Like apple pie and baseball, there's something very American about hitting the road and taking in the scenery. Kansas is home to thirteen byways, two of which are officially designated National Scenic Byways, seven state Scenic Byways, and four Historic Byways. Lindsborg is one of the premier stops on the Prairie Trail Scenic Byway.
The Prairie Trail Scenic Byway is a 56-mile route through north central Kansas. It begins south of Canton, not far from where the Santa Fe and Chisholm Trails brought travelers and cattle in the 19th century. From Canton the Byway heads north on K-86, winding its way along the westen edge of the Flint Hills. The Maxwell Wildlife Refuge offers visitors an opportunity to see bison and elk. McPherson State Lake offers fishing, camping, and hiking. The Byway then heads west out of Roxbury on Smoky Valley Road. Great panoramas can be seen to the south overlooking the Wildlife Refuge and Battle Hill Knobs. Prairie Trail Scenic Byway continues west until the roadway ends at Old US Highway 81. Here the Byway turns north toward Lindsborg.
The Byway continues west on K-4 from Lindsborg towards Marquette. The Kansas Motorcycle Museum in Marquette houses over 100 motorcycles and the motorcycle career of "Stan the Man" Engdahl. From Marquette, the Byway follows K-4 to K-141 north. From K-141, the traveler can stop at Kanopolis State Park and Reservoir. Nearby, Mushroom Rock State Park provides unique geologic rock "mushroom" formations for visitors to enjoy. The Byway ends at the intersection with K-140, but the traveler's experience can be extended by continuing westward to the community of Ellsworth, rich in cattle trail history.
