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Wetlands & Wildlife National Scenic Byway
When you think of Kansas, what pops into your mind? Prairie? Wheat? Dorothy? The Wetlands & Wildlife National Scenic Byway will forever reshape your image of this part of the “Sunflower State.”
This 77-mile byway connects two of the world's most significant natural wetlands—Cheyenne Bottoms and the Quivira National Wildlife Refuge. More than 60,000 acres of wetlands host millions of migrating birds each year, including waterfowl, shorebirds, even whooping cranes. No wonder this region has been named one of the Eight Wonders of Kansas!
But the byway offers far more than beautiful wetlands and birds. Along your trek, you'll see native stone buildings, underground tunnels, metal street art, WPA art and bridges, an operating flour mill, a stretch of the Santa Fe Trail, raptor rehabilitation center, and more. So grab a byway map and come discover our extraordinary corner of the planet.
Click here for a map of the Wetlands & Wildlife National Scenic Byway.
The Byway takes visitors through Barton, Reno and Stafford counties in central Kansas and showcases the huge wetlands of North America's Central Flyway. The byway reveals a scenic visual surprise amid the plains of Kansas. The marshes that anchor this drive are comprised of acres of radiant water that dazzle the eye and clouds of birds that take the breath away. Cheyenne Bottoms and Quivira National Wildlife Refuge are international treasures nestled in the heart of America.
Nature Rules Here
Cheyenne Bottoms Wildlife Area, the Nature Conservancy Cheyenne Bottoms Refuge and Quivira National Wildlife Refuge are the natural jewels of this byway. They anchor the drive with natural beauty and opportunities to explore nature. These giant marshes shape the landscape of this area in a most unique way and provide outstanding opportunities for bird and wildlife watching, hiking, and many other natural activities. The wetlands are truly alive and waiting to reveal their treasure to the traveler.
Driving The Wetlands & Wildlife National Scenic Byway is a chance to discover something amazing. The seasons along this byway are both subtle and spectacular. In April, tens of thousands of birds cover the wetlands with color, motion and sound. Snowy plover and killdeer build hundreds of nests in the banks along Quivira's Wildlife Drive every summer.
Wildlife watching:
For a full listing of downloads, click here.
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