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Post by cweston on Oct 1, 2015 16:40:49 GMT -8
Not sure I've ever posted a TR for my favorite close-to-home hike, and one of the best in Kansas. The Kanza Prairie Research Station is owned by the Nature Conservatory and run by Kansas State University. It is restricted access, but there is a nature trail with loops of 2.5, 4.5, and 6 miles in tall grass prairie that are open to the public. The trail begins by climbing to a ridge and following the ridge, then each loop drops into the King's Creek drainage (which is almost dry this time of year). This landform is known as the Flint Hills--it runs north/south from the Nebraska line to the Oklahoma line. It's generally too hot for hiking from June through September. I took advantage of the arrival (finally) of nicer weather and headed out after work today. The prairie grasses are just starting to show the first hints of their reddish brown fall color. I was very pleased to encounter this beautiful guy sunning on the trail, which I'm pretty sure is a Great Plains Ratsnake.     Kansas (a.k.a. Kaw) River and Manhattan in the background:  |
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Post by swimswithtrout on Oct 1, 2015 21:07:44 GMT -8
I've driven through the Flint Hills several times, both on I- 70 and some back roads, and always loved that area and wanted to pull off the road and go exploring. Thanks for sharing.
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Post by tallgrass on Oct 9, 2015 19:04:52 GMT -8
God's country. As a prairie ecologist, that's my type of landscape. It's easy to love the mountains. It takes soul to love the prairie.
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rebeccad
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Post by rebeccad on Oct 11, 2015 14:54:08 GMT -8
Prairie/grasslands are fascinating and can be beautiful. But I won't give up my mountains for them.  |
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Post by cweston on Oct 11, 2015 18:04:37 GMT -8
Prairie/grasslands are fascinating and can be beautiful. But I won't give up my mountains for them. I hear you. Kansas is surprisingly scenic (some parts of it, anyway), and we like it fine here. (Don't get me started about the politics, though.) but I'd move to the mountains in a second if the circumstances were right. |
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Post by hikerjer on Oct 11, 2015 18:45:21 GMT -8
This summer I toured eastern Montana and visited the American Prarie Reserve. - a very ambitious private endeavor to create the nations's largest wildlife preserve. Although very different than the mountains, I very much enjoyed the hikes I took there. www.americanprairie.org/ |
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Post by snowman626 on Jan 6, 2016 9:35:12 GMT -8
Konza Prairie is one of my favorite places to hike. It's a pretty short drive for me and I get there fairly often. I also have a deep love and passion for the prairie. It takes a different kind of person to love the prairie and open spaces. I love the mountains too, especially the Rockies, but the prairie is a very special place to me. Thanks for the report and photos, I loved it! I'm new to the board but I'll post a trip report soon about my trip to the Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve. I'm sure you've been there before too!
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Post by cweston on Jan 6, 2016 11:02:52 GMT -8
Welcome to the board, Snowman626. Sounds like we must be neighbors, more or less. I live in Manhattan (KS). It's actually been several years since I hiked at the Tallgrass Preserve. Last time we were there, it was way too hot and the kids were way too whiny. (They are young adults now). I guess it made a strong negative impression!
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Westy
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Post by Westy on Jan 6, 2016 11:31:34 GMT -8
Is that also the home of the Big Red One and Fort Riley?
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Post by cweston on Jan 6, 2016 13:01:20 GMT -8
Yes--Fort Riley is about 15 miles west of here.
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Westy
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Post by Westy on Jan 6, 2016 13:18:29 GMT -8
Familiar with a few Operation Reforger exercises. The Great Plains and national grasslands like the Tallgrass Preserve are places I'd like to visit someday.
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Post by snowman626 on Jan 7, 2016 6:55:29 GMT -8
Welcome to the board, Snowman626. Sounds like we must be neighbors, more or less. I live in Manhattan (KS). It's actually been several years since I hiked at the Tallgrass Preserve. Last time we were there, it was way too hot and the kids were way too whiny. (They are young adults now). I guess it made a strong negative impression! Yeah, we're pretty close since I'm in the Kansas City area. You've got to try the Tallgrass Preserve again. It's tough on a hot day, that's for sure, but the beauty of that place is hard to beat if you love the prairie. |
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Post by starwalker on Jan 7, 2016 9:38:02 GMT -8
My wife and I spent our first year together on the eastern fringe of the Flint Hills in Longton, Kansas where I was teaching. My parents living in Wichita, we drove through the Flint Hills many times and still will take a trip up there (from eastern Oklahoma) just to view the area.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 11, 2016 10:06:03 GMT -8
I just ran across this thread. Thanks for the report. I have yet to hike that area but have done hikes in the Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve. Love the Flint Hills and the prairie.
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