Kansas Flint Hills trail nominated for national hall of fame recognition

TOPEKA (KSNT) – State wildlife officials say a prominent outdoor trail in Kansas is in the running for some national recognition this year.

Laura Clawson with the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks (KDWP) said in a press release that Flint Hills Trail State Park is being nominated to the Rails to Trails Conservancy’s (RTC)

Hall of Fame. It is competing against two other trails: the East Central Regional Rail Trail in Florida and the Murdock Canal Trail in Utah.

“This nomination speaks volumes about the communities, volunteers, and staff who have made the Flint Hills Trail State Park a place where nature, recreation, and heritage come together,” said KDWP Secretary Christopher Kennedy. “We hope every Kansan and trail lovers beyond will cast a vote to celebrate this achievement.”

Clawson said the Flint Hills Trail State Park stretches nearly 120 miles from Osawatomie to Herington through scenic portions of Kansas’s Flint Hills region. It is recognized as the longest rail-trail in the Sunflower State and is a popular destination for hikers, equestrians and others who enjoy getting outdoors.

Kansas Tourism reports on its website the trail follows an old Missouri Pacific Railroad line built in the late 1800s that ran from Kansas City to Pueblo, Colorado. The Flint Hills Trail State Park also connects with the Prairie Spirit Trail, a rail trail that spans over 50 miles.

The U.S. Department of Transportation announced in 2022 that nearly $25 million would be allocated to the KDWP to add an additional 40 miles to the trail. The KDWP recently celebrated the addition of a new trail section in May 2025 that added to the trail’s already impressive length.

People can cast votes in support of the Flint Hills Trail State Park from July 31 through to Aug. 6. You can find the online voting platform by clicking here.

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