Conservation and Outdoor Recreation Programs title bar with the National Park Service arrowhead Parknet and arrowhead

Kansas Segments

Hector Santiago
National Park Service
Midwest Regional Office
601 Riverside Drive
Omaha, Nebraska 68102
(402) 661-1848

Fall season river photo

River
County
Reach
Length (miles)
Year Listed/ Updated
Potential Classification
ORVs
Description
Other States
Arikaree River Cheyenne KS/NE Line to Alder Creek
48
1982
  F, W, H, C Exceptional fish and wildlife habitat along river, especially wetlands; highest-valued fishery resource (FWS); significant waterfowl use; historic Beecher Island Indian Massacre site; Jones-Miller Gap Paleo Buffalo Kill-Storage site.
CO
Caney River Chautauqua, Elk KS/OK line to source
56
1982
  S, R, G, F, H Very scenic southern Flint Hills stream through relatively undisturbed woodland tall grass prairie ecosystem; excellent seasonal canoeing; excellent sport fishery; significant limestone outcrops and unusual formations; old trail crossings.  
Cedar Creek Chase Cottonwood River to Chase/Butler county line
20
1982
  S, R, G Relatively clear gravel bottom stream; excellent quality Flint Hills stream.  
Chikaskia River Sumner, Harper KS/OK line to Highway 2 northeast of Runnymede
52
1982
  S, R, F, W, H Best of south central Kansas streams, one of best high plains streams; good seasonal canoeing; high water quality, good fishery; excellent wildlife diversity and populations; old mill site.  
Cimarron River Comanche, Clark, Meade Confluence with Buffalo Creek in OK Highway 23 east of Liberal, KS (continues upstream in Section 13d to KS/CO line)
94
1982
  H Wide stream with minimal flow, scattered trees, surrounded by isolated, undeveloped land; Cimarron Redoubt, excavated remains of small sandbag 'fort' built by army in 1870 to protect military route between Kansas and Indian territory.
OK
Cimarron River Meade, Seward, Haskell, Grant, Stevens, Morton Highway 23 east of Liberal, KS, to CO/KS Line (continues downstream in Section 13e to KS/OK State line)
125
1982
  H, C Wagon Bed Springs National Historic Landmark, an oasis on 60-mile Cimarron Cutoff route of Santa Fe Trail (ruts still visible in vicinity); numerous prehistoric sites from Paleo to more recent Indian usage.  
Cottonwood River, South Fork Chase Cottonwood River to Little Cedar Creek
22
1982
  S, R, G, F, W Flint Hills stream, surrounded by rolling hills and native tall grasses; excellent native fishery; excellent riparian habitat.  
Fall River Wilson, Elk, Greenwood Verdigris River to Fall River Lake
56
1982
  S, R, G, F, W Scenic larger river flowing out of rolling tall grass prairie, upper reaches in high quality Flint Hills ecosystem; excellent fish and wildlife resources; excellent canoeing.  
Grouse Creek Cowley Arkansas River to Cowley/Butler County Line
60
1982
  S, R, G, F, W High quality western Flint Hills stream; good canoeing; excellent fish and wildlife resources.  
Kansas River Wyandotte, Johnson, Leavenworth, Douglas, Jefferson I-635 to Delaware River
57
1982
  S, R, F, W, C Relatively large plains river having good scenic values; one of only three public streams in the state; access for recreation opportunities, including canoeing, is uncommonly good.  
Lyon Creek Geary, Dickinson Smoky Hill River to RR Bridge south of Woodbine
42
1982
  S, R, F, W Scenic northern Flint Hills stream with good water quality, dense tree corridor; good canoeing; good native fish population; large blue heron rookery.  
Medicine (Lodge) River Barber, Kiowa Gerlane to Belvidere (continues downstream in Section 12f to KS/OK Line)
43
1982
  S, R, W Good stream flow through rolling topography with moderate-to-heavy streamside vegetation; excellent wildlife values.  
Medicine (Lodge) River Barber KS/OK Line to Gerlane (continues upstream in Section 13e to Belvidere)
25
1982
  S, R, W, H Good stream flow through rolling topography with moderate to heavy streamside vegetation; excellent wildlife values; Carrie A. Nation House National Historic Landmark, Medicine Lodge Peace Treaty Site National Historic Landmark.  
Mill Creek and West and East Branches Wabaunsee Kansas River to source of East and West Branches
79
1982
  S, R, G, F, W Highly scenic Flint Hills stream, some stretches surrounded by virgin tall grass prairie; excellent seasonal canoeing, some white water and riffles; excellent native fishery, wildlife.  
Otter Creek and North Branch Greenwood Fall River Reservoir to State Highway 96 northwest of Blodgett
30
1982
  S, R, F Good flow through rolling terrain with relief features to 300'; heavy tree corridor; good fishery.  
Saline River Russell Wilson Lake to Fairport
23
1982
  S, R, G, F, W Good flow through scenic portion of Smoky Hills; good fishery and riparian wildlife.  
Shoal Creek Cherokee Spring River to source
69
1982
  S, R, F, W, H One of two Ozarkian watersheds that extend into Kansas, bedrock substrate, waterfall; excellent canoeing; rare/endangered mussel (Missouri list); rare/endangered salamanders, one species reported as only known occurrence in Northern Hemisphere; numerous mill and dam sites.
MO
Spring River Cherokee Highway 96 to Highway 44
53
1982
  S, R, F, W One of two Ozarkian watersheds that extend into Kansas, narrow tree-covered corridor through gently rolling terrain; excellent canoeing; unique fish communities confined to drainage including two on Missouri rare/endangered list--Neosho madtom, redfin shiner; rare/endangered mussels (Missouri list).
MO