Travel Itinerary
Kansas transforms into a breathtaking canvas of crimson, gold, and amber when autumn arrives. The Sunflower State might be known for its prairies, but its fall foliage rivals even the most famous leaf-peeping destinations.
Grab your camera and mark your calendar for these spectacular Kansas spots to witness nature’s most colorful show in 2025!
1. Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve
Rolling hills burst into fiery hues between October 12-26. The preserve’s hiking trails wind through America’s last remaining tallgrass prairie ecosystem, where russet grasses complement the changing trees.
Snap photos at dawn when golden light bathes the landscape. Rangers often host guided fall walks highlighting the preserve’s unique ecology!
2. Flint Hills National Scenic Byway
Cruise along K-177 from Cassoday to Council Grove between October 15-31 for an unforgettable autumn drive. This 47-mile stretch showcases limestone outcroppings framed by vibrant foliage.
Stop at scenic overlooks where panoramic views reveal the patchwork of colors blanketing the hills. Morning fog often creates magical conditions for photographers!
3. Konza Prairie Nature Trails
Science meets scenery on 8,600 acres just outside Manhattan, where autumn turns a research station into a natural spectacle between October 15 and 31. Families wander the manageable Nature Loop as prairie grasses glow in shades of yellow and copper, standing out against skies so blue they feel painted on.
Every so often, bison roam the rolling hills, adding a wild surprise to leaf-peeping walks through this living laboratory.
4. Glacial Hills Scenic Byway
Follow scenic K-7 from Leavenworth to White Cloud between October 15 and 30 for some of northeastern Kansas’s most breathtaking autumn color. The route winds past ancient glacial formations now wrapped in fiery reds and golden yellows, turning the drive into a natural history lesson painted in leaves.
Quaint towns along the way invite you to pause for cider sips and pumpkin-spiced treats, while Missouri River overlooks near Atchison create picture-perfect backdrops for fall photos.
5. Native Stone Scenic Byway
History buffs, this one’s for you! From October 16-31, the limestone fence posts along K-4 and K-99 stand sentinel amid autumn’s palette. The route connects Dover, Eskridge, Alma, and Wabaunsee.
Maple and oak trees blaze with color against historic stone structures. The Flint Hills’ famous tallgrass turns coppery, creating a quintessential Kansas fall tableau worth every photo!
6. Clinton Lake & Baker Wetlands
Clinton Lake near Lawrence shines brightest between October 18 and November 3, when its calm waters double the spectacle by mirroring the fiery foliage along the shore. Trails on the north side frame the lake with arches of red, orange, and gold, offering some of the area’s most rewarding views.
Nearby Baker Wetlands add russet marsh grasses for extra color, while early risers are treated to sunrise mist rolling across the surface – a fleeting magic that makes photographers and nature lovers glad they woke before dawn.
7. Shawnee Mission Park & Overland Park Arboretum
Urban leaf-peeping at its finest between October 18-November 3! Shawnee Mission Park offers 1,600 acres of autumn wonder, including a 120-acre lake reflecting fall colors.
Just minutes away, the Overland Park Arboretum showcases curated tree collections in full autumn glory. The arboretum’s maple collection turns particularly vibrant, creating Instagram-worthy photo spots throughout!
8. Perry State Park
Perry Lake turns into a fall showcase from October 15 to 31, when hickory and oak trees cloak the shoreline in warm hues that ripple across the water. Mountain bikers find the Perry Lake Trail especially rewarding during this season, weaving through rolling terrain alive with color.
Photographers flock to the old-growth forest areas, where golden-hour light filters dramatically through fiery canopies, creating scenes that feel both peaceful and cinematic.
9. Tuttle Creek State Park
Manhattan’s autumn gem glows brightest from October 20 to November 1, when its 1,200 acres shift into a quilt of fiery color spread across rocky outcrops and wooded ravines.
Kayakers slip across the water for shoreline views that shimmer like moving paintings, each paddle stroke rippling through reflections of scarlet and gold. Families head to the River Pond area, where picnic tables rest beneath maples and cottonwoods dressed in full autumn regalia, turning simple outings into storybook scenes.
10. Milford State Park
Milford Lake, Kansas’s largest, turns into a fall showstopper from October 20 to November 2 as 16,000 shimmering acres reflect the colorful hillsides around Junction City.
Bald eagles often soar overhead during this season, their shadows sweeping across the water and adding a wild thrill to the calm scenery. In the Republican River area, towering cottonwoods blaze into brilliant gold, arching over trails to form natural tunnels that make hikes feel like stepping into a glowing autumn cathedral.
11. Elk City State Park & Table Mound Trail
Southeastern Kansas offers dramatic terrain and colors from October 24-November 7. Table Mound Trail climbs to spectacular vistas overlooking Elk City Reservoir wrapped in autumn hues.
Ancient blackjack oaks turn deep crimson here, creating a unique color palette. Post-hike, drive the park’s scenic roads where tunnels of color arch overhead, perfect for slow drives with the windows down!
12. Cross Timbers State Park
Ancient post oak forest meets tallgrass prairie at Toronto Lake from October 24-November 7. Some trees here are over 400 years old, creating a primeval backdrop for fall adventures!
The Chautauqua Hills region features unique flora not found elsewhere in Kansas. Hiking the Ancient Trees Trail during peak color feels like stepping into a fantasy world where twisted oaks wear cloaks of russet and gold!
13. Great Plains Nature Center
Wichita’s urban oasis bursts into color from October 20 to November 5, when 282-acre Chisholm Creek Park becomes a patchwork of glowing woodlands and wetlands.
A two-mile paved path guides visitors through scenes of scarlet, amber, and gold, with migrating birds adding motion and sound to the spectacle. For chilly mornings, the observation building offers warm, glass-framed views and interpretive displays that explain the science behind those dazzling leaves, making the park both a retreat and a classroom in autumn.
14. Wichita’s Urban Parks
City dwellers rejoice! From October 20-November 5, Sedgwick County, Riverside, and Oak Parks transform into autumn wonderlands without leaving town. Century-old trees in these historic parks create spectacular color shows.
Riverside’s paths along the Arkansas River offer water reflections that double the foliage impact. Oak Park’s Japanese garden elements provide unique compositional elements for photographers seeking that perfect fall shot!
15. Gypsum Hills Scenic Byway
Red rock country turns painterly from October 10 to 25 along a 42-mile stretch near Medicine Lodge, where mesas, buttes, and canyons wear autumn’s colors like cloaks.
Golden cottonwoods glow along creek beds, their brightness heightened by the deep red soil, a contrast as dramatic as firelight against brick. Sunset drives are pure magic, when low light deepens both stone and foliage into a panorama that feels lifted from a western canvas.