Hike Smoky Valley Ranch’s Newest Trail in Kansas for an Unforgettable Adventure

Hidden in a little corner of the Sunflower State known as Rough Pasture is an awe-inspiring little slice of paradise: Smoky Valley Ranch. This stunning, underrated little park in Kansas is nothing short of amazing, and as of the time of this writing, it's got a brand-new trail to explore. As one of Kansas's newest hiking trails, this one's a must-do for the whole family.

At just under one and a half miles in length, this wondrous hiking trail near Oakley, Kansas, is perfectly easy and suitable even for small children. It's an easy stroll through some of our state's most strangely intriguing landscapes, and you'll be blown away by the strange rock formations along the way.

One of my favorite aspects of this little hike is that you can play with your route in a few ways; you can opt to take a one-mile loop or a five-mile loop, or you can stick with the Short Loop - the one I'm describing in this article. It's a delight, with lots of interesting features to see and explore. It's absolutely not the kind of place you'd expect to find somewhere like in Kansas, but here we are. I love it.

To access Smoky Valley Ranch, you'll need to endure some minor adventure. It's highly rural, and you'll need to take 350th Road for 15 miles to get to the trailhead. There, you'll find parking. Enjoy your time here - it's truly an incredible place, and Kansas is incredibly lucky to have it.

On good days, you can expect to run into the resident buffalo herd or perhaps a deer or antelope herd (or all three). The wildlife watching here is a blast, and I think everyone in the family will suddenly find themselves hopelessly addicted to trying to spot critters no matter where you roam. Of all the best hiking trails in Kansas, this one's brand-new and oh-so-shiny.

Considering its newness - and the relative quiet of Kansas overall - you might just get this whole trail to yourself. If you want to increase the odds of this happening, be sure to visit early in the morning during the week. I personally love being the only one on the trail, but your mileage may vary - just wear good, solid shoes, pack water even if it's not going to be hot outside, and most of all, be careful. Finally, enjoy every moment of it - our countryside is nothing short of spectacular, especially if you know where to look.

Living in Kansas is a special privilege, and I think anyone who calls it home is worth envying (even if just a little). If you're planning to come visit this gorgeous state and need ideas about where to stay near Smoky Valley Ranch, be sure to check out all the options from our friends at Booking.com, like Judy's Bed and Breakfast.

So, what do you think? Is this amazing new hiking trail in Kansas enough to coax you out for the day? Come check it out and take photos - I love seeing them. If you've done this hike (or if you have a suggestion for other hikes I ought to feature), be sure to let me know in the comments (or by emailing me). I look forward to hearing from you!