American Discovery Trail

The American Discovery Trail through Kansas is 570 miles long and begins in Johnson County on its eastern border by crossing the state line just west of the Watts Mill area on the Indian Creek Bike Trail. While on the ADT in Kansas you will walk in the footsteps of the pioneers, the Great Plains Indian Tribes and many a western hero or bandit. You will see the unique geological formations of Kansas, follow the rivers, view the gorgeous Flint Hills (via the Flint Hills Nature Trail between Ottawa and Council Grove) and Smoky Hills, and watch birds at the Cheyenne Bottoms Wildlife Refuge. The majority of the route through the Sunflower State is on paved or gravel back roads. About 28 miles of the route in Johnson County is on paved shared use trails.

As you venture westward the distance between towns increases and the sources of clean water become more and more rare. There are many streams and rivers in the central section, however, purification is a necessity. Further west water is less plentiful and the area can be very dry at times. Weather can be fairly unpredictable in the state and can become severe very quickly. Remember that you are in "tornado alley" (during spring and summer) and that heat indices can reach 110+ degrees F (43C). Winter blizzards, especially in western Kansas, can create whiteouts with wind chills of -50 degrees F (-45C) or lower.

For more details on the route click here: http://www.discoverytrail.org/states/kansas/ks_info.html