Prairie Spirit Trail State Park facts for kids
The Prairie Spirit Trail State Park is a special kind of park in Kansas. It's called a rail trail, which means it was built on old railroad tracks! This trail is now a fun place for people to walk, run, and bike.
The trail follows the path of the old Leavenworth, Lawrence and Galveston Railroad. It stretches for 50 miles, starting in Ottawa, Kansas, in the north and ending in Iola, Kansas, in the south.
You can use the trail all year long, from when the sun comes up until it sets. Most of the trail is paved with a firm limestone surface. But when you're inside the towns of Ottawa, Garnett, and Iola, the trail changes to smooth asphalt. You don't need a special car permit for this state park. However, if you're using the trail outside of Ottawa, Garnett, or Iola, you'll need to buy a daily or yearly trail permit.
In June 2007, a bridge over Pottawatomie Creek near Garnett was damaged by floods. But don't worry, it has been fixed and is safe to use now!
Where Does the Trail Go?
The northern end of the trail is in Ottawa, Kansas, right by the Old Depot Museum. This spot is just north of the Marais des Cygnes River in downtown Ottawa. From there, the trail heads south. It makes a small detour to go under Interstate 35 where it meets US Highway 59.
As you continue south from Ottawa, you'll pass through two small towns that used to be railroad stops: Princeton and Richmond. About halfway along the 50-mile trail is Garnett. Here, you'll find a restored old Santa Fe train station. This station is now a helpful rest stop and information center for everyone using the trail.
The final part of the trail goes from Welda, Kansas, all the way to Iola, Kansas. Along this section, you'll go through the small towns of Colony and Carlyle. Colony and Iola have restrooms and water available for trail users. Carlyle has a restroom, but no water. You'll see mile markers along this part of the trail, like mile 99 at Colony, mile 104 at Carlyle, and mile 109 at the end in Iola.
Future Plans for the Trail
The Prairie Spirit Trail is growing! It has already been extended south from Iola to the town of Humboldt, adding about nine more miles. This new section is called the Southwind Rail-Trail and opened in 2013.
There are even bigger plans for the future! The Prairie Spirit Trail might connect with another long trail called the Flint Hills Nature Trail. This trail is 117 miles long and will connect Herington in the west to Osawatomie in the east. The section from Ottawa to Osawatomie is already finished.
The Prairie Spirit Trail is also part of a huge project called the Quad-State Trail. This exciting plan aims to link trails across four states: Nebraska, Kansas, Missouri, and Iowa. It even includes the famous Katy Trail State Park in Missouri!
Trail Rules and Permits
The Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism helps manage the Prairie Spirit Trail. Their staff and other law enforcement officers regularly patrol the park to keep everyone safe. Only non-motorized vehicles, like bikes, and motorized wheelchairs are allowed on the trail.
If you are 15 years old or younger, you don't need a permit to use the trail. Also, you don't need a permit if you are only using the trail within the cities of Ottawa, Iola, or Garnett.
For everyone else, a daily permit costs $3.50 per person. You can buy these at self-pay stations located at the trailheads in Ottawa, Princeton, Richmond, Garnett, Welda, Carlyle, and Iola. If you plan to use the trail often, you can buy a yearly permit for $12.50 per person. These annual permits are available in Ottawa, Garnett, and Iola.
