Prairie Trail Scenic Byway

Tallgrass waving in the wind. Bison herds grazing. The chirp of crickets on a warm summer’s eve. The wild spirit of the prairie lives on in the preserved lands and the souls of those at home along the Prairie Trail Scenic Byway. Nature lovershistory buffs, and gearheads alike will find themselves immersed along the way. Captivating landscapes and curved roads make for a peaceful scenic drive, but whether you explore on two wheels or four is up to you.

Prairie Trail Byway Map

Things to do along the way

About the Byway

  • Locations

    • Valkommen Trail trailhead near K-4 & E Lindsborg (38.5684, -97.67501)
    • SE corner old US 40 & K-156; access via Evans St (38.73961, -98.21517)
    • McPherson County Fairgrounds (38.3935, -97.42705)
  • Driving Directions

    Distance: 80 miles

    Ellsworth to Canton: Begin on the I-70 exit 225 for K-156 towards Ellsworth KS. Continue on K-156 towards Ellsworth for about 10 miles. Once in Ellsworth, make a left on K-140 for 13 miles towards K-141 near Carneiro, KS. Along the way, be sure to stop by Mushroom Rock State Park. You'll continue the route on K-141 for another 13 miles, heading south towards Kanopolis State Park.

    Once you reach the sign for K-4, make a left and head east for 15 miles towards Lindsborg, KS. Where K-4 meets 14th Ave in Lindsborg, make a right and head south for 1 mile towards Smoky Valley Rd. Stay on Smoky Valley Rd for 13 miles until you reach Roxbury, KS. In Roxbury, turn right onto 27th Ave and drive the final 13 miles to Canton, KS.

    Canton to Ellsworth: Starting in Canton, KS, head north on 27th Ave for 13 miles until you reach Roxbury, KS. In Roxbury, make a left onto Smoky Valley Rd and continue for 13 miles towards Lindsborg, KS. Make a right on 14th Ave just outside of Lindsborg, KS, and continue for 1 mile. Once you reach the sign for K-4 in Lindsborg, make a left and drive 15 miles to K-141. At the intersection of K-4 and K-141, make a right towards Kanopolis State Park and continue for another 13 miles towards the intersection of K-141 and K-140.

    Where K-141 and K-140 meet, make a left onto K-140 headed towards Carneiro, KS, and continue for 13 miles towards Ellsworth, KS. Along the way, be sure to stop by Mushroom Rock State Park. Stay on K-140 until you reach K-156 in Ellsworth. Make a right onto K-156 and drive the final 10 miles where the route concludes at I-70 exit 225

  • Mushroom Rock State Park

    Although it might be the smallest state park in Kansas, it remains one of the most sough after places in the state. The best part is... it's 100% free to visit!

  • Kanopolis State Park 

    Welcome to a trail seekers paradise! Kanopolis State Park is well-known for its encaptivating scenic bluffs and hiking trails. The park is also the very first state park in Kansas!

    Kanopolis

    Carson and Custer once explored the jagged prairies in what’s now Kanopolis State Park on horseback.

  • Byway Gallery

    Kansas Byways

    Frontier Military

    Travel through time, visiting multiple forts along the Frontier Military Historic Byway.  Originally built to move soldiers and…

    Native Stone

    Discover the natural beauty of the panoramic Native Stone Scenic Byway.

    Glacial Hills

    The Glacial Hills Scenic Byway gets its name from the rolling hills and rock-strewn valleys carved by ancient glaciers. 

    Post Rock

    Over the Smoky Hills of weathered bedrock, the Post Rock Scenic Byway winds through fields, pastures and prairie.

    Western Vistas

    Visit a rugged landscape on the culturally and visually fascinating route known as the Western Vistas Historic Byway. 

    Wetlands & Wildlife

    Along the byway, you'll encounter landscapes and communities shaped by the powerful forces of motion and change. You're entering a…

    Land & Sky

    Travelers along the Land and Sky Scenic Byway have the opportunity to experience the Wallace Branch of the Great Western Cattle Trail, scale…

    Flint Hills

    The Flint Hills National Scenic Byway offers incredible views of the native grasses and flowers of the tallgrass prairie - one of the last…

    Kansas Route 66

    Kansas' Historic Route 66 Byway offers opportunities for visitors to enjoy a variety of experiences to "get their own kicks…

    Gypsum Hills

    Ancient floodplains, buttes, canyons, mesas and sinkholes are rare on the Great Plains. Yet, nestled in the Kansas grasslands is the Gypsum…

    Smoky Valley

    Named for their hazy, blue appearance at sunrise and sunset, the Smoky Hills divide the more easterly mixed-grass prairie from the…

    For more information about the Prairie Trail Scenic Byway contact:

    Ronn Peters
    (620) 242-7133

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