Gypsum Hills

Scenic Byway

With craggily canyons and vibrant red dirt, the earth around here looks a little different. The Gypsum Hills Scenic Byway is a landscape that is straight out of a western film. Whimsical wildflowers dot the route in the springtime, adding a burst of color to this otherworldly landscape. In the winter, a snow-covered mesa with a pop of rust-colored soil underneath feels like an unusual, but beautiful, sight. But this byway is more than a pretty face. The history of the area is preserved and ready for you to discover.

Gypsum Hills Byway Map

Things to do along the way

About the Byway

  • Locations

    • South side of US 160, west of Medicine Lodge (37.27521, -98.69534)
    • US-160 and US-281, north side of US 160, east of US 281 intersection (37.27568, -98.596)
    • US-160 5 miles west of Medicine Lodge, just before Forest City Rd. (37.28171, -98.74897)
  • Driving Directions

    Distance: 42 miles

    The route can be driven either east or west, between Medicine Lodge and Coldwater on U.S. 160, with access from U.S. 183 in the west and U.S. 281 in the east. Highways passing near Harper on U.S. 160 east of the byway can also provide additional access.

  • Byway Gallery

    Kansas Byways

    Land & Sky

    Travelers along the Land and Sky Scenic Byway have the opportunity to experience the Wallace Branch of the Great Western Cattle Trail, scale…

    Prairie Trail

    When you travel the Prairie Trail Scenic Byway, you follow in the steps of Native Americans, explorers and pioneers as they sought food…

    Native Stone

    Discover the natural beauty of the panoramic Native Stone Scenic Byway.

    Wetlands & Wildlife

    Along the byway, you'll encounter landscapes and communities shaped by the powerful forces of motion and change. You're entering a…

    Frontier Military

    Travel through time, visiting multiple forts along the Frontier Military Historic Byway.  Originally built to move soldiers and…

    Post Rock

    Over the Smoky Hills of weathered bedrock, the Post Rock Scenic Byway winds through fields, pastures and prairie.

    Smoky Valley

    Named for their hazy, blue appearance at sunrise and sunset, the Smoky Hills divide the more easterly mixed-grass prairie from the…

    Western Vistas

    Visit a rugged landscape on the culturally and visually fascinating route known as the Western Vistas Historic Byway. 

    Kansas Route 66

    Kansas' Historic Route 66 Byway offers opportunities for visitors to enjoy a variety of experiences to "get their own kicks…

    Glacial Hills

    The Glacial Hills Scenic Byway gets its name from the rolling hills and rock-strewn valleys carved by ancient glaciers. 

    Flint Hills

    The Flint Hills National Scenic Byway offers incredible views of the native grasses and flowers of the tallgrass prairie - one of the last…

    For more information about the Gypsum Hills Scenic Byway, contact:

    Dollie Mathes
    620-243-3059
     
    Medicine Lodge Tourism
    620-886-9815

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