Sunflower Rail-Trails Conservancy

06/15/2026

The Osage-Cuestas Trail between Freedonia & Benedict will officially open later this year. One of the many fun features about this trail is that it contains three unique bridges in a 1.5 mile stretch of trail. One bridge is a refurbished wooden bridge, one is a 100 year old iron bridge, and one is actually 3 shipping containers welded together to create a tunnel bridge. They will add a lot of character to this trail.

To get news and updates about the Osage-Cuestas Trail, trail reports and trail news across Kansas, sign up for our new bi-monthly enewsletter. You can check out the first report here and hit "subscribe" to sign up.

https://preview.mailerlite.io/preview/2394229/emails/188996295118030803

06/12/2026

Here is a new map of the Osage Cuestas Trail prepared by Jonathan Conard.

06/08/2026

Sunflower Rail-Trails Conservancy has launched a new e-newsletter featuring rail-trail news and ways to get involved in trails across the state. We will be featuring rail-trails, trail towns, and people involved in trails across this state. Take a look at our first edition (link posted in the comments to appease the algorithm) and subscribe to continue seeing them.

We'll never send more than monthly so we won't be spammy. Promise. Check it out and let us know what you think.

06/05/2026

Lori Kiblinger posted the folowing about our Osage Cuestas Trail which stretches 19 miles from Fredonia to Chanute. The trail has been completed from Fredonia to Benedict.
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Not wind, rain, nor 90 degrees with 90% humidity can stop these volunteers from completing the tasks at hand. A lot has been accomplished in building the Osage Questas Trail that connects Chanute to Fredonia. 8 miles are completed, and during the last couple weeks, the Frog Lake Bridge was decked and the Eco-counter that tracks pedestrian and bicycle traffic was installed. We have such great volunteers working on this trail. Grants are making it possible, and volunteers are making it happen. (volunteers not tagged--David Fink, Ed Wilcox)

05/19/2026

Mike Scanlon, Executive Director of Kansas Trails, Inc., was interviewed on Kansas Public Radio. He talks about the economic and other benefits of rail-trails.

Kansas Trails, Inc. works with communities across the state to build and care for the trails that bring people together. From small-town paths to wide-open prairie routes, we believe trails connect folks—to the land, to each other, and to the places they call home.

05/05/2026

Here is a corrected map of the Southwind Rail Trail between Iola and Humboldt. Sunflower holds the railbanking to it and Iola volunteers maintain it.

05/04/2026

According to the Iron Horse Trail FB page: Within the month the Iron Horse Trail will be 700ft longer. The eastern trailhead is in process of being moved to the east. It will begin at the Hoffman Grist Mill in Enterprise. Note: this is a rails-WITH-rails path along side the excursion train tracks stretching five miles between Abilene and Enterprise.

04/30/2026

Marshall County Connection reports: The BLUE RIVER RAIL TRAIL CORRIDOR is about to be transformed once again! This time it’s going from an abandoned railbed into a beautiful linear park with a trail that will connect the Blue River Rail Trail endpoint at North St. four blocks to Pony Park and downtown Marysville. It will be a place to bring your kids to play on the playground, gather with friends for coffee or a game of bocce, or take a walk on the tree lined trail. Grant funding is is being pursued but we as a community need to do our part by providing match money for the grants. https://www.marysvillecf.org/

04/29/2026

Kanza Rail-Trails Conservancy has been awarded a $150,000 grant from the Lattner Foundation to be used for a TA grant match for the Landon Trail (Topeka-Pomona).

04/26/2026

The Meadowlark Trail is now officially open! The rail-trail passes through gentle hills and creek valleys in the 12.6 miles between Lindsborg and McPherson on the old Union Pacific Railroad railbed. It crosses eleven bridges and, at one point, follows the east bank of the Smoky Hill River. The trail travels through beautiful country – geologically rich area with several different types of soil and an abundance of wildlife. It’s a rails-to-trails route with beautiful fields and tree canopies along the way. It crosses an old rail flatcar which serves as a bridge. In the North, the trail begins at the southern endpoint of the paved 4.75 Valkommen Trail in Lindsborg (Little Sweden USA) at the Old Mill Campground and the southern endpoint is at 1300 Moccasin Rd. in McPherson near Hess Park.