You’ve Never Experienced Anything Like This Epic Abandoned Railroad Hike In Kansas
Annie
Author
If you have ever taken a state history class, you know how vital railroads have been to Kansas over the course of the last 155 years. The Atchison, Topeka, & Santa Fe, Union Pacific, Kansas Pacific and several others not only helped the local economy boom, but brought in ample jobs to those living in the developing Sunflower State. Today the railroad industry has greatly dwindled, but fortunately there are several groups working to preserve the history and integrity of unused railroad lines, one of which includes 117-mile Flint Hills Nature Trail:
Located between the towns of Osawatomie and Herington, this stunning trail runs along what was once the Missouri Pacific Railroad (formerly the Council Grove, Osage City & Ottawa Railway). After the rails were abandoned by the Missouri Pacific in the late 1980s, the Rails-to-Trails and Kanza Rail-Trails Conservancies stepped in, transforming the deserted iron lines into the longest privately-managed rail-to-trail in the country (not to mention the seventh longest rail-to-trail system in America). When you visit the trail, make sure to enjoy the sights of the stunning tallgrass prairie, sounds of the Marais Des Cygnes River, and smell of fresh air that you will only find in this rural area.
To discover even more memorable Kansas trails, click on These 9 Hiking Spots In Kansas Are Completely Out Of This World.
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