There’s a lot of ground to cover when you’re touring Kansas, so sometimes it’s easier to make a list of everywhere you want to go, and take it one at a time. However, we love finding new additions to your Kansas bucket lists, because they deserve some recognition too. Today, let’s check out these “secret parks” of Kansas you might have missed last time you looked. Have you been to any of these before?
- Arkalon Park (Liberal)
Friends of arkalon park Facebook Southwest Kansas isn’t always recognized for its scenery, but often you’ll find that once you’re out there, you find nothing but beauty. It may not be the Flint Hills, but it’s Kansas!
- Hamilton County State Park (Syracuse)
Eje Gustafsson/Flickr The little lake here in this small state park isn’t much in terms of volume, but you’ll find it’s extra beautiful during a stunning sunset.
- Cedar Bluff State Park (Ellis)
Cedar Bluff State Park - Kansas Wildlife Parks & Tourism Facebook This one’s almost as popular as Wilson Lake, because the rocky outcroppings above the water are a real draw for locals. Now we’ve let you in on it’s beauty, so you can see it too!
- Prairie Dog State Park (Norton)
J. Stephen Conn/Flickr If you didn’t think these were adorable already, seeing them in their habitat is doubly cute. Plus, the park itself is full of other wildlife you can spot if you’re quiet enough.
- Mushroom Rock State Park (Brookville)
Lane Pearman/Flickr Many of us know of the famous giant mushroom rock, but did you know there’s a whole state park attached to it? It’s worth an adventure, if you’ve got the time.
- Sand Hills State Park (Buhler)
ksoutdoors.com Sand Hills State Park is pretty true to its name, with sandy dirt covering its hills in between the long grasses. There may not be too much greenery hanging around, but there’s plenty of views to admire, grass or not.
- Kansas Landscape Arboretum (Wakefield)
Garett Gabriel/Flickr This arboretum has 193 acres of land, and is open during any daylight hours for free. If you can catch the leaves turning this fall, it’s worth a trip just to see that.
- Eisenhower State Park (Osage City)
Kansas City District US Army Corps of Engineers/Flickr This state park might not look to special from the outside, but there’s an adorable round cabin just waiting for you to rent it out for the night. This would be a great place to watch the stars!
- Vassar State Park (Vassar)
David DeHetre/Flickr This state park borders the gorgeous Pomona Lake, but is usually overshadowed by Pomona State Park itself. This smaller park is worth all the love its neighbor gets!
- Crawford State Park (Farlington)
Kansas Tourism/Flickr Five-hundred acres around a 150-acre lake make up this state park, and give its visitors plenty of space to camp and roam the grounds. Plus, can you imagine the sunsets reflecting off of the water?
Here’s a link to the map you see below, if you’d like to open it separately.
Friends of arkalon park Facebook
Southwest Kansas isn’t always recognized for its scenery, but often you’ll find that once you’re out there, you find nothing but beauty. It may not be the Flint Hills, but it’s Kansas!
Eje Gustafsson/Flickr
The little lake here in this small state park isn’t much in terms of volume, but you’ll find it’s extra beautiful during a stunning sunset.
Cedar Bluff State Park - Kansas Wildlife Parks & Tourism Facebook
This one’s almost as popular as Wilson Lake, because the rocky outcroppings above the water are a real draw for locals. Now we’ve let you in on it’s beauty, so you can see it too!
J. Stephen Conn/Flickr
If you didn’t think these were adorable already, seeing them in their habitat is doubly cute. Plus, the park itself is full of other wildlife you can spot if you’re quiet enough.
Lane Pearman/Flickr
Many of us know of the famous giant mushroom rock, but did you know there’s a whole state park attached to it? It’s worth an adventure, if you’ve got the time.
ksoutdoors.com
Sand Hills State Park is pretty true to its name, with sandy dirt covering its hills in between the long grasses. There may not be too much greenery hanging around, but there’s plenty of views to admire, grass or not.
Garett Gabriel/Flickr
This arboretum has 193 acres of land, and is open during any daylight hours for free. If you can catch the leaves turning this fall, it’s worth a trip just to see that.
Kansas City District US Army Corps of Engineers/Flickr
This state park might not look to special from the outside, but there’s an adorable round cabin just waiting for you to rent it out for the night. This would be a great place to watch the stars!
David DeHetre/Flickr
This state park borders the gorgeous Pomona Lake, but is usually overshadowed by Pomona State Park itself. This smaller park is worth all the love its neighbor gets!
Kansas Tourism/Flickr
Five-hundred acres around a 150-acre lake make up this state park, and give its visitors plenty of space to camp and roam the grounds. Plus, can you imagine the sunsets reflecting off of the water?
If you’re not sold on these amazing parks yet, you should check out this “Highlights of Kansas” road trip we’ve put together for you.
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