National Scenic Byway

Welcome to the Wetlands and Wildlife national Scenic Byway . This 77-mile Byway showcases two of the world's most important wetlands--Cheyenne Bottoms and the Quivira National Wildlife Refuge. Here, more than 60,000 acres of wetlands host millions of migrating birds each year. Sandhill cranes, pelicans, bald eagles, whooping cranes, plovers, sandpipers, Sandhill cranes, pelicans, bald eagles, whooping cranes, plovers, sandpipers, avocets, ducks, geese, and more fill these wetlands with a living spectacle of color, motion, and sound. No wonder this region has been names one of the Eight Wonders of Kansas!

But the Byway offers far more then beautiful wetlands and birds. Along your trek, you'll see native limestone buildings, underground tunnels, beautifully crafted metal street banners. WPA art and bridges, one of the nation's last independent flour mills, historic sites along the Santee Fe Trail, a raptor of rehabilitation center, and much more.

If you would like a guided tour of the Byway stop by the Stafford County Court House. They have a FANTASTIC audio tour of the byway. Stop by the County Clerk and they will be very glad to provide you FOR FREE the audio and brochure that goes along with the tour. Hope you enjoy the tour.

Just so you know what to expect here are the points of interest of the tour:

Site 1 - Hoisington

Site 2 - The Nature Conservancy Cheyenne Bottoms Preserve

Site 3 - Cheyenne Bottoms Scenic Overlook

Site 4 - Claflin

Site 5 - Camp Aldrich

Site 6 - Kansas Wetlands Education Center

Site 7 - Cheyenne Bottoms East Entrance Overlook

Site 8 - Santa Fe Trail Region

Site 9 - Fort Zarah Historical Marker and Park

Site 10 - Barton County Historical Museum and Village

Site 11 - Great Bend

Note to Travelers - Arkansas River

Site 12 - Ellinwood

Site 13 - Ringering Campground and Nature Walk

Site 14 - Dozier Winery

Site 15 - Miller Ranch Longhorn Cattle

Site 16 - Prairie Shelter belts

Site 17 - Mount Pleasant Church

Note to Travelers - CRP Grasslands

Note to Travelers - Home on the Range

Site 18 - Peace Church and Rural Cemeteries

Site 1 - Quivira Scenic Overlook

Site 20 - Sleeper Artesian Well

Site 21- Big Salt Marsh-Quivira Wildlife Drive

Site 22 - Quivira Environmental Education Classroom

Site 23 - Quivira Visitor Center and Little Salt Marsh

Note to Travelers - Prairie Dunes

Site 24 - Hudson

Site 25 - Stafford County Flour Mills Co.

Note to Travelers - Prairie Dunes

Site 26 - St. John

Site 27 - Stafford