Trails have always been an important place to find solace and a good hike allows time and space for reflection.  As the rising tide of anxiety and concern reach new levels each day, it is a wonderful time to refocus on what is truly important in life.  While trails are valuable, they are certainly not the most important thing.  But they can be a pathway to help recenter, regroup and refocus on what does really matter to each of us.  While park offices are currently closed through at least April 6th, all of our Kansas state parks and wonderful trails are still open at this time.

Social distancing doesn’t have to mean sitting at home 24/7. The trails in Kansas have always been a wonderful place to find solitude, and here are four of our favorite places to go without a lot of crowds:

1. Tallgrass Prairie Preserve, Strong City – hike one of the last great stands of Tallgrass Prairie.  The visitors center is closed but the trails are good to go!
2. Agave Ridge Trail, Cedar Bluff State Park – You can hike for mile along this trail and rarely encounter another visitor.  A wonderful scenic hike along a little-used but beautiful trail.
3. Little Jerusalem / Badlands State Park – The guided tours have been been cancelled through mid-April but the trails remain open, a great opportunity to explore your newest state park!
4. Flint Hills Nature Trail – the longest trail in Kansas has plenty of room to explore, our favorite stretch is the wild Flint Hills from Council Grove to Allen.

If solo hiking, make sure to notify a responsible party of where you are going and when you will return.  People care about you & cell phone service can be spotty on some trails.  Have fun, be responsible, pack a trail lunch and go for a hike this spring!