The Sunflower State has a rich history, and there's no shortage of educational Kansas museums where you can see artifacts and learn about our past. It's sometimes fun to experience history first-hand, though. Next time you're looking to try out a taste of the Oregon Trail, we know just the spot to visit. The Oregon Trail Park at Scott Springs is tucked away in Westmoreland, KS, a quiet city of about 750 residents. This area was once an important resting place for travelers that were seeking a better life along the Oregon Trail. A visit here today will let you walk in their footsteps and learn more about this fascinating time period in Kansas history. Check it out:

The Oregon Trail spanned 2,170 miles and connected the Missouri River to the Oregon Territory. Countless emigrants traveled along the trail throughout the mid-1800s. These travelers were seeking a better life out west and famously rode in covered wagons. The long journey was treacherous and has been immortalized in The Oregon Trail computer game series that many of us grew up playing.

Today, you can still visit many of the sites that played important roles to settlers along the Oregon Trail. One underrated spot that many aren't aware of is this little park in Westmoreland.

The park lies near Scott Springs, a natural spring that made a perfect resting spot for weary travelers. The area around the spring served as a campground for many who were passing through the area.

Today, the small park has a one-mile paved walking trail known as the Little Dog Lost Trail. It's wheelchair and stroller accessible and only takes about 15-30 minutes to explore, making it a great option for those with young kids or mobility issues.

All along the route, you'll see informative signs telling you about the Oregon Trail travelers and what the area was like several hundred years ago.

In today's world of cars and airplanes, it's difficult to imagine taking a journey by foot or wagon of more than 2,000 miles, but that's just what these brave settlers did so long ago. A visit to this park may not give you the full Oregon Trail experience, but it's sure to educate you on what life was like back then.

Want to learn more about this great Oregon Trail Park in Kansas? Check out the National Park Service website or our friends at AllTrails. If you're a regular hiker in the Sunflower State, you'll want to consider a free two-week trial of AllTrails+. It's got all the benefits of a free account, plus turn-by-turn directions and even live trail conditions.