Cimarron National Grassland – Kansas
Cimarron National Grassland |
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Description:Cimarron National Grassland is located in the very southwest corner of Kansas ,primarily in Morton County. The Cimarron National Grassland is the largest parcel of public land in the state of Kansas, comprising over100,000 acres. The multipurpose land is used for hiking, fishing, hunting, camping and bird watching. The Cimarron river, normally a dry sand bed, flows underground thru the grassland. A large rock outcropping called Point of Rocks was an important landmark for travelers heading west on the Cimarron Cutoff of the Sante Fe Trail, which can still be seen from Point of Rocks. This is the third highest point in the state of Kansas with an elevation at its summit of 3,540 ft. The Cimarron National Grassland contains the longest public owned section of the historic Santa Fe Trail, approximately 23 miles, which is marked with limestone fenceposts. Just down the road is Middle Spring which was one of the rare reliable water sources on this section of the trail. The drought of the 1930′s, known as the “Dust Bowl” era, left the land in poor condition. In 1938 the federal government began purchasing the devastated land to restore it. Originally known as Land Utilization Projects, the lands were renamed Cimarron National Grassland in June 1960. Today the land is managed for wildlife, water conservation, livestock grazing, recreation and minerals production. Federal and private land are interspersed, so please respect the property of others. |
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| Cost: |
there is no fee for this area |
| Best Time to Visit: | The grassland has something different in every season, the key to finding interesting photos is to get off the highway and out of the car to see the area up close. |
| Where it is: | The very southwest corner of Kansas, all around the town of Elkhart. |
| Directions: | Directions: The District Office, identified as the Cimarron National Grasslands Range Station, is on U.S. 56 in Elkhart. Stop here (hours: M-F, 8-5) to pick up a map, wildlife checklist, and the self-guided auto tour booklet; or write for the material: (see contact info below) The self-guided auto tour begins 2 miles north of Elkhart on K-27. There is a picnic area south of the river 7.5 miles north of Elkhart on K-27. South of the picnic area is a road east to a campground. Middle Spring and Point of Rocks are reached from K-27 by turning west, 0.5 miles north of the Cimarron River bridge. |
| Map: | Cimarron National Grassland Map |
| Links: | Morton County Kansas City of Elkhart |
| Contact: | 242 East Highway 56 P.O. Box 300 Elkhart, Kansas 67950 Phone (620) 697-4621 Fax(620) 697-4340 |
| Weather: | The climate here is characterized by mild winters, hot dry summers and cool evenings. Spring and fall seasons have moderate temperatures accompanied by an occasional windy day. Precipitation, usually less than 16 inches per year, is concentrated from April to September. Snowfall is minimal and short-lived. |
Tips for the Photographer |
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| Equipment: | You can use just about any photo equipment depending upon what you are photographing. A wide angle for sweeping vistas of the grassland to a long telephoto for wildlife. |
| What to Photograph: | Rock cliffs, cottonwood groves, grassy fields, yucca and sage brush are scattered throughout the land. Deer, Elk, and pronghorns are found in the grassland along with the over 360 species of birds. There is also a pr |
| Photography Tips: | This is a great place for fantastic sunsets, you just need to be sure there are some clouds in the sky to add drama, find a place with a windmill or oil pump to place in the foreground and underexpose to create a silhouette and great photos are almost guaranteed.The yucca plants, cactus, sunflowers and many other grassland plants make some very interesting closeup shots. |
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