4.5Rolling Hills Zoo(259 reviews) - If anywhere near - come visit and support this zoo! Saturday: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM Natural History Museums • Nature & Wildlife Areas • Zoos
If you are looking to satisfy your appetite for a wild adventure, Rolling Hills Zoo can provide two unique experiences you won’t soon forget. Settled among the Smoky Hills of central Kansas, this 65-acre zoological park, home to more than 110 species of animals, includes a world-class wildlife museum, all for one single admission price. At the zoo you can get face-to-face with a rare white camel, an Indian rhino or a curious orangutan. Maybe it is a towering giraffe you would like to encounter, a majestic lion, an ornery aardvark or any one of the many other species of wildlife at home at Rolling Hills Zoo. Throughout this beautifully landscaped park great care has been taken to provide the zoo’s animals with special and naturalistic environments. As visitors stroll through the zoo, they are invited to visit with the zookeepers. This dedicated crew is a huge reason why visiting Rolling Hills Zoo is such a unique experience. They are specially trained to enhance the quality of life for the animals, which in turn helps the animals thrive and be extra responsive to zoo visitors. The Rolling Hills Zoo zookeepers know the animals well and are happy to relate their own insights about their distinct personalities. During their visit, guests can enjoy a narrated tram ride through the zoo which stops at key locations in the park so guests can get off and explore on their own. Your journey through the 64,000 square foot museum takes you around the world while experiencing the delicate symmetry between humans, animals and nature in unique regions from the artic to the rainforest. With one of the world’s premier collections of full mount animals, this wildlife museum proudly displays over 200 animal species in naturalistic dioramas covering seven ecosystems. Live waterfalls, diorama sound effects and state-of-the art animatic human robots bring each diorama to life. The museum also features the Helen L. Graves Hideaway Hollow children’s education and exploration center and ...See more..
4.5Great Plains Nature Center(117 reviews) - Enjoyable Saturday: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM Spent 1-2 hours Nature & Wildlife Areas
A Kansas wildlife habitat in the city. Bird watching. Paved hiking trails. Discovery programs. Indoor wildlife observatory. Connecting people with nature. The Great Plains Nature Center is a cooperative partnership between the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism, and the City of Wichita Parks and Recreation Department. Together with the Friends of the Great Plains Nature Center (a 501(c)(3) organization), GPNC provides nature experiences to the community. Visit us to check out the Koch Habitat Hall exhibits with your grandchildren. Stop in for quiet reflection in the Bob Gress Wildlife Observatory. Or, pick up a Kansas critter memento in the Owl's Nest Gift Shop.See more..
5.0Konza Prairie Research Natural Area(85 reviews) - Expanding your horizons in Xmas Day Saturday: 6:00 AM - 9:00 PM Nature & Wildlife Areas
"It's opener there in the wide open air" - Dr Seuss Looking 360 degrees towards a nearly untouched horizon of the ancient Kansas prairies, it is a gorgeous, easy hike that is one of the jewels of the state. I highly recommend this unsung view of the Flint Hills. There are three hikes ranging from about two to seven miles. In the summer you can see Bison roaming in the distance. It can get windy so bring a jacket and water. See more..
Cedar Cove is a non-profit sanctuary and educational center committed to the care and preservation of endangered predator species while educating the public on the importance of conserving their natural ecosystems, and the impending dangers of their extinction.See more..
4.5Cheyenne Bottoms(79 reviews) - Day trip Nature & Wildlife Areas
A fantastic day trip! My wife and I aren’t hunters or birders, but we enjoyed Cheyenne bottoms. It was worth the hour drive to experience this unique piece of Kansas. We walked around pond 3a, it took a couple hours, but we experienced some fascinating wildlife!See more..
Big Bluestem Campground Site #78 has both water and 50/30A/120V connection; IMO one of the best camping sites. Plus a large shade tree to block the setting sun. We were able to put our kayaks in right from our sites. Also caught several catfish just sitting at the picnic table. Known as the clearest lake and largest salt water lake in KS, and that not mentioning the beautiful rock formations; reminiscent of Utah. Fishing was great with worms from the marina; stripe bass, catfish, perch and sunfish were hitting hard. Rolling grassy hills with plateaus, easy lake access, hiking trails, bike trails, boat rentals, playgrounds and beaches. Lots to do! Water level was normal, so some rock formations were beneath the surface. Water was very clear, visibility was probably 50’.See more..
Beautiful, not far from the interstate. Priced right. 30/50 amp, water, free wi-fi!!! Dump Station, pull through sites on gravel (under shade trees) or concrete pads (full sun). RIGHT on scenic Ellis Lake with scenic mill-style dam. Lots of locals fishing on this little lake. Scenic town full of historic buildings. Great Mexican restaurant nearby & only $25 for W/E pull thrus plenty big enough for our Class A towing small car & parking another car on the site. Perfectly located midway between Denver & Kansas City. Storm shelter in nearby historic church. Bring your fishing pole! Big clean showers with lots of Hot Water. Easy self-pay system. Patrolled regularly by the local men in blue. This one goes on our favorite campsite for travels.See more..
5.0Eagle Valley Raptor Center(37 reviews) - Amazing experience with beautiful animals Nature & Wildlife Areas
Eagle Valley Raptor Center is a non-profit organization that provides food, shelter and vet care for injured and orphaned Kansas Birds of Prey. The center also offers private guided group tours for schools, scouts, family, church and other appropriate organizations. Admission is $5.00 per person with a minimum of eight. A "Lovebirds" is offered for a behind the scenes tour for couples. A covered pavilion for picnics, snacks or cookouts is included in the tour. Restrooms and a large parking lot is onsight.See more..
4.5Prairie Park Nature Center(34 reviews) - A Local Treasure, Good for Everyone and Anyone. Beautiful Exotic Wildlife. Nature & Wildlife Areas
I was uplifted to discover the Park and Nature Center while on a bike ride along the Lawrence Loop Trail. What a fascinating local resource with unique, exotic rescued creatures that really need the loving care they receive. Knowledgeable staff allow for as much or little interaction as you desire. I've returned many times since and developed a special interest in the Raptors, especially the Golden Eagle, Bald Eagle, Peregrine Falcon, and Barred Owls. This is not to be confused with a zoo, it's more of a wildlife rescue facility that provides a variety of educational opportunities for kids as well as adults. Nice display about solar power and sustainable energy. The park has a lovely walking trail and small lake where I usually see a child or 2 being taught to fish. It's a very serene and peaceful break from the noise and busyness of sub-urban life. Never crowded, though I've seen children on field trips in the classroom area, which is heartwarming.See more..
Wonderful place to get away and commune with nature! Has a seperate area for young children to play and learn about nature.See more..
4.5Milford Nature Center & Fish Hatchery(32 reviews) - Great for the entire family! Saturday: 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM Spent 1-2 hours Nature & Wildlife Areas
Located near beautiful Milford Reservoir in the Flint Hills of Kansas, the Milford Nature Center provides visitors with a better understanding of the natural communities of Kansas. At the center, visitors have the chance to see and touch native animal furs, print their own animals tracks, and use their sense of touch to identify natural mystery items. Dioramas line the halls, depicting an aquatic system with over 300 life-like fish, turtles, snakes, and insects and a terrestrial system showcasing wildlife from the prairies, marshes, and woods. If you want to see living examples of Kansas wildlife, this is the place to visit! Live animal exhibits feature snakes, amphibians, turtles, lizards, prairie dogs, and many more. Outdoors is a large bird of prey exhibit featuring many native raptors including both a Bald Eagle and a Golden Eagle. Adjacent to the raptor cages is the bobcat display. Nature trails , the birdwatching wall, and a backyard habitat area can also be enjoyed.See more..
Lots of animals in the middle of a nice park.See more..
5.0Bartlett Arboretum(21 reviews) - Gorgeous trees and scrubs plus room for the kids to run around Points of Interest & Landmarks • Nature & Wildlife Areas
Lots of small sized play homes for the kiddos coupled with incredible landscaping. This is a place that never gets the attention and kiddos that it truly deserves. The staff is incredibly knowledgeable. To the very best of my knowledge there isn't anything like this place in a 300+ mile radius. The closest would be St.Louis. The entrance fee is strictly a voluntary contribution. There is no set amount. $5 is suggested.See more..
Spent the day here driving, stopping, scoping, and walking the expanse of this treasured reserve. Migrants coming in now. Visited 2 blinds to watch and scope the area. And no one else was around the whole day. Pretty special day here.See more..
4.5Cimarron National Grassland(21 reviews) - Great place to spend a day. National Parks • Nature & Wildlife Areas • Geologic Formations
Situated at the southwestern corner of Kansas, the Cimarron National Grasslands is nearly 110,000 acres of flat, impressive terrain with low vegetative growth. Its ancient Point of Rocks offers spectacular views, and the underground Cimarron River affords lush greenery above a dry riverbed.See more..
4.5Maxwell Wildlife Refuge(21 reviews) - Just an amazing place year round! Nature & Wildlife Areas
Be sure to call ahead and arrange a tour. The tours are run by a volunteer staff so it is best to plan several days in advance of going. There is a gravel, country road that runs thru a portion of the refuge but seeing things is sometimes hit and miss just going out there without a pre-arranged tour.See more..
Short walk, so very doable for most. The area where the waterfall is supposed to be was very dried up, however the area was beautiful and so we are glad we got to experience it. Be aware that 2 snakes were sighted- one down by the waterfall and one on the trails walking towards the parking area after the waterfall walk. I actually felt the lake walking towards the waterfall was very stunning! The trails are dog friendly which is a definite perk!See more..
Went here about 9 am on a Sunday and it was a pleasant experience. Quiet and peaceful walk we had. Enjoyed.See more..
4.5Pratt Fish Hatchery(11 reviews) - Great place to visit! Nature & Wildlife Areas
This is a free exhibit. It has many animals, stuffed and live. Stop in and say hi to the friendly staff. See more..
4.5Sandsage Bison Range(11 reviews) - An incredible experience! Nature & Wildlife Areas
The poor reviews on here are not fair. The website clearly states that you need to call and arrange for a visit. Most tours are given by volunteers and I am quite confident they don't sit around the office all day waiting for cars to happen by. Also, the trucks sitting in the parking lot are used to drive through the fields; they are always there. With that being said, my 13 year old said this was one of her favorite adventures. We emailed ahead of time and arranged a tour. Ben was there and ready for us. He not only could tell us endless stories about the bison, but he stopped along the way when he found interesting things to show us. You never leave the car, but you do get up and personal with the bison. The flowers were in bloom and the Kansas fields were full of beauty. We loved every second of it! See more..
Even though we never entered the discovery center we took a very long walk around the wetlands. What a beautiful place to visit. We spent hours watching the many birds including Great Egrets, Little Blue Herons, Night Herons, Indigo Buntings etc. The wild flowers were amazing. Saw several snakes as well. There are several blinds available for watching and photographing the wild life. Can't wait to go again.See more..
3.5Lakewood Park(7 reviews) - Walk around the park Nature & Wildlife Areas • Parks
Easy walking around the lake. Probably a good birding location but few birds were seen. Quite a few folks fishing. A few guys playing frisbee golf.See more..
4.5Rocky Ford State Fishing Area(7 reviews) - One of my favorite places to fish Bodies of Water • Nature & Wildlife Areas
Great fishing for all kinds of fish. Have caught everything from Big flatheads to a rainbow trout. Right after the water drops low is a great time to fish.See more..
4.5Kirwin National Wildlife Refuge(5 reviews) - Always worth a stop Saturday: Spent 1-2 hours Nature & Wildlife Areas I rate this location excellent due to multiple experiences over a number of years and at various times of the year. Because we are dealing with nature here, any one visit can range from disappointing to something you will fondly remember for many years. The experience can vary widely depending on the time of year, weather, and water level in the lake. At times there are outstanding opportunities to view wildlife including large numbers of shorebirds and practically uncountable numbers of waterfowl of many species. Over the years I have observed over 200 species of birds in the county - mostly on or near the refuge and associated lake/wildlife area. When the water level and time of year are right, many shorebirds can be viewed at close range just west of the refuge headquarters. Any time I am in the area, I try to make time for at least a short stop, but the area can fill an entire day with wonder.See more..
Hi Folks, This is highly varied birding habitat consisting of open fields, marsh, woods and ponds. We were treated to Red-headed Woodpeckers, Scissor-tailed Flycatchers and a host of other grassland birds. We just did the grassland/open field habitats and it took us 3 hours. See the attached photos. Regards to all, OldeBearSee more..
4.0Southeast Kansas Nature Center(3 reviews) - Things to do Saturday: 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM Spent 1-2 hours Nature & Wildlife Areas • Educational sites I live close by here and go often. It is very well done and has well thought through exhibits. Very informative people and a lot about local flora and fauna. Nice walking trails and things to see.See more..
4.0Big Basin Prairie Preserve(2 reviews) - This is off of the beaten track and truly neat!! Nature & Wildlife Areas
I am on the road for a living and have seen many places. If you like nature, and could imagine what it was like on the Great Plains 140 years ago, St Jacob;s Well is really worth the time. It is a couple of miles off of the highway over some moderately rough road. The Well is a giant sink. If you are fortunate, you will see the buffalo. Last spring there were approximately 12 buffalo cows with their calves.....no traffic, no people just the Great Plains in the 1880's. There are also deer, quail, and Prairie Chicken. The area is totally undisturbed. A serious note....if it is wet, do not go back here unless you have 4 wheel drive.See more..
3.5Brown State Fishing Lake and Wildlife Area(2 reviews) - It is a big pond Bodies of Water • Nature & Wildlife Areas I have had some luck there. I live not to far away. Clean with bathrooms and camping. Catfish and bluegill mostly See more..
5.0Lakewood Discovery Center(2 reviews) - Great Nature Area and Discovery Center Saturday: Spent 1-2 hours Nature & Wildlife Areas
Lakewood offers 100 acres of urban wildlife sanctuary. The nature center displays many educational stations that help connect people with the local wildlife through discovery and exploration. Our wildlife area is bordered by the original Smoky Hill River channel which allows our park to have access to many species of Kansas wildlife. The park offers a 5 acres of trails.See more..
5.0Cedar Cove Feline Conservancy(1 review) - Day Trip To Louisburg Saturday: 10:00 AM - 3:00 PM Nature & Wildlife Areas
This is a very educational place to tour. The information about these big cats and wolves is amazing. So glad there are places like this to help the welfare of these large exotic animals. Would love to make everyone aware of this so they could volunteer or donate to the wellbeing of these majestic animals.See more..
5.0Hillsdale State Park(1 review) - Great Place to Camp State Parks • Bodies of Water • Nature & Wildlife Areas
We come to Hillsdale SP in Paola, Ks to stay every time we come to the area to see our son. This park has premium sites which are paved and prime gravel sites. There are no BAD sites. We can stay for 2 weeks for under $400. Full hook-ups. In addition to your camping fee you need to purchase a state park pass. If you are staying any length of time, it might be more cost effective to purchase and annual pass for $25. NOW, there are more primitive camping areas with just water and electric, no sewer and maybe some with no hook-ups. There is something for any type of camping you like to do. All the campground areas are nice. I've not had an opportunity to check out the showers and toilet facilities as the full-hook up campground does not have them.There are some small hiking trails in the park and a shooting range. Of course there is the lake if you want to bring your boat. There is also a small beach.See more..
1,500 acres of water and 13,000 acres of land. All but 2,000 acres of the property was surface mined for coal during the 1920’s through 1974. The property is rugged country dotted with over 1,000 strip-mine lakes, steep-sided hills and dense vegetation. Unmined areas consist of mature bottomland woodland and small crop fields. The strip-mine lakes vary in size from ¼ ace to 50 acres in size with depths to 60 feet.See more..
5.0Cedar Lake Park Olathe(1 review) - Very pretty and quiet Nature & Wildlife Areas • Parks • Waterfalls Quiet and not many people is the operative word. Love the lake and the many places you can just sit and have a picknick. Playground also available.See more..
