Settlers named this region of steep, grassy hills and bluffs the Smoky Hills because of the haze that seems to settle on them at sunrise and sunset. This loop in west-central Kansas crosses the Smoky Hill River Valley in a region where mixed-grass prairie begins giving way to the short-grass prairie which is able to endure the hot, arid summers of the western High Plains. The route takes you by two crossings of the frontier Butterfield Overland Dispatch freight and passenger wagon trail and Cedar Bluff Reservoir. US-283 has a paved shoulder and the other highways do not but they have very low traffic.

More than 12 miles of paved trail follow a greenbelt along the Indian Creek, through Overland Park, and along Tomahawk Creek, through Leawood. It weaves through a business park, residential areas, and thirteen park areas in Overland Park. Much of the trail is surprisingly quiet and some parts are even secluded, despite travelling through the city. The trail is very beautiful and scenic and showcases the natural beauty of the creeks and the forest that borders the creeks. The trail can be quite crowded and congested at times. Several access points are found throughout, making it easy to customize your trip for different lengths.

This is a popular trail for bicyclists and hikers. If you come in the fall, you will enjoy the beautiful fall colors. Along the trail, you will see views of the Missouri River. You will not find any natural obstacles but there are some steep grades over parts of the trail. Bicyclists are to travel counter-clockwise on the trail.

View bison and elk along the Prairie Trail Scenic Byway, which passes by the Maxwell Wildlife Refuge and ends in Kanopolis State Park. Catch wondrous glimpses of the Smoky Hills and enjoy other scenic, historic natural, cultural, archeological and recreational amenities along the way. The roads don’t have any paved shoulders but traffic is light and easily manageable.

The Route 66 Historic Byway is located in the extreme southeastern corner of Kansas. It is part of the legendary "Mother Road" of Route 66, running from Chicago to Los Angeles, and passing through Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and California, for a total of about 2400 miles. In Kansas, the route runs through Galena, Riverton, and Baxter Springs. Highlights of the route include the only remaining Marsh Arch Bridge on Route 66, Nelson's Old Riverton Store, the Baxter Springs Heritage Center, Schemerhorn Park and the Southeast Kansas Nature Center. Highway 66 carries a fair amount of traffic and is a four-lane highway in some places but it has a good shoulder for its length in Kansas.

The Flint Hills Scenic Byways winds through the heart of the Flint Hills, the nation’s largest remaining tallgrass prairie. This route follows K-177 Highway from Cassoday to Council Grove. You will pass through several historic towns along the way including Cottonwood Falls and Strong City. The Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve is another point of interest with its impressive limestone mansion. There are no paved shoulders on this road but traffic is light. This route is one-way on the K-177 because the surrounding area is open rangeland with very few paved roads, making it impossible to make a loop. Riding out-and-back will give you a different perspective and you are sure to see things you didn’t notice in the other direction.

The Prairie Spirit Trail is a railroad trail that connects the cities of Ottawa and Humboldt and makes up the Prairie Spirit Trail State Park. The trail offers a peaceful tranquility away from the bustle of city life, passing through three counties, eight parks, and 10 charming rural communities. The scenery is diverse and consists of a mix of tallgrass prairie, riparian woodland areas, agricultural lands, and small towns. The surface is a combination of asphalt and hard-packed limestone. Shade is provided by a canopy of trees for most of the trail’s length and it offers easy grades. Permits are required for use of the trail.

The Shunga Trail is an urban pedestrian/bicycle path through a gallery of Topeka parks. It runs from Ripley Park to Crestview Park and paralleling the Shunganunga Creek and passing through a scenic greenway. It is surfaced in concrete and is wide enough to accommodate many walkers, runners, bikers, and skaters that use it. There are many access points throughout and several wonderful places to stop and enjoy the scenery. The trail is basically flat, gaining a little more than 50 feet on its entire course, making it a great place for families and novices.

Lake Shawnee and Shawnee State Park is a great place to spend the day or weekend relaxing and enjoying the outdoors. This ride is on a multipurpose sidewalk that circles the entire lake. It leads through the botanical gardens, skirts the marina, passes the picnic and overlook areas, and along the dam. There are great views of the lake and wonderful scenery along this path.

Although the Post Rock Scenic Byway is only 18 miles long, it packs a lot of scenery and history into a short trip. The byway is named for the stone fence posts created by immigrant farmers who, not deterred by the lack of wood in the region, split native limestone into post rocks to serve as rugged fence posts. The route runs north from Wilson to Lucas on K-232 Highway, passing along the eastern shore of Wilson Reservoir. The highway has a narrow paved shoulder for part of its length and has very low traffic.