Prairie Spirit Trail State Park
Encyclopedia
Prairie Spirit Trail State Park is a Kansas State Park.
The trail is built on the former right of way of the Leavenworth, Lawrence and Galveston Railroad from Ottawa, Kansas
, to Iola, Kansas
. The trail runs 50 miles from its northern terminus at Ottawa, Kansas to its southern terminus at Iola, Kansas
.
The trail is open for use by hikers, joggers, and cyclists year-round, from sunrise to sunset. This trail is paved with a hard-packed limestone screening outside of the city limits of Ottawa and Garnett. Inside Ottawa and Garnett, the trail is paved with asphalt. A Kansas State Park vehicle permit is not required for use of the trail, but a separate trail permit (daily/annual) must be purchased for those using the trail outside the city limits of Ottawa and Garnett.
During flooding in June 2007, a section of the bridge carrying the trail over Pottawatomie Creek north of Garnett washed out. The bridge has since been replaced.
in downtown Ottawa. From Ottawa, the trail heads south and detours from the right of way to cross under Interstate 35
at its intersection with US Highway 59
.
Continuing to the south from Ottawa, the trail hits two small railroad towns, Princeton
and Richmond
. Garnett
, located about midway on the 50 miles (80.5 km) right of way between Ottawa and Iola features a restored Santa Fe
depot which is used as the city's trailhead. The depot serves as a rest stop for trail users, as well as an information center for the city.
Phase 3 of the trail spans from Welda, Kansas, to Iola, Kansas, passing the small towns of Colony and Carlyle. Colony and Iola trailheads feature both restrooms and water, while the Carlyle trailhead has only a single restroom without water. Trail mile markers for phase three include mile 99 at Colony, mile 104 at Carlyle, Kansas, and mile 109 at the Iola terminating trailhead.
, to the west, and Osawatomie, Kansas
, to the east, in Ottawa. This trail is also part of the ambitious Quad-State Trail project which will connect trails together in Nebraska
, Kansas
, Missouri
, and Iowa
. The project also includes the Katy Trail State Park
in Missouri.
The trail is built on the former right of way of the Leavenworth, Lawrence and Galveston Railroad from Ottawa, Kansas
Ottawa, Kansas
Ottawa is a city situated along the Marais des Cygnes River in the central part of Franklin County, located in east-central Kansas, 50 miles southwest of Kansas City, Mo., in the central United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 12,649. It is the county seat and most populous...
, to Iola, Kansas
Iola, Kansas
Iola is a city situated along the Neosho River in the northwestern part of Allen County, located in Southeast Kansas, in the Central United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 5,704. Iola is the county seat of Allen County. It is named in honor of Iola Colborn.-History:The...
. The trail runs 50 miles from its northern terminus at Ottawa, Kansas to its southern terminus at Iola, Kansas
Iola, Kansas
Iola is a city situated along the Neosho River in the northwestern part of Allen County, located in Southeast Kansas, in the Central United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 5,704. Iola is the county seat of Allen County. It is named in honor of Iola Colborn.-History:The...
.
The trail is open for use by hikers, joggers, and cyclists year-round, from sunrise to sunset. This trail is paved with a hard-packed limestone screening outside of the city limits of Ottawa and Garnett. Inside Ottawa and Garnett, the trail is paved with asphalt. A Kansas State Park vehicle permit is not required for use of the trail, but a separate trail permit (daily/annual) must be purchased for those using the trail outside the city limits of Ottawa and Garnett.
During flooding in June 2007, a section of the bridge carrying the trail over Pottawatomie Creek north of Garnett washed out. The bridge has since been replaced.
Trail Route
The trail's northern terminus is located at the Old Depot Museum in Ottawa, Kansas. The Museum and terminus of the trail is located just north of the Marais Des Cygnes RiverMarais des Cygnes River
The Marais des Cygnes River is a principal tributary of the Osage River, about long, in eastern Kansas and western Missouri in the United States. Via the Osage and Missouri rivers, it is part of the watershed of the Mississippi River...
in downtown Ottawa. From Ottawa, the trail heads south and detours from the right of way to cross under Interstate 35
Interstate 35
Interstate 35 is a north–south Interstate Highway in the central United States. I-35 stretches from Laredo, Texas, on the U.S.-Mexico border to Duluth, Minnesota, at Minnesota Highway 61 and 26th Avenue East. Many interstates used to have splits or spurs indicated with suffixed letters , but I-35...
at its intersection with US Highway 59
U.S. Route 59
U.S. Route 59 is a north–south United States highway . A latecomer to the U.S. numbered route system, U.S. 59 is now a border-to-border route, Part of NAFTA Corridor Highway System. It parallels U.S. Route 75 for nearly its entire route, never much more than away, until it veers southwest...
.
Continuing to the south from Ottawa, the trail hits two small railroad towns, Princeton
Princeton, Kansas
Princeton is a city in Franklin County, Kansas, United States. The population was 317 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Princeton is located at ....
and Richmond
Richmond, Kansas
Richmond is a city in Franklin County, Kansas, United States. The population was 510 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Richmond is located at .According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all of it land....
. Garnett
Garnett, Kansas
Garnett is a city in and the county seat of Anderson County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 3,415.-Geography:Garnett is located at...
, located about midway on the 50 miles (80.5 km) right of way between Ottawa and Iola features a restored Santa Fe
Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway
The Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway , often abbreviated as Santa Fe, was one of the larger railroads in the United States. The company was first chartered in February 1859...
depot which is used as the city's trailhead. The depot serves as a rest stop for trail users, as well as an information center for the city.
Phase 3 of the trail spans from Welda, Kansas, to Iola, Kansas, passing the small towns of Colony and Carlyle. Colony and Iola trailheads feature both restrooms and water, while the Carlyle trailhead has only a single restroom without water. Trail mile markers for phase three include mile 99 at Colony, mile 104 at Carlyle, Kansas, and mile 109 at the Iola terminating trailhead.
Future Expansion
Future aspirations of the trail include intersecting the future Flint Hills Nature Trail, a 117 miles (188.3 km) trail currently under construction connecting Herington, KansasHerington, Kansas
Herington is a city in Dickinson and Morris counties in the U.S. state of Kansas. Named after its founder, Monroe Davis Herington. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 2,526.-19th century:...
, to the west, and Osawatomie, Kansas
Osawatomie, Kansas
Osawatomie is a city in Miami County, Kansas, United States, southwest of Kansas City. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 4,447. It derives its name from two streams nearby, the Osage and Potawatomie.-History:...
, to the east, in Ottawa. This trail is also part of the ambitious Quad-State Trail project which will connect trails together in Nebraska
Nebraska
Nebraska is a state on the Great Plains of the Midwestern United States. The state's capital is Lincoln and its largest city is Omaha, on the Missouri River....
, Kansas
Kansas
Kansas is a US state located in the Midwestern United States. It is named after the Kansas River which flows through it, which in turn was named after the Kansa Native American tribe, which inhabited the area. The tribe's name is often said to mean "people of the wind" or "people of the south...
, Missouri
Missouri
Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
, and Iowa
Iowa
Iowa is a state located in the Midwestern United States, an area often referred to as the "American Heartland". It derives its name from the Ioway people, one of the many American Indian tribes that occupied the state at the time of European exploration. Iowa was a part of the French colony of New...
. The project also includes the Katy Trail State Park
Katy Trail State Park
The Katy Trail State Park is a recreation rail trail that runs in the right-of-way of the former Missouri-Kansas-Texas Railroad. The nickname "Katy" comes from the phonetic pronunciation of 'KT' in the railroad's abbreviated name, MKT. The trail, widely known as the Katy Trail, is a Missouri...
in Missouri.