Kansas Photographic Destinations

Ryus Kansas Abandoned Carbon Black Plant Castle Rock Badlands Old Oxford Mill Elk Falls Waterfall and Living Ghost Town Fort Larned National Historic Site Fort Scott National Historic Site Teter Rock Flint Hills Kansas Drinkwater & Schriver Mill Cedar Point Kansas Tallgrass Prairie Preserve Monument Rocks Kansas Cimarron National Grassland - Kansas

Let me help you to find a great location in Kansas for your next photography adventure.  I will list many lesser known destinations, as well as the famous “Icon Locations” for photography.  I will provide photos (Lots of Photos), location information,  consisting of what there is to photograph as well as other information about the destination.  I will give costs, maps, directions, contact information, and other essential information for a successful photo trip.  I will only post for locations that I have personally photographed to insure a quality guide to the best places for photography in Kansas.

Interactive Google Map

Use the map  + – controls to zoom in and out, use the Map drop-down to change to “Map”, “Satellite”, “Hybrid”, or “Terrain” views.  Drag the little man icon from the upper left corner to a map location for street level view. Click on a pushpin for more information about the Photographic Destination, then click on the title to go to the location page.

 

Kansas Photographic Destinations

Kansas Destinations
Teter Rock Flint Hills Kansas Teterville is a ghost town in Greenwood County, Kansas, It is located approximately 11 miles east of Cassoday. No buildings remain of this former community. Teterville was founded as an “oil town” sometime after the Teeter Oil Field was discovered around 1920. The oil field was named in honor of James Teter who owned about 6900 acres of land in Greenwood County. A post office was opened in Teterville in 1927, and remained in operation until it was discontinued in 1962. Teter Rock was originally placed as a guide for settlers crossing the Flint Hills.  the current monument was erected by the Greenwood County Historical Society to replace the earlier landmark created in the 1870s or 1880s by James Wesley Teter (1849-1929). What to Photograph: Teter Rock makes a nice forgroud subject for photographing the Kansas Flint Hills and the Tall Grass Prairie.  This is also a great place to photograph the night sky and the Milky Way. Where it is: Teter Rock is located 0.9 miles south of Teterhill Road on top of a hill.  It is accessible by the public using a rural road on private land, so please respect the property. In 1954. From Cassoday, take the 1st Street Rd (also called NE 150th St) and head east. After half a mile or so, the paved road will turn to gravel. From Cassoday to the Teter Rock turn, it will be approximately 11 miles. The road also becomes known as Teter Hill Rd when you leave Cassoday. There will be a little sign on the right that says “Teterville and Teter Rock” just before the turn-off for Teter Rock. Maps: Interactive Google Map Use the map  + – controls to zoom in and out, click and drag the to move the map, use the Map drop-down to change to “Map”, “Satellite”, “Hybrid”, or “Terrain” views.  Drag the little man icon from the upper left corner to a map location for street level view. GPS: 38°1′46.5″N 96°25′24.9″W (38.029583, -96.423583) Cost: There are no fees to visit Teter Rock. Facilities: There are no facilities at Teter Rock Teter Rock Photo Gallery Click Here for full page gallery More Photographic Destinations in Kansas: Interactive Google Map Use the map  + – controls to zoom in and out, use the Map drop-down to change to “Map”, “Satellite”, “Hybrid”, or “Terrain” views.  Drag the little man icon from the upper left corner to a map location for street level view. Click on a pushpin for more information about the Photographic Destination, then click on the title to go to the location page. Click Here for Photographic Destinations by State    All the information in this post was believed to be accurate at the time it was published.  Please be sure to double check with the location before relying on this information as everything changes over time, especially hours, prices, and whether the location is still open.   Great Places for Great Photos   Let me help you to find a great location for your next photography adventure.  I will list many lesser-known destinations, as well as the famous "Icon Locations" for photography.  I will provide photos (Lots of Photos), location information, consisting of what there is to photograph as well as other information about the destination.  I will give costs, maps, directions, contact information, and other essential information for a successful photo trip.  I will only post for locations that I have personally photographed to ensure a quality guide to great locations for photography. If you know of great places that are not posted, please send me the details, I may just decide that is a place I need to go!     Greg Disch is a freelance photographer located in Arkansas. Greg specializes in nature, scenic, wildlife, and other outdoor subjects in Arkansas and other areas of the country.  Most of the images on this site are available for sale as prints, personal use, or rights managed stock photos. Greg offers both classroom instruction and in the field hands on photographic workshops. Classroom sessions are normally held in Fort Smith Arkansas, but arrangements can be made to bring a class to your group. All classes and workshops have small class sizes designed to provide an optimum student to instructor ratio, where you can get the personal attention, you need.  Most classes and workshops are limited to a maximum of six participants and will be held with a minimum of only two. If you are looking for a wonderful opportunity to get personal individual instruction, I do private workshops and classes at a location of your choice, whether doing a location photo shoot, coming to your home or business, traveling across the country on a road trip, or at my classroom.  This is a fantastic way to learn digital workflow and be sure that your computer equipment is properly configured for optimum performance. [...]Read more...
Tallgrass Prairie Preserve Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve was established on November 12, 1996 to preserve, protect, and interpret for the public an example of the tallgrass prairie ecosystem and the historic and cultural values represented by the Spring Hill Ranch. Once the bed of a vast inland sea located in the heart of the Flint Hills of Kansas, the preserve represents a portion of the less than 4% of remaining tallgrass prairie. What to Photograph: Spring Hill Ranch The Barn The Prairie Fox Creek School Best Time for Photographers: The area is accessible day or night and most anytime can make good photos.  As with many subjects outdoors early morning or late evening with the sun low in the sky can give the beautiful golden hour warmth to your images. Where it is: The preserve is located in northern Chase County, Kansas 2 miles north of intersection U.S. Hwy 50 and Flint Hills National Scenic Byway 177 (K-177) west of Strong City. Watch for brown attraction signs. The preserve is located: 2 miles north of Strong City, KS on K-177 16 miles west of Emporia, KS on U.S. Hwy 50 and 2 miles north on K-177 17 miles south of Council Grove, KS on K-177 85 miles northeast of Wichita on I-35, U.S. Hwy 50, and K-177 60 miles southwest of Topeka on I-335 (Kansas Turnpike) to Emporia, then 16 miles west on U.S. Hwy 50 and 2 miles north on K-177 Maps: Interactive Google Map Use the map  + – controls to zoom in and out, click and drag the to move the map, use the Map drop-down to change to “Map”, “Satellite”, “Hybrid”, or “Terrain” views.  Drag the little man icon from the upper left corner to a map location for street level view. Grounds Map Click map for a larger image Trails Map Click on map for a PDF version. Cost: There are no fees for the Tallgrass Prairie Preserve. Hours: Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve Trails are open 24/7. Prescribed fire will close trails. Watch for signs. Visitor Center hours are 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. May through October. Visitor Center hours are 9:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. November through April Standard Hours Sunday: 8:30 AM – 4:30 AM Monday: 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM Tuesday: 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM Wednesday: 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM Thursday: 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM Friday: 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM Saturday: 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM Facilities: Strong City and Cottonwood Falls Communities Strong City is located two miles southeast of the historic ranch headquarters area on K-177 (Flint Hills National Scenic Byway). Restaurants, lodging, gasoline, postal services, and a city park are available. Cottonwood Falls is the county seat and is located five miles southeast of the historic ranch headquarters area on K-177 (Flint Hills National Scenic Byway). Restaurants, lodging, gasoline, postal services, camping, two parks, library, museums, and area shops are available. For a complete listing of all available goods and services in Chase County, visit the Chase County Chamber of Commerce website. Links: Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve Location Contact Information: 2480B KS Hwy 177  Strong City, KS 66869 Phone: (620) 273-8494 xhit 0 Tallgrass Prairie Photo Gallery Click Here for full page gallery More Photographic Destinations in Kansas: Interactive Google Map Use the map  + – controls to zoom in and out, use the Map drop-down to change to “Map”, “Satellite”, “Hybrid”, or “Terrain” views.  Drag the little man icon from the upper left corner to a map location for street level view. Click on a pushpin for more information about the Photographic Destination, then click on the title to go to the location page. Click Here for Photographic Destinations by State    All the information in this post was believed to be accurate at the time it was published.  Please be sure to double check with the location before relying on this information as everything changes over time, especially hours, prices, and whether the location is still open.   Great Places for Great Photos   Let me help you to find a great location for your next photography adventure.  I will list many lesser-known destinations, as well as the famous "Icon Locations" for photography.  I will provide photos (Lots of Photos), location information, consisting of what there is to photograph as well as other information about the destination.  I will give costs, maps, directions, contact information, and other essential information for a successful photo trip.  I will only post for locations that I have personally photographed to ensure a quality guide to great locations for photography. If you know of great places that are not posted, please send me the details, I may just decide that is a place I need to go!     Greg Disch is a freelance photographer located in Arkansas. Greg specializes in nature, scenic, wildlife, and other outdoor subjects in Arkansas and other areas of the country.  Most of the images on this site are available for sale as prints, personal use, or rights managed stock photos. Greg offers both classroom instruction and in the field hands on photographic workshops. Classroom sessions are normally held in Fort Smith Arkansas, but arrangements can be made to bring a class to your group. All classes and workshops have small class sizes designed to provide an optimum student to instructor ratio, where you can get the personal attention, you need.  Most classes and workshops are limited to a maximum of six participants and will be held with a minimum of only two. If you are looking for a wonderful opportunity to get personal individual instruction, I do private workshops and classes at a location of your choice, whether doing a location photo shoot, coming to your home or business, traveling across the country on a road trip, or at my classroom.  This is a fantastic way to learn digital workflow and be sure that your computer equipment is properly configured for optimum performance. [...]Read more...
Ryus Kansas Abandoned Carbon Black Plant Ryus is an unincorporated community in Grant County Kansas. The town has never had a post office and consists of only a few scattered farm houses and grain elevators with the Cimarron Valley Railroad is based in Satanta, Kansas running through it. United Carbon opened the largest carbon black plant in the world in 1940 in the southeast part of Grant County Kansas.  In the 1960s, United Carbon idled the production of their plant an many families bought and moved the company provided houses to the nearby town of Satanta. Carbon black is a powdery black carbon material resulting from the incomplete combustion of a heavy hydrocarbon (e.g. tar, fuel oil, etc.), in a combustion zone fueled by air and natural gas. Carbon black has been manufactured from natural gas since the 1870’s. The most common use (70%) of carbon black is as a pigment and reinforcing phase in automobile tires. Carbon black also helps conduct heat away from the tread and belt area of the tire, reducing thermal damage and increasing tire life. Its low cost makes it a common addition to cathodes and anodes and is considered a safe replacement to lithium metal in lithium-ion batteries. About 20% of world production goes into belts, hoses, and other non-tire rubber goods. The remaining 10% use of carbon black comes from pigment in inks, coatings, and plastics, as well as being used as a conductive additive in lithium-ion batteries   Where it is:   Ryus is an unincorporated community in Grant County, Kansas, United States. It lies in northeastern Sullivan Township at the intersection of the Cimarron Valley Railroad with K-190, 14 miles southeast of the county seat of Ulysses. Maps: Interactive Google Map Use the map  + – controls to zoom in and out, click and drag the to move the map, use the Map drop-down to change to “Map”, “Satellite”, “Hybrid”, or “Terrain” views.  Drag the little man icon from the upper left corner to a map location for street level view.   GPS: 37°29’28.7622″ N 101°5’38.1738″ W Cost: There is no cost.  Part of the area of the main plant is fenced and marked no trespassing. Hours: There are no hours for the location Facilities: There are no facilities at the location. Location Contact Information: I was not able to find any contact information for the location. Ryus Kansas Abandoned Carbon Black Plant Photo Gallery Click Here for full page gallery   More Photographic Destinations in Kansas Interactive Google Map Use the map  + – controls to zoom in and out, use the Map drop-down to change to “Map”, “Satellite”, “Hybrid”, or “Terrain” views.  Drag the little man icon from the upper left corner to a map location for street level view. Click on a pushpin for more information about the Photographic Destination, then click on the title to go to the location page. Click Here for Photographic Destinations by State    All the information in this post was believed to be accurate at the time it was published.  Please be sure to double check with the location before relying on this information as everything changes over time, especially hours, prices, and whether the location is still open.   Great Places for Great Photos   Let me help you to find a great location for your next photography adventure.  I will list many lesser-known destinations, as well as the famous "Icon Locations" for photography.  I will provide photos (Lots of Photos), location information, consisting of what there is to photograph as well as other information about the destination.  I will give costs, maps, directions, contact information, and other essential information for a successful photo trip.  I will only post for locations that I have personally photographed to ensure a quality guide to great locations for photography. If you know of great places that are not posted, please send me the details, I may just decide that is a place I need to go!     Greg Disch is a freelance photographer located in Arkansas. Greg specializes in nature, scenic, wildlife, and other outdoor subjects in Arkansas and other areas of the country.  Most of the images on this site are available for sale as prints, personal use, or rights managed stock photos. Greg offers both classroom instruction and in the field hands on photographic workshops. Classroom sessions are normally held in Fort Smith Arkansas, but arrangements can be made to bring a class to your group. All classes and workshops have small class sizes designed to provide an optimum student to instructor ratio, where you can get the personal attention, you need.  Most classes and workshops are limited to a maximum of six participants and will be held with a minimum of only two. If you are looking for a wonderful opportunity to get personal individual instruction, I do private workshops and classes at a location of your choice, whether doing a location photo shoot, coming to your home or business, traveling across the country on a road trip, or at my classroom.  This is a fantastic way to learn digital workflow and be sure that your computer equipment is properly configured for optimum performance. [...]Read more...
Old Oxford Mill The Old Oxford Mill in Oxford Kansas. Construction began in 1874 was completed in the fall of 1876. A new mill was built in the 1930 and the old mill closed in 1935 but still used to provide power for the new mill. Old Oxford Mill was completely restored in 1988-89 by the owners, Wallace Champeny and Hal Ross. After the mill was renovated in the 1980’s, it served as a restaurant and gift shop until 2006. For the last decade, Oxford High School has operated the restaurant for one meal a week on Sunday. The Old Oxford Mill is a rare reminder of a once ubiquitous Kansas building type. The survival and continuing use of the building is a testament to the fortitude and ingenuity of the citizens of the town of Oxford. In 1874, three years after the town’s founding, construction began on a gristmill in a heavily wooded valley to the north of town. Investor John M. Hewett and his partner D. N. Cook spearheaded the project, but its completion depended on the support of the townspeople. Local citizens were anxious to see the gristmill completed because it would benefit the entire community, particularly local farmers, thereby increasing Oxford’s overall economic viability. Volunteers hand-dug a half-mile-long diversion channel from the Arkansas River. A local landowner donated the stone used to line the millrace and to construct the mill building. Construction was completed in the fall of 1876 and the mill was soon operating day and night. The original portion of the Oxford Mill is a four-story, uncoursed rubble stone structure, supported on the interior by hand-hewn timber columns and beams. The wood-shingled gable roof is topped by a small building, known as a “Texas,” sitting astride the ridge of the roof. A one-story gabled element is connected to the east of the main building; it sits above the sluice and houses the milling equipment. Another shed is attached to the north of the main building. The appendages are clad with horizontal wood siding. At the Old Oxford Mill, burrstone wheels were used to grind both wheat and corn, but by the 1880s roller-reduction mills had begun to replace the burrstone type. The roller-reduction mills utilized cast-iron rollers more effective in processing the hard red winter wheat, which had become the grain of choice for most Kansan wheat farmers. With the introduction of this type of wheat, the amount harvested in Kansas grew from 2.5 million bushels in the 1870s to 8 million bushels in 1890 and 172 million bushels in 1914. By the mid-1880s, flour milling had become the largest industry in the state. The increasing demand for milling capability resulted in a growth in the number and size of mills. The milling business also relied on changing power supplies, from water to steam and finally to electrical power. The newer, large-scale mills were most often located along rail lines, adjacent to large grain storage facilities, and in larger communities. Struggling to survive, the Oxford Mill tried keep its equipment up-to-date. In 1923 the old grinding machinery was replaced with roller-reduction machinery. In 1935 a new mill was built upstream, and the old mill was again re-engineered with turbines that could supply power to the new mill. The two Oxford mills managed to survive based on its convenient location and the loyalty of the surrounding farmers. But by 1977 the mills were no longer profitable and ceased operation. By the 1980s, with the Old Oxford Mill falling into disrepair, owners Wallace Champeny and Hal Ross, substantially rebuilt the structure under the direction of architect F. Gene Ernst. The original grinding stones were replaced, and corn and wheat were once again milled, albeit on a reduced schedule. The mill ceased operation for good in 1997, and began a new life as a restaurant. Never wildly successful, the restaurant was taken over in 2008 by the Old Oxford Mill Center for Entrepreneurship, which is a joint venture between Cowley College and the local public school district. Students assist in operating the restaurant, which is open for Sunday lunch and for private parties. Although in a different manner, the Old Oxford Mill remains an asset to its community.     Where it is: Midway between Winfield and Wellington, Ks. off US160 in Oxford. Turn north off US166, go 6-7 blocks, and turn right on Buss St. at the water tower. Cross Michigan St. along the high school practice fields to Water St. Turn left on Old Mill Road and go 0.5 miles to 170 Old Mill Rd. The mill is down below the new mill. GPS: 37°17’16.447″ N 97°9’40.0289″ W Maps: Interactive Google Map Use the map  + – controls to zoom in and out, click and drag the to move the map, use the Map drop-down to change to “Map”, “Satellite”, “Hybrid”, or “Terrain” views.  Drag the little man icon from the upper left corner to a map location for street level view.     Hours: The mill’s grounds are open to the public throughout the week. The restaurant is only open from 11am to 2 pm on Sundays. Call to verify whether or not they are open (620) 455-3456.   Cost: There is no cost to visit the mill grounds, the meal runs $12 to $14 per person. Location Contact Information: The restaurant is located at 170 N. Old Mill Rd., Oxford, and they can be reached by phone at 620-455-3456. Old Oxford Mill Photo Gallery Click Here for full page gallery   More Photographic Destinations in Kansas Interactive Google Map Use the map  + – controls to zoom in and out, use the Map drop-down to change to “Map”, “Satellite”, “Hybrid”, or “Terrain” views.  Drag the little man icon from the upper left corner to a map location for street level view. Click on a pushpin for more information about the Photographic Destination, then click on the title to go to the location page. Click Here for Photographic Destinations by State    All the information in this post was believed to be accurate at the time it was published.  Please be sure to double check with the location before relying on this information as everything changes over time, especially hours, prices, and whether the location is still open.   Great Places for Great Photos   Let me help you to find a great location for your next photography adventure.  I will list many lesser-known destinations, as well as the famous "Icon Locations" for photography.  I will provide photos (Lots of Photos), location information, consisting of what there is to photograph as well as other information about the destination.  I will give costs, maps, directions, contact information, and other essential information for a successful photo trip.  I will only post for locations that I have personally photographed to ensure a quality guide to great locations for photography. If you know of great places that are not posted, please send me the details, I may just decide that is a place I need to go!     Greg Disch is a freelance photographer located in Arkansas. Greg specializes in nature, scenic, wildlife, and other outdoor subjects in Arkansas and other areas of the country.  Most of the images on this site are available for sale as prints, personal use, or rights managed stock photos. Greg offers both classroom instruction and in the field hands on photographic workshops. Classroom sessions are normally held in Fort Smith Arkansas, but arrangements can be made to bring a class to your group. All classes and workshops have small class sizes designed to provide an optimum student to instructor ratio, where you can get the personal attention, you need.  Most classes and workshops are limited to a maximum of six participants and will be held with a minimum of only two. If you are looking for a wonderful opportunity to get personal individual instruction, I do private workshops and classes at a location of your choice, whether doing a location photo shoot, coming to your home or business, traveling across the country on a road trip, or at my classroom.  This is a fantastic way to learn digital workflow and be sure that your computer equipment is properly configured for optimum performance. [...]Read more...
Monument Rocks Kansas Also known as  “Chalk Pyramids”  this is a sight that you are not expecting to see in the flat plains of western Kansas.  The area is so unique that it  was the first natural landmark chosen by the U.S. Department of the Interior, as a National Natural Landmark in 1968.  The formations were formed 80 million years ago when the area was a vast inland sea.  The region provides some of the best fossils to be found anywhere in the world.  Monument Rocks  served as a landmark by the Butterfield Overland Dispatch trail, a Pony Express-type mail route.  The limestone formations stick straight up out of the prairie to a height of 70 feet, which looks much larger when surrounded by the flat fields surrounding the site. Monument Rocks is listed as one of the  8 Wonders of Kansas by the Kansas Sampler Foundation. What to Photograph: The rock formations along with the flat fields surrounding them. Best Time for Photographers: The area is accessible day or night and most anytime can make good photos.  As with many subjects outdoors early morning or late evening with the sun low in the sky can give the beautiful golden hour warmth to your images. Where it is: LOCATION Western Kansas, 25 miles south of Oakley and I 70. Directions:  The Smoky Hill River crosses U.S. 83 about 25 miles north of Scott City.  North of the river 2.5 miles a sign directs visitors another 4 miles east and 2 miles south to Monument Rocks. Maps: Interactive Google Map Use the map  + – controls to zoom in and out, click and drag the to move the map, use the Map drop-down to change to “Map”, “Satellite”, “Hybrid”, or “Terrain” views.  Drag the little man icon from the upper left corner to a map location for street level view. Map by Keystone Gallery Cost: There are no fees. The area is privately owned but open to the public. Facilities: There are no facilities. Camping not allowed. Links:  Keystone Gallery, a Fossil Museum and art gallery located in a historic church building near Monument Rocks. Fick Fossil and History Museum in Oakley Kansas Sternberg Museum in Hays Kansas 8 Wonders of Kansas Location Contact Information:  Keystone Gallery, 620.872.2762; keystone@plpnt.com. Nearest City or Town: Oakley 25 miles North. Scott City 25 miles South. Tips for the Photographer: Equipment: You can use just about any equipment for photographing the Monument Rocks, there is plenty of room to move around and get back as far as you like to get the composition you want.  A polarizing filter to help cut the midday glare and add to the deep blue of the sky is a good choice. Photography Tips: If you are photographing during the middle of the day the contrast between the light and dark areas will be very extreme and using a High Dynamic Range (HDR) technique will help recover all of the detail.  The formations take on a new shape with just a few steps in any direction so move around a lot and shoot from different angles. Be cautious walking around in the area as there are rattlesnakes in this part of the country and they love rocky places to hide. Weather: Click for weather forecast Monument Rocks Photo Gallery Click Here for full page gallery More Photographic Destinations in Kansas: Interactive Google Map Use the map  + – controls to zoom in and out, use the Map drop-down to change to “Map”, “Satellite”, “Hybrid”, or “Terrain” views.  Drag the little man icon from the upper left corner to a map location for street level view. Click on a pushpin for more information about the Photographic Destination, then click on the title to go to the location page. Click Here for Photographic Destinations by State    All the information in this post was believed to be accurate at the time it was published.  Please be sure to double check with the location before relying on this information as everything changes over time, especially hours, prices, and whether the location is still open.   Great Places for Great Photos   Let me help you to find a great location for your next photography adventure.  I will list many lesser-known destinations, as well as the famous "Icon Locations" for photography.  I will provide photos (Lots of Photos), location information, consisting of what there is to photograph as well as other information about the destination.  I will give costs, maps, directions, contact information, and other essential information for a successful photo trip.  I will only post for locations that I have personally photographed to ensure a quality guide to great locations for photography. If you know of great places that are not posted, please send me the details, I may just decide that is a place I need to go!     Greg Disch is a freelance photographer located in Arkansas. Greg specializes in nature, scenic, wildlife, and other outdoor subjects in Arkansas and other areas of the country.  Most of the images on this site are available for sale as prints, personal use, or rights managed stock photos. Greg offers both classroom instruction and in the field hands on photographic workshops. Classroom sessions are normally held in Fort Smith Arkansas, but arrangements can be made to bring a class to your group. All classes and workshops have small class sizes designed to provide an optimum student to instructor ratio, where you can get the personal attention, you need.  Most classes and workshops are limited to a maximum of six participants and will be held with a minimum of only two. If you are looking for a wonderful opportunity to get personal individual instruction, I do private workshops and classes at a location of your choice, whether doing a location photo shoot, coming to your home or business, traveling across the country on a road trip, or at my classroom.  This is a fantastic way to learn digital workflow and be sure that your computer equipment is properly configured for optimum performance. [...]Read more...
Fort Scott National Historic Site Fort Scott National Historic Site is a historical area under the control of the United States National Park Service in Fort Scott Kansas. Named after General Winfield Scott, who achieved renown during the Mexican–American War, during the middle of the 19th century the fort served as a military base for US Army action in what was the edge of settlement in 1850. For the next quarter century, it was used as a supply base and to provide security in turbulent areas during the opening of the West to settlement, a period which included Bleeding Kansas and the American Civil War. The current national historic site protects 20 historic structures, a parade ground, and five acres of restored tallgrass prairie, inside the city of Fort Scott. With the Act of August 31, 1965, the National Park Service gave the city government of Fort Scott, Kansas the necessary funds and technical knowledge to restore the fort. On October 19, 1978, Fort Scott became a National Historic Site under the supervision of the National Park Service, encompassing 17 acres.  Surviving structures include four officers’ barracks, one dragoon’s barracks, two infantry barracks, a hospital, guardhouse, dragoon stables, ordnance and post headquarters, quartermaster stables, bake shop, flagpole, and magazine. Another feature of the park is 5 acres  of tallgrass prairie restored as part of an ecology-restoration project. What to Photograph: The historic structures of the fort, and the surrounding tall grass prairie. Where it is: Fort Scott National Historic Site is located in downtown Fort Scott, Kansas. U.S. Highways 69 and 54 intersect here. Fort Scott is about 90 miles south of Kansas City and 60 miles northwest of Joplin, Missouri. It is 4 miles from the Kansas-Missouri border. Signs directing visitors to Fort Scott are posted on highway 69 for visitors coming from the north and the south and on highway 54 for visitors coming from the east and the west. Highway 69 between Fort Scott and Kansas City is a four lane highway, The entrance to the site is one block west of the intersection of Highway 69 and Highway 54 east. (Highway 54 west splits off from Highway 69 about 1/2 mile north of town.) Maps: Interactive Google Map Use the map  + – controls to zoom in and out, click and drag the to move the map, use the Map drop-down to change to “Map”, “Satellite”, “Hybrid”, or “Terrain” views.  Drag the little man icon from the upper left corner to a map location for street level view. Cost: Entrance to Fort Scott NHS is free of charge. It is open 362 days a year (closed Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day. Hours: Today the fort is open throughout the year, save for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years Day. All Park – Fort Scott National Historic Site Visitors may walk the grounds from sunrise to sunset except during periods of snow, ice or other inclement weather conditions that make the grounds unsafe Standard Hours Sunday 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM Monday 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM Tuesday 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM Wednesday 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM Thursday 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM Friday 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM Saturday 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM The visitor center is open seven days a week. Summer hours are 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. April 1 through October 31. Winter hours are 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. November 1 through March 31. Facilities: The visitor center includes a park store, restrooms and orientation desk. The site is located in downtown Fort Scott Kansas. Links: Fort Scott National Historic Site NPS NPS Fort Scott Mobile App Location Contact Information: Physical Address Fort Scott NHS Old Fort Blvd. Fort Scott, KS 66701 By Mail P.O. Box 918 Fort Scott, KS 66701-0918 By Phone Visitor Information 620-223-0310 By Fax 620-223-0188 Fort Scott National Historic Site Photo Gallery Click Here for full page gallery More Photographic Destinations in Kansas: Interactive Google Map Use the map  + – controls to zoom in and out, use the Map drop-down to change to “Map”, “Satellite”, “Hybrid”, or “Terrain” views.  Drag the little man icon from the upper left corner to a map location for street level view. Click on a pushpin for more information about the Photographic Destination, then click on the title to go to the location page. Click Here for Photographic Destinations by State    All the information in this post was believed to be accurate at the time it was published.  Please be sure to double check with the location before relying on this information as everything changes over time, especially hours, prices, and whether the location is still open.   Great Places for Great Photos   Let me help you to find a great location for your next photography adventure.  I will list many lesser-known destinations, as well as the famous "Icon Locations" for photography.  I will provide photos (Lots of Photos), location information, consisting of what there is to photograph as well as other information about the destination.  I will give costs, maps, directions, contact information, and other essential information for a successful photo trip.  I will only post for locations that I have personally photographed to ensure a quality guide to great locations for photography. If you know of great places that are not posted, please send me the details, I may just decide that is a place I need to go!     Greg Disch is a freelance photographer located in Arkansas. Greg specializes in nature, scenic, wildlife, and other outdoor subjects in Arkansas and other areas of the country.  Most of the images on this site are available for sale as prints, personal use, or rights managed stock photos. Greg offers both classroom instruction and in the field hands on photographic workshops. Classroom sessions are normally held in Fort Smith Arkansas, but arrangements can be made to bring a class to your group. All classes and workshops have small class sizes designed to provide an optimum student to instructor ratio, where you can get the personal attention, you need.  Most classes and workshops are limited to a maximum of six participants and will be held with a minimum of only two. If you are looking for a wonderful opportunity to get personal individual instruction, I do private workshops and classes at a location of your choice, whether doing a location photo shoot, coming to your home or business, traveling across the country on a road trip, or at my classroom.  This is a fantastic way to learn digital workflow and be sure that your computer equipment is properly configured for optimum performance. [...]Read more...
  Fort Larned National Historic Site Discover a complete and authentic army post from the 1860s -1870s! This well-preserved fort on the Santa Fe Trail shares a tumultuous history of the Indian Wars era. The sandstone constructed buildings sheltered troops who were known as the Guardians of the Santa Fe Trail. Fort Larned National Historic Site preserves Fort Larned which operated from 1859 to 1878. Renovations to Fort Larned took place between 1866 and 1868. The original sod and adobe structures were removed and replaced with the sandstone buildings that make up the fort today. The post was abandoned on July 13, 1878, and on March 26, 1883, the Fort Larned Military Reservation was transferred from the War Department to the General Land Office of the Department of the Interior. From 1885 to 1966, the buildings housed the headquarters of a ranch, with the owners living in the house of the commanding officer and the employees residing in what had been the officers’ quarters. In 1957 the Fort Larned Historical Society was founded to develop and open the site as a tourist attraction. The fort was designated as a National Landmark in 1961, and in 1964 it was incorporated as a unit of the National Park System. What to Photograph A complete and authentic 1860s army post. Where it is: Fort Larned National Historic Site is located on KS Hwy 156, six miles west of Larned, KS. From I-70 Westbound Take exit 225 for KS 156. Turn left and follow KS 156 approximately 82 miles to Fort Larned National Historic Site. From I-70 Eastbound Take exit 159 for US Hwy 183 south. Follow Hwy 183 about 49 miles south to KS 156. Turn left on KS 156 and continue about 5 miles to Fort Larned National Historic Site. From Dodge City Follow Hwy 56 to Hwy 183 north. Follow 183 north to KS 156. Turn right on KS 156 and continue 5 miles to Fort Larned NHS. From Wichita There are several possible routes. If you prefer major highways, follow Hwy 54 west of Wichita to Hwy 183 north in Greensburg, KS. Follow Hwy 183 north to KS 156. Turn right on KS 156 and continue 5 miles to Fort Larned NHS. If you prefer a shorter distance, follow KS 96 north from Wichita to US Hwy 50 west in Hutchinson. Follow US Hwy 50 west to KS 19. Follow KS 19 north into Larned. Turn left on KS 156 and continue 6 miles to Fort Larned NHS. Fort Larned’s parking lot is about a 1/4 mile from the park entrance. There is a section for both cars and buses and RVs. From the parking lot, it is a short walk across the river to the fort. Handicap parking is located by the walkway leading to the footbridge crossing the river. Maps: Interactive Google Map Use the map  + – controls to zoom in and out, click and drag the to move the map, use the Map drop-down to change to “Map”, “Satellite”, “Hybrid”, or “Terrain” views.  Drag the little man icon from the upper left corner to a map location for street level view. Links: National Park Service Site GPS: 38°10’57.318″ N 99°13’3″ W Hours: Staff begin closing the grounds and visitor center at 4:30 p.m. The parking lot gate is closed and locked for the night at 5 p.m. Standard Hours Sunday 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM Monday 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM Tuesday 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM Wednesday 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM Thursday 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM Friday 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM Saturday 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day.   Cost: There is no entrance fee or charge to visit. Facilities: Fort Larned Visitor Center Located in one of the two historic enlisted barracks, the park visitor center provides orientation to the grounds, a 10 minute AV program, and museum exhibits. Restrooms and drinking fountains are available in the visitor center and the picnic area. Location Contact Information: Mailing Address: 1767 KS Hwy 156 Larned, KS 67550 Phone: (620) 285-6911 This phone is answered during regular business hours. After hours calls will be answered the next day. Please select a mailbox or leave a message on the main extension when the fort is closed.   Fort Larned National Historic Site Photo Gallery Click Here for full page gallery   More Photographic Destinations in Kansas: Interactive Google Map Use the map  + – controls to zoom in and out, use the Map drop-down to change to “Map”, “Satellite”, “Hybrid”, or “Terrain” views.  Drag the little man icon from the upper left corner to a map location for street level view. Click on a pushpin for more information about the Photographic Destination, then click on the title to go to the location page. Click Here for Photographic Destinations by State    All the information in this post was believed to be accurate at the time it was published.  Please be sure to double check with the location before relying on this information as everything changes over time, especially hours, prices, and whether the location is still open.   Great Places for Great Photos   Let me help you to find a great location for your next photography adventure.  I will list many lesser-known destinations, as well as the famous "Icon Locations" for photography.  I will provide photos (Lots of Photos), location information, consisting of what there is to photograph as well as other information about the destination.  I will give costs, maps, directions, contact information, and other essential information for a successful photo trip.  I will only post for locations that I have personally photographed to ensure a quality guide to great locations for photography. If you know of great places that are not posted, please send me the details, I may just decide that is a place I need to go!     Greg Disch is a freelance photographer located in Arkansas. Greg specializes in nature, scenic, wildlife, and other outdoor subjects in Arkansas and other areas of the country.  Most of the images on this site are available for sale as prints, personal use, or rights managed stock photos. Greg offers both classroom instruction and in the field hands on photographic workshops. Classroom sessions are normally held in Fort Smith Arkansas, but arrangements can be made to bring a class to your group. All classes and workshops have small class sizes designed to provide an optimum student to instructor ratio, where you can get the personal attention, you need.  Most classes and workshops are limited to a maximum of six participants and will be held with a minimum of only two. If you are looking for a wonderful opportunity to get personal individual instruction, I do private workshops and classes at a location of your choice, whether doing a location photo shoot, coming to your home or business, traveling across the country on a road trip, or at my classroom.  This is a fantastic way to learn digital workflow and be sure that your computer equipment is properly configured for optimum performance. [...]Read more...
  Elk Falls Kansas Elk Falls Kansas is a very unique town, home to Elk Falls Waterfall with a historic Pratt Truss Bridge.  The town also proclaims to be the “Worlds Largest Living Ghost Town” as well as the “Outhouse Capitol of Kansas”.  In addition it is home to a unique historic Rock Garden created during the great depression.  For a town with around 100 residents it sure has a lot going on. Waterfall The Falls, as it is known locally, is where the town of Elk Falls (pop. 120 or so) derives its name. The natural waterfall is about 10 ft. high and approximately 100 ft. wide, formed by the stone outcropping across the river. It was once the site of a waterpowered grist mill which was built in 1875. The water was originally channeled to one side by a log dam in order to turn the water turbine. Floods washed out the early wooden dams until the curved stone dam was constructed by Jo Johansen, a Swede from Minnesota. This stone dam is still standing well over 100 years and many floods later. The falls are easily viewed from the 1893 Iron Truss Bridge, or hike down to the water’s edge on the massive limestone slabs lining either side of the river. Elk Falls Steel Bridge The Elk Falls Pratt Truss Bridge, near Elk Falls, Kansas, spans the Elk River at the east end of Montgomery St. It was built in 1892 and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1994. It is a Pratt truss bridge built by the George E. King Bridge Co. The bridge was taken out of service in the 1970s and, in 1992, was in the process of some restoration and is open for pedestrian use. Worlds Largest Living Ghost Town Elk Falls, Kansas is a town of less than 200 people that bills itself as the World’s Largest Living Ghost Town. The slogan helped draw some artists to the community and revive the town a few years back, but Elk Falls is declining again. But the town is still worth visiting, particularly in the warm months, as the remaining businesses tend to be seasonal. Interesting businesses include Elk Falls Pottery, The Tannery, the Saw Mill, and the 1879 Sherman House Bed & Breakfast Inn. Outhouse Capitol of Kansas Elk Falls, Kansas is the self proclaimed Outhouse Capital of Kansas. The tiny community has a open house and Outhouse Tour on the Friday and Saturday before Thanksgiving. The Outhouse Tour The Friends of Elk Falls Association coordinates the annual Fall Open House celebration in Elk Falls. Always the Friday and Saturday before Thanksgiving, various businesses, individuals and organizations sponsor an open house, concession or event as part of the community wide festivities. In 1996, at one of the brainstorming meetings, there was a discussion about things we might add to the event. Historic home tours, garden tours and such were not a possibility in this tiny rural community. Someone jokingly said “Well, we have a lot of outhouses in town.” Everyone got a good laugh and then thought, well, why not? No one has ever done THAT before! Thus, the Outhouse Tour and Contest was born. The decision was hesitantly made to try it once. The event was a thundering success! People absolutely loved it! So just what is an outhouse tour? Each year, about twenty brave individuals and local businesses spruce up (or build or relocate) an outhouse for a contest where the visitors are the judges. Cash prizes are awarded to the top three as well as the coveted Outhouse Throne Award, a custom made stoneware trophy chamber pot. Visitors who choose to take the self-guided tour pick up a ballot and a map at the Outhouse Headquarters downtown and vote for their favorite privy! Cost is $1 for a commemorative Outhouse Button. The Rock Garden The Rock Garden began in 1930 during the Great Depression when Maude Frakes hired several local men to build stone and concreate structures in her yard – her very own WPA project!  Her adopted son Bob also made many items including the large elephant, the twin arches, registration desk, and bridge over the fish pool.  Maude and others brought in stones from near and far, many being hauled by wagon and mule. The state Monument (North of the Stone Gazebo) once contained a stone from each of the 48 states.  The small round stones (Wishing Well, Child’s Seat) were sailing ship ballast stones form Denmark which were piled on the shores of the east coast and later used as grinding medium. Many other unusual stones, including fossils, petrified wood, arrowheads, stalactites, stalagmites, quartsite, onyx and many others were used in the construction of the various structures. The garden was complete in 1938 with a water system pressured by the water tower behind the barn.  As many as 1760 visitors signed the guest book in 1933-34. Steve and Jane Fry purchased the 22 acres south of Elk River in 2004 with the dream of preserving what remained of the overgrown and deteriorating 1896 farmstead. After more than a decade of clearing, demolition, repairing and rebuilding, the Frys moved to the property in 2016. A new timber frame addition was added to the original farmhouse and the mule barn was restored and repurposed to house Elk Falls Pottery on the 40th anniversary of the business, established in 1976. The Rock Garden is once again open to visitors of Elk Falls and the Pottery. Group tours and demonstrations are available.   Where it is: Elk Falls and the Steel Bridge – 4TH ST AND MONTGOMERY ST, ELK FALLS, KS 67345 Elk Falls Pottery and the Rock Garden is at the intersection of Elk Falls Pottery Road and K-160 in Elk Falls. GPS: Elk Falls Waterfall  37°22’27.918″ N 96°11’4.32″ W Elk Falls Pottery and Rock Garden 37°22’33.354″ N 96°11’24.066″ W   Maps: Interactive Google Map Use the map  + – controls to zoom in and out, click and drag the to move the map, use the Map drop-down to change to “Map”, “Satellite”, “Hybrid”, or “Terrain” views.  Drag the little man icon from the upper left corner to a map location for street level view.     Hours: Elk Falls Pottery: Open most days about 8 or 9. Occasionally as early as 7. But some days as late as 11 or 12. We close about 5 or 6 – occasionally about 4 or 5, but sometimes as late at 12 or 1. The Elk Falls Waterfall is open 24 hours per day.     Cost: There is no cost to visit the waterfall or The Rock Garden at Elk Falls Pottery. Location Contact Information: Elk Falls Pottery, Inc. Elk Falls, KS 67345 620.329.4425 steve@elkfallspottery.com  Visit us on Facebook! Elk Falls Photo Gallery Click Here for full page gallery   More Photographic Destinations in Kansas Interactive Google Map Use the map  + – controls to zoom in and out, use the Map drop-down to change to “Map”, “Satellite”, “Hybrid”, or “Terrain” views.  Drag the little man icon from the upper left corner to a map location for street level view. Click on a pushpin for more information about the Photographic Destination, then click on the title to go to the location page. Click Here for Photographic Destinations by State    All the information in this post was believed to be accurate at the time it was published.  Please be sure to double check with the location before relying on this information as everything changes over time, especially hours, prices, and whether the location is still open.   Great Places for Great Photos   Let me help you to find a great location for your next photography adventure.  I will list many lesser-known destinations, as well as the famous "Icon Locations" for photography.  I will provide photos (Lots of Photos), location information, consisting of what there is to photograph as well as other information about the destination.  I will give costs, maps, directions, contact information, and other essential information for a successful photo trip.  I will only post for locations that I have personally photographed to ensure a quality guide to great locations for photography. If you know of great places that are not posted, please send me the details, I may just decide that is a place I need to go!     Greg Disch is a freelance photographer located in Arkansas. Greg specializes in nature, scenic, wildlife, and other outdoor subjects in Arkansas and other areas of the country.  Most of the images on this site are available for sale as prints, personal use, or rights managed stock photos. Greg offers both classroom instruction and in the field hands on photographic workshops. Classroom sessions are normally held in Fort Smith Arkansas, but arrangements can be made to bring a class to your group. All classes and workshops have small class sizes designed to provide an optimum student to instructor ratio, where you can get the personal attention, you need.  Most classes and workshops are limited to a maximum of six participants and will be held with a minimum of only two. If you are looking for a wonderful opportunity to get personal individual instruction, I do private workshops and classes at a location of your choice, whether doing a location photo shoot, coming to your home or business, traveling across the country on a road trip, or at my classroom.  This is a fantastic way to learn digital workflow and be sure that your computer equipment is properly configured for optimum performance. [...]Read more...
Drinkwater & Schriver Mill Cedar Point, Kansas The mill, which is also called the Cedar Point Mill, is owned by Drinkwater & Schriver Mill Inc., a Kansas non-profit corporation dedicated to saving the mill and maintaining it as an historic site, celebrating this exceptional 1875 Chase County, Kansas grist mill. In 1857 a Pennsylvanian named O.H. Drinkwater settled in the Cottonwood Valley of Chase County, KS. One of the first settlers of this area, he built a cabin along a small stream in the far western part of the county and called it “Cedar.” A few years later, in 1862, a post office was established here. Mr. Drinkwater became postmaster and named the town Cedar Point. In 1867, Mr. Drinkwater and J.P. Crawford began a milling partnership and built a wooden frame mill used for sawing lumber. P.P. Schriver replaced Mr. Crawford in the partnership and they began milling flour. In 1870, the mill began operating under the name of Drinkwater and Schriver. A year later, construction of a stone structure was begun and the three-story mill was completed in 1875. By 1883, the mill was proclaimed “the largest and finest in Chase County or in this part of the State.” Mr. Schriver’s son, Paul, operated the mill from 1903-1917 and added the frame part on the south side of the mill. The mill changed hands several times throughout the next years, and finally in 1941 was changed from a flour mill to a feed mill. After time spent standing vacant, Dr. Bruce McMullen from Wichita purchased the mill. In January 2000, Cedar Point Mill, Inc. was established by Dr. McMullen, Dan Clothier and Barry Linnens. This group plans to explore the potential restoration of the Drinkwater and Schriver Flour Mill and to maintain it as a community asset. The mill is one of few remaining limestone mills in Kansas and holds great importance in the historic culture of the community, state and region. The mill was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2006. What to Photograph: At this time visitors are welcome to photograph the exterior of the mill.  The mill is too dangerous for visitors to go inside the mill until work is completed. Where it is: The mill is located just ¾ mile south of US 50 Highway, eight miles east of Florence, seventeen miles west of Strong City and approximately thirty miles west of Emporia. Maps: Interactive Google Map Use the map  + – controls to zoom in and out, click and drag the to move the map, use the Map drop-down to change to “Map”, “Satellite”, “Hybrid”, or “Terrain” views.  Drag the little man icon from the upper left corner to a map location for street level view. Cost: There are no fees to visit the mill. Donations are being accepted to restore the mill. Facilities: There are no facilities at the mill. Links: Cedar Point Mill Location Contact Information: Drinkwater &Schriver Mill Inc. First & Main Cedar Point, KS 66843 816-808-1610 info@cedarpointmill.com Drinkwater & Schriver Mill Photo Gallery Click Here for full page gallery More Photographic Destinations in Kansas: Interactive Google Map Use the map  + – controls to zoom in and out, use the Map drop-down to change to “Map”, “Satellite”, “Hybrid”, or “Terrain” views.  Drag the little man icon from the upper left corner to a map location for street level view. Click on a pushpin for more information about the Photographic Destination, then click on the title to go to the location page. Click Here for Photographic Destinations by State    All the information in this post was believed to be accurate at the time it was published.  Please be sure to double check with the location before relying on this information as everything changes over time, especially hours, prices, and whether the location is still open.   Great Places for Great Photos   Let me help you to find a great location for your next photography adventure.  I will list many lesser-known destinations, as well as the famous "Icon Locations" for photography.  I will provide photos (Lots of Photos), location information, consisting of what there is to photograph as well as other information about the destination.  I will give costs, maps, directions, contact information, and other essential information for a successful photo trip.  I will only post for locations that I have personally photographed to ensure a quality guide to great locations for photography. If you know of great places that are not posted, please send me the details, I may just decide that is a place I need to go!     Greg Disch is a freelance photographer located in Arkansas. Greg specializes in nature, scenic, wildlife, and other outdoor subjects in Arkansas and other areas of the country.  Most of the images on this site are available for sale as prints, personal use, or rights managed stock photos. Greg offers both classroom instruction and in the field hands on photographic workshops. Classroom sessions are normally held in Fort Smith Arkansas, but arrangements can be made to bring a class to your group. All classes and workshops have small class sizes designed to provide an optimum student to instructor ratio, where you can get the personal attention, you need.  Most classes and workshops are limited to a maximum of six participants and will be held with a minimum of only two. If you are looking for a wonderful opportunity to get personal individual instruction, I do private workshops and classes at a location of your choice, whether doing a location photo shoot, coming to your home or business, traveling across the country on a road trip, or at my classroom.  This is a fantastic way to learn digital workflow and be sure that your computer equipment is properly configured for optimum performance. [...]Read more...
Cimarron National Grassland 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. Cimarron National Grassland Auto Tour This self-guided tour, in “The Sea of Grass” brochure, highlights many points of interest, scenery, and amenities found on the Grassland.  It is approximately 30 miles long, so plan on about 2-3 hours.  Roads are good when dry, but use caution if there`s been rain.  Sites include a Prairie Dog Town, the Santa Fe Trail, Point of Rocks, the Cimarron River, and much more. 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. 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: 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 History of Point of Rocks area 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 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. 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. Cimarron National Grassland Photo Gallery Click Here for full page gallery More Photographic Destinations in Kansas: Interactive Google Map Use the map  + – controls to zoom in and out, use the Map drop-down to change to “Map”, “Satellite”, “Hybrid”, or “Terrain” views.  Drag the little man icon from the upper left corner to a map location for street level view. Click on a pushpin for more information about the Photographic Destination, then click on the title to go to the location page. Click Here for Photographic Destinations by State    All the information in this post was believed to be accurate at the time it was published.  Please be sure to double check with the location before relying on this information as everything changes over time, especially hours, prices, and whether the location is still open.   Great Places for Great Photos   Let me help you to find a great location for your next photography adventure.  I will list many lesser-known destinations, as well as the famous "Icon Locations" for photography.  I will provide photos (Lots of Photos), location information, consisting of what there is to photograph as well as other information about the destination.  I will give costs, maps, directions, contact information, and other essential information for a successful photo trip.  I will only post for locations that I have personally photographed to ensure a quality guide to great locations for photography. If you know of great places that are not posted, please send me the details, I may just decide that is a place I need to go!     Greg Disch is a freelance photographer located in Arkansas. Greg specializes in nature, scenic, wildlife, and other outdoor subjects in Arkansas and other areas of the country.  Most of the images on this site are available for sale as prints, personal use, or rights managed stock photos. Greg offers both classroom instruction and in the field hands on photographic workshops. Classroom sessions are normally held in Fort Smith Arkansas, but arrangements can be made to bring a class to your group. All classes and workshops have small class sizes designed to provide an optimum student to instructor ratio, where you can get the personal attention, you need.  Most classes and workshops are limited to a maximum of six participants and will be held with a minimum of only two. If you are looking for a wonderful opportunity to get personal individual instruction, I do private workshops and classes at a location of your choice, whether doing a location photo shoot, coming to your home or business, traveling across the country on a road trip, or at my classroom.  This is a fantastic way to learn digital workflow and be sure that your computer equipment is properly configured for optimum performance. [...]Read more...
Castle Rock Badlands Castle Rock is a large limestone pillar landmark in Gove County, Kansas. The formation and the nearby badlands are located in the Smoky Hills region of Kansas, which is approximately 11 miles south of I-70 near Quinter, Kansas.   Scattered chalk spires, hoodoos, and walls that tower over the plains in Gove, Logan, and Trego counties are among the state’s most distinctive geologic features. As one of the most notable outliers, Castle Rock in Gove County served as a landmark for early travelers on the Smoky Hill Trail, which was used for a short time as a stagecoach line by the Butterfield Overland Despatch. Carved by water, wind, and other environmental forces, Castle Rock is part of the Smoky Hill Chalk Member of the Niobrara Chalk. The massive layers of chalk formed from sediments deposited on the bottom of a great inland sea that covered much of western North America during the later part of the Cretaceous Period, about 80 million years ago. In the late 1800s, the Smoky Hill Chalk was the focus of a flurry of paleontological activity that produced fossils of sharks, turtles, fish, mosasaurs (large swimming reptiles), and pterosaurs. Although spectacular fossils are still being found in the region, Inoceramus (clams) and other marine shelled animals are much more common. The Castle Rock spires and other remnants of the Cretaceous sea floor will last well beyond the 21st century, but erosion from wind and water continues to wear them down. In 1998, a hoodoo in the badlands known as Cobra Rock collapsed, and in 2001 the top of Castle Rock’s tallest spire toppled after a thunderstorm. A chalk badland overlooking Castle Rock provides further opportunity for exploration. Although the landowner graciously allows access to Castle Rock and the badlands, visitors should keep in mind they are on private property. The roads to Castle Rock are unpaved and may be impassible in wet weather. Castle Rock was a landmark on the Butterfield Overland Despatch route (Overland Trail). The chalk was deposited in the area by an ancient inland sea. The formation was formed by the weathering of the chalk by wind and water. It received its name because it is said to look like a castle rising above the prairie. In 2007, the Kansas Sampler Foundation selected Castle Rock as one of the Eight Wonders of Kansas.   There is a loop road or trail that makes a circle all the way around the badlands.  The road is rough and rutted and a high clearance vehicle is recommended. This is private land, so please treat it with respect.   Where it is: From 1-70 take the Quinter Exit (107) south on Castle Rock Road for 14.6 miles. Turn east and go 4 miles to the Castle Rock outcrop turnoff. Drive 1 mile north to the cattle grate. Follow the road to the right and circle into Hackberry Creek valley and back to the grate (a little over 2 miles). This is private land, so please treat it with respect.  These are dirt roads and can be rough and get very muddy in wet weather. GPS: 38°51’43.002″ N 100°10’14.928″ W Maps: Interactive Google Map Use the map  + – controls to zoom in and out, click and drag the to move the map, use the Map drop-down to change to “Map”, “Satellite”, “Hybrid”, or “Terrain” views.  Drag the little man icon from the upper left corner to a map location for street level view.   Hours: There are no hours for Castle Rock or the Badlands, they are always accessible.   Cost: There is no cost to visit Castle Rock.   Location Contact Information: There is no contact information for the location. Facilities: There are no facilities, you are literally in the middle of a cow pasture. Castle Rock Photo Gallery Click Here for full page gallery   More Photographic Destinations in Kansas Interactive Google Map Use the map  + – controls to zoom in and out, use the Map drop-down to change to “Map”, “Satellite”, “Hybrid”, or “Terrain” views.  Drag the little man icon from the upper left corner to a map location for street level view. Click on a pushpin for more information about the Photographic Destination, then click on the title to go to the location page. Click Here for Photographic Destinations by State    All the information in this post was believed to be accurate at the time it was published.  Please be sure to double check with the location before relying on this information as everything changes over time, especially hours, prices, and whether the location is still open.   Great Places for Great Photos   Let me help you to find a great location for your next photography adventure.  I will list many lesser-known destinations, as well as the famous "Icon Locations" for photography.  I will provide photos (Lots of Photos), location information, consisting of what there is to photograph as well as other information about the destination.  I will give costs, maps, directions, contact information, and other essential information for a successful photo trip.  I will only post for locations that I have personally photographed to ensure a quality guide to great locations for photography. If you know of great places that are not posted, please send me the details, I may just decide that is a place I need to go!     Greg Disch is a freelance photographer located in Arkansas. Greg specializes in nature, scenic, wildlife, and other outdoor subjects in Arkansas and other areas of the country.  Most of the images on this site are available for sale as prints, personal use, or rights managed stock photos. Greg offers both classroom instruction and in the field hands on photographic workshops. Classroom sessions are normally held in Fort Smith Arkansas, but arrangements can be made to bring a class to your group. All classes and workshops have small class sizes designed to provide an optimum student to instructor ratio, where you can get the personal attention, you need.  Most classes and workshops are limited to a maximum of six participants and will be held with a minimum of only two. If you are looking for a wonderful opportunity to get personal individual instruction, I do private workshops and classes at a location of your choice, whether doing a location photo shoot, coming to your home or business, traveling across the country on a road trip, or at my classroom.  This is a fantastic way to learn digital workflow and be sure that your computer equipment is properly configured for optimum performance. [...]Read more...