The 1075-acre Cross Timbers State Park is located at Toronto Lake on the Verdigris River in southeastern Kansas. This region was a favored hunting and camping ground of Native Americans of the Osage Nation. The forested flood plains, surrounded by terraces of prairie and hills of oak savannah, provide visitors an opportunity to immerse themselves in some of the most diverse flora and fauna in Kansas.
Cross Timbers State Park features a number of trails:
Oak Ridge Trail - This 0.5-mile trail runs through a forest of Blackjack Oak, Post Oak, American Elm, Red Cedar, Red Bud, and Rough-Leafed Dogwood on a moderately-difficult trail.
Overlook Trail - This 1.25-mile trail is a challenging path through many steep ravines and sandstone outcroppings, and along a cliff overlooking the lake, making for spectacular views.
Chautauqua Hills Trail - This trail offers four interconnecting loops of varying lengths and difficulties, from 1.5 miles to 11 miles in length, each offering spectacular woodland and prairie scenery.
Blackjack Trail - This 1-mile trail takes you through open trees where sunshine filters through the woodland and numerous stands of native wildflowers can be found.
In all, there are about 17 miles of trails open for hiking, backpacking and biking.
Web Site: ksoutdoors.com
Location: Toronto, KS
