mind the crowd.
- Gypsum Hills
Vincent Parsons/Flickr These hills in Barber County make up one of Kansas’ most stunning features. No one expects the red earth, flat-top hills or the brush around them. It’s like a scene from the west, right here in our backyard.
- Arikaree Breaks
Kansas Tourism/Flickr Arikaree breaks is another feature you wouldn’t expect to see in Kansas, but it’s been here for years. Formed by the weather and the right soil conditions, these breaks are a wonderful addition to all things Kansas.
- Mount Sunflower
C. K. Hartman/Flickr Though it’s not a mountain per se, it marks the highest point in Kansas, near the Colorado border. It’s a great place to watch the sky go on forever and take family photos you’ll remember forever.
- Deep Creek Falls (Pillsbury Crossing)
JLDMphoto/Flickr This majestic waterfall is one of Kansas’ most beautiful, which attracts many viewers while spring rains are falling. Of course, you can also find it running other times of the year, but not nearly as fast as then.
- Monument Rocks
meltedplastic/Flickr Our favorite rock formation was once the bottom of a sea spanning most of Kansas on the western half. Of course, it’s quite dry now, and the Niobrara Chalk left behind is a great place for family photos and a little adventure.
- Wilson Lake
Vincent Parsons/Flickr Wilson lake’s colorful rocks make for a scene not often found in Kansas. Many of our lakes don’t have the rock features and red grasses you’ll find here at this lake. Of course, the lake itself is fun too!
- Four-state Lookout (White Cloud)
Kansas Byways Facebook There’s a little building near the corner of Kansas, Nebraska and Missouri where it’s said you can also see Iowa in the distance if the day is clear enough.
- Flint Hills
Patrick Emerson/Flickr The Flint Hills span a large part of eastern Kansas, but there are defined areas within that hold their own type of beauty. This area near Cassoday is a popular spot, with plenty of sky and old cattle pens to make you feel just how great our state is.
- Elk Falls
TheVestiges/Public Domain Elk Falls is a waterfall, as well as the name of the “largest living ghost town” in the world. Of course, we don’t exactly know what that means, but locals will tell you “we’re not dead yet!”
- Prairie burning.
Patrick Emerson/Flickr This isn’t so much of a specific location as it is many. Prairie burning is common in fields for farming, grazing, or anywhere where prairie grasses need help to keep the cedar trees at bay. If we didn’t burn these grasses, we’d live in a forest!
While the weather might not be ideal for nature parks and travel, you should still consider visiting some of the most beautiful state parks in Kansas – whether it’s been snowing or not.
Vincent Parsons/Flickr
This gorgeous state park is filled with natural Kansas beauty. However, the best parts are on the Horsethief trail, where you can explore smooth caves and check out the carvings of people long gone (and those who were there last week).
Patrick Emerson/Flickr
Clinton Lake is a great place to spend some time to yourself and reflect on your inner thoughts. Of course, the sunsets reflecting off of the water sure help with that, too.
Laura Gilchrist/Flickr
Thousands of people flock to Grinter Farms each fall to see the sunflower fields as they bloom and show off our state’s biggest pride. You can pay to take some home with you, but odds are it’ll be hard to take photos while you’re there unless you don’t mind the crowd.
These hills in Barber County make up one of Kansas’ most stunning features. No one expects the red earth, flat-top hills or the brush around them. It’s like a scene from the west, right here in our backyard.
Kansas Tourism/Flickr
Arikaree breaks is another feature you wouldn’t expect to see in Kansas, but it’s been here for years. Formed by the weather and the right soil conditions, these breaks are a wonderful addition to all things Kansas.
C. K. Hartman/Flickr
Though it’s not a mountain per se, it marks the highest point in Kansas, near the Colorado border. It’s a great place to watch the sky go on forever and take family photos you’ll remember forever.
JLDMphoto/Flickr
This majestic waterfall is one of Kansas’ most beautiful, which attracts many viewers while spring rains are falling. Of course, you can also find it running other times of the year, but not nearly as fast as then.
meltedplastic/Flickr
Our favorite rock formation was once the bottom of a sea spanning most of Kansas on the western half. Of course, it’s quite dry now, and the Niobrara Chalk left behind is a great place for family photos and a little adventure.
Wilson lake’s colorful rocks make for a scene not often found in Kansas. Many of our lakes don’t have the rock features and red grasses you’ll find here at this lake. Of course, the lake itself is fun too!
Kansas Byways Facebook
There’s a little building near the corner of Kansas, Nebraska and Missouri where it’s said you can also see Iowa in the distance if the day is clear enough.
The Flint Hills span a large part of eastern Kansas, but there are defined areas within that hold their own type of beauty. This area near Cassoday is a popular spot, with plenty of sky and old cattle pens to make you feel just how great our state is.
TheVestiges/Public Domain
Elk Falls is a waterfall, as well as the name of the “largest living ghost town” in the world. Of course, we don’t exactly know what that means, but locals will tell you “we’re not dead yet!”
This isn’t so much of a specific location as it is many. Prairie burning is common in fields for farming, grazing, or anywhere where prairie grasses need help to keep the cedar trees at bay. If we didn’t burn these grasses, we’d live in a forest!
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