BikePrairieSpirit News Feed

Iola Bridge Replaced

2012-05-10 21:24:09 MST

The bridge in Iola that was closed due to arson last summer has been replaced. The trail is now open for its current entire length.

Trail Extension Update from KDWP

2012-05-01 09:09:50 MST

The trail extension from the Prairie Spirit Trail State Park to River Side Park in Iola is not done. There is a tentative deadline of June 1. This however, depends on many factors including weather. The bridge is still out on the north side of Iola. Sandblasting of the bridge is complete and railing materials are being acquired.

PRAIRIE SPIRIT TRAIL EXTENSION PROGRESSES IN IOLA

2012-04-09 09:31:05 MST

According to David Tolland, �construction of the 1.5 miles of the Prairie Spirit Trail Extension within the city limits of Iola is ahead of schedule. All of the concrete curb cuts have been completed on the extension within Iola thanks to the good weather, and nearly all of the lighting is in place, along with the bollards. The contractors should start laying asphalt this month.

Also, a Kansas Health Foundation Recognition Grant was recently awarded. It includes $7,329 for crosswalk signs, and way-finding signs to direct PSRT users to healthy lifestyles amenities and facilities within Iola. These will all be done as part of implementation of the Vision Iola Built Environment Plan.�

ALLEN COUNTY RECEIVES TRAIL GRANTS

2012-04-09 09:29:27 MST

David Tolland with Thrive Allen County reports the following: �The Sunflower Foundation has approved a $22,818 grant to build the Prairie Spirit Trail Extension from Humboldt to Iola. The Health Care Foundation of Greater KC has also approved the matching grant.

The Sunflower grant will complete 4 of the 6.5 miles of the trail. We will be working with the county to encourage them to use their resources to complete the last 2.5 miles to K-224. The county commission has generally been very supportive of this effort.

The Westar Green Team is very interested in doing this project, and they did a full trip up the trail with a group of Humboldt and Iola volunteers about two months ago. They were excited about the potential, and felt that the trail was in much better condition that they expected or as compared to other trail projects they've done around the state.�

Have a free day on the trail!

2012-03-28 08:20:54 MST

March 31st is the Prairie Spirit Trail Open House. All day, no trail permits are needed for the length of the trail.

From the Friends of the Prairie Spirit Trail news release:

As part of a state-wide �Open House� event promoting state parks in Kansas, the Prairie Spirit Trail will be having an open house event in Garnett on Saturday March 31, 2012. The event will be from 10 am until 2 pm and located in the historic trailside depot in Garnett.

The event will be hosted by The Friends of the Prairie Spirit Trail and it will be an excellent opportunity for those interested in the support of the trail to find out more about this active organization. There will be several tables with information and displays set up in the Santa Fe Depot with trail and healthy living information. Find out how to get involved in the Friends of the Trail group, as well as local running and walking clubs, organized healthy lifestyle programs like Walk Kansas and Women In Training.

The Anderson County Hospital will have personnel available and equipment set up to check blood pressures and BMI (Body Mass Index). They will also have information on the upcoming Healing for Health Walk and other healthy living programs. For those starting a new walking program, this is an excellent opportunity to get a baseline measurement that will allow you track your progress through the year.

The Anderson County K- State Research and Extension Office will also be providing healthy snacks for outdoor recreation, including fruit leathers and jerky at the depot in Garnett.

The City of Garnett encourages everyone to get on the Prairie Spirit Trail at the depot and venture north to the North Lake Park and into the Garnett Recreation / Goppert Wellness Center. Cookies and refreshments will be served to visitors from 10 am to 2 pm at the Rec Center. Facilitated tours will take place. This is also a �free pass� day, where the public can use the facility on March 31st at no charge. The city hopes allowing open access will draw more people in who may want to become members.

The City of Iola will have a presentation board showing the current trail expansion underway in Iola, extending the southern end of the trail, and The Franklin County Convention and Visitors Bureau will have information on The Old Museum Depot in Ottawa, which is the northern terminus of the trail.

To encourage visitors to attend this event and to get out on the trail early this year, March 31, 2012 will be a free admission day on the trail. No trail permits will be required for this one day only.

For more information visit www.BikePrairieSpirit.com or contact Trail Manager Trent McCown at 785.448.6767, or Garnett City Hall at 785.448.5496.

16th Prairie Spirit Trail Birthday Bash

2012-03-27 18:06:53 MST

The �birthday bash� as the Friends of the Prairie Spirit Trail refer to it will begin with a silent auction at 6 p.m., followed by a buffet meal at 6:30 p.m. Guest speakers will give updates on trail projects and upcoming Friends activities.

Tickets are on sale now at Garnett City Hall and Archer Insurance Agency in Garnett. Tickets are $7.00. Tickets can also be purchased at the door. The buffet dinner includes smoked brisket, scalloped potatoes, a variety of salads and a surprise dessert.

Live Auction: YOU COULD WIN KU FOOTBALL SEASON TICKETS, Gift Certificate Book valued at over $300, and much more! Proceeds of this evening's event helps with trail enhancement projects, such as shelter, trash containers, benches and other amenities.

The Bash is from 6 p.m. to 9p.m. on March 27th at the Community Building in North Lake Park in Garnett.

Hays Area Children's Center Rope'em Ride

2012-03-12 10:12:04 MST

24th Annual Hays Area Children's Center Rope 'Em Ride
Date: 05-05-2012 -- 07:00 AM - 8:00 PM

Additional Schedule Info: 7:00AM Registration/Breakfast 8:00AM Bicycle Ride Begins SAG Stops and Lunch on the Route 5:00pm Dinner/Movie/Prize Drawings

Location: Hays Area Children's Center
Address: 94 Lewis Drive
Hays, KS 67601

Email: kellyk@hacc.info
Phone: 7856253257

Bicycle Ride through Ellis County, Kansas 5 - 100 Miles (Rider Choice) Event raises funds for programs/services for children/families through: Infant Toddler Early Intervention, Healthy Start Home Visitor, Child Care Aware of Northwest Kansas, and Licensed Child Care.

Iola Extension to Open Early Summer 2012

2011-11-18 06:54:18 MST

The 1 mile extension to the Prairie Spirit Trail within the Iola city limits is projected to be completed and opened by early summer 2012 according to the city administrators. The extension will take the trail from its current end point in Cofachique Park to Riverside Park on the south end of town. This will prepare the trail for the further planned extension to Bassett and Humboldt. More information is available at the Iloa Register site behind their subscription wall.

PST gets name check in Bicycling Magazine

2011-09-23 05:43:01 MST

Spotted by Bill R.

It's small, but it's a nice positive mention. Check the current issue on page 92. The horned owl is a tip off. Public relations-wise, it's been a good year for the PST.

Allen County Arsonist Caught

2011-09-20 06:56:18 MST

The Iola Register reports that a 19 year-old volunteer firefighter from Carlyle has been arrested and charged with 21 counts of arson including the fire which damaged a bridge on the Prairie Spirit Trail. Included in the article is the information that the damages to the bridge are about $30,000.

Pictures from the Bridge fire and Detour map

2011-09-01 15:39:45 MST

Trent has sent us a picture of the bridge fire and map of the recommended detour. Link for the detour is below.

Small Trail Closure in Iola

2011-09-01 10:48:38 MST

From Trail Manager Trent McCown

There was a bridge fire in Iola on 08-31-11 that damaged the bridge just south of Oregon Rd within the city limits of Iola. A short section of trail is closed and we are routing visitors around the closed section. Visitors may go east on Oregon ( paved road north edge of Iola) to 1600 Rd ( AKA Kentucky Street) then south to Miller street, then back west to the trail as the rcommended route. A shorter route would be to go West to Main ( old 169)on Oregon then south to Miller and east to the trail, but it is a higher traffic road.

This section will be closed for at least a month or possibly longer as we will have to have the bridge inspected then complete repairs.

Website calls Prairie Spirit Trail a "Top Car-Free Place to Bicycle"

2011-08-30 06:41:55 MST

The website Metaefficient listed the Prairie Spirit Trail as on of the top car-free places to bicycle in the Midwest. Prominently mentioned along with Missouri's Katy Trail and Nebraska's Cowboy Trail, the PST is praised for its variety of ecosystems and friendly small towns. The authors also included links for more information. I have been on several of the trails that they recommend and they have picked some good ones.

PST is the Trail of the Month.

2011-08-10 06:55:07 MST

The Rails-To-Trails Conservancy has declared the Prairie Spirit Trail it's August 2011 Trail of the Month. The article is linked to below. The link back to this site has given us a nice boost in traffic.

Bike Rentals available in Garnett.

2011-07-07 12:25:01 MST

From Susan Wettstein at Prairiespirittrail.org

GREAT NEWS! Garnett has a new bike repair and rental shop opening! KDS Auto Detailing is located right along the trail at 506 South Main and beginning July 15 they will be adding bike repair and soon bike rental to their business! Yeah! Put this telephone number in your cell phone so that if you need them you can call: (785) 204-1269.

More News on PST Extension to Humbolt

2011-06-07 13:14:42 MST

Allen County Thrive and the Sunflower Rail-Trails Conservancy, jointly announced this week that the 51-mile Prairie Spirit Trail will be extended south 6.5 miles from Iola. This addition will follow the regulations of the National Trails Act and will extend along a 6.5-mile out-of-service rail line between Iola and Humboldt.

�We are very excited about extending the Prairie Spirit Trail to Humboldt,� offered David Tolland, Allen County Thrive Executive Director. �This will not only let people travel safely between the two communities, it will encourage people to exercise for health. It will also allow people to gather for festivals and informal socializing and, thus, build a sense of community.�

Combined with the 1.5-mile segment the City of Iola is developing within its city limits, the Prairie Spirit Trail will now be expanded by an additional eight miles. Not only will it provide a safe place for bicycling, walking, jogging, and bird watching, it will improve the overall quality of life in the communities by making the region a more attractive place in which to live and work.

�We are now counting on local groups and individuals to come forward to build this scenic trail segment, said Clark Coan, Public Information Specialist for Sunflower Rail-Trails Conservancy. �The trail will be similar to the existing Prairie Spirit Trail with its crushed limestone surface. However, we will be able to do it much cheaper using local volunteer labor and donations. We estimate the project will cost $60,000. When it is complete, we hope to turn it over to another entity such as the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism.�

�The Conservancy's mission is to work in partnership with communities to transform out-of-service rail corridors into outstanding recreational trails which will provide a place for families, youth and seniors to walk, bicycle or jog safely away from traffic, said Coan. �We believe that if we are able to get just one child out on a trail that, as a result, develops a love of nature and exercise, we have been successful.�

A series of informational meetings will be held in the two communities this summer and fall.

FISH TROT FOR KIDS in Garnett. Saturday, May 21 � 5 pm

2011-05-04 10:02:08 MST

From Friends of the Prairie Spirit Trail:

GARNETT: See you on Saturday, May 21st as the Friends of the Prairie Spirit Trail once again host Fish Trot for Kids. Partners in the event are the Garnett Recreation Department and the Kansas Wildscape OK Kids Program.
This is a FREE event. Registration will begin at the batting cages near the upper ball diamond in Garnett�s North Lake Park at 5:00 pm. Then participants will �trot� to the Children�s Fishing Pond located at the Garnett Country Club Golf Course. Everyone who enters wins a prize.
As an OK Kids program, sponsorship and prizes of this event are through the support given by Capital Federal Savings and many local businesses including Brummel Farm Service, Craig Cole-Attorney at Law, NAPA Auto Parts, State Farm Insurance; Farmers State Bank, GSSB (Garnett State Savings Bank), and Patriots Bank (Member FDIC); Archer Insurance Agency, Anderson County Advocate, East Kansas Agri-Energy, Beckman Motors, Front Row Sports, Cedar Creek Outfitters, Askins-Beller, Anderson County Review, AuBurn Pharmacy, Alco, County Mart, Garnett Siding and Lumber, Jarit Manufacturing, Inc., Leo�s Auto Supply, Les David, Kids Creations, Miller Hardware, Schulte Agency and Garnett Country Club.
Children need to bring their own fishing poles and a guardian (parent or adult), or the entire family, and enjoy this family oriented event of fishing and fun.

NEW for 2011: The Friends of the Prairie Spirit Trail are inviting kids to participate in the Kansas WildLifer Challenge (www.kansaswildlifer.com), an internet-based program that gives kids, and their families, an incentive to do outdoor activities. Basically, a child registers for the program on a safe and easy website, and starts completing a series of outdoor challenges to receive some great prizes and the recognition of proving they can be a Kansas WildLifer!
. When attending Fish Trot for Kids on May 21st children can accomplish 2 of the 15 required challenges of this fun program; Wet A Line, and Hike A Trail. Once the child completes 15 challenges, they receive a Coleman Outdoor Pack (waterproof satchel, LED flashlight & aluminum water bottle), Kansas WildLifer T-shirt, poster, sticker, decal, and certificate. The program has no age limit and Kansas Wildscape encourages everyone to register.
The list of challenges include:
1. Pitch A Tent.
2. Plant A Tree.
3. Cover Yourself In Leaves.
4. Hunt Down A Certificate (Hunter�s Safety Certificate).
5. Take A Picture.
6. Reach for the Stars (stargazing).
7. Swim In A Lake.
8. Climb A Tree.
9. Play Dirty (must play in the mud!).
10. Catch a Frog.
11. Medic (First aid course).
12. Catch A Firefly.
13. Pack A Picnic.
14. Wet A Line.
15. Row, Row, Row Your Boat.
16. Set Your Sites (hit a target using proper safety measures).
17. Build A Fort.
18. Light A Fire.
19. Hike A Trail.
20. For The Birds (Bird watching).

Brochures on the Kansas WildLifer Challenge will be available at Fish Trot for Kids, with copies made available at Garnett City Hall and library as well. For more information, please contact Fish Trot for Kids chairman Lee Henry (785) 448-6549 or Garnett Recreation Coordinator Josh Elliott (785) 448-5496.

###

Photo courtesy of Susan Wettstein, City of Garnett.

Trail to be extended to Humboldt?

2011-05-04 07:14:14 MST

From Kansas Cyclist

Efforts are underway to extend the 51-mile Prairie Spirit Trail from Iola to Humboldt. Sunflower Rail-Trails Conservancy assumed railbanking custodianship of the 6.5-mile out-of-service rail corridor in January. A series of informational meetings will be held in Humboldt this summer to inform the public and solicit input. A project development plan will be prepared.

�The excitement for this trail in Humboldt and Iola is very tangible, says Larry Ross, SRTC president.�One idea to promote the trail is for the mayors and middle students of each town to walk to the middle of the trail for a joint celebration.� The current plan calls for development of the trail using local resources and volunteer labor. Then the trail can be turned over to public agency which can manage and maintain it.

Prairie Spirit Trail extension progressing in Iola

2011-04-08 10:50:39 MST

From Iola Radio Newsroom, dated March 24, 2011

At yesterday's county commissioner meeting, an agreement was approved that will extend Prairie Spirit Trail through Iola. The state has agreed to reimburse the city for 80 percent of the project's estimated $519,000 price tag, using federal Transportation Enhancement funds. Commissioners also approved a land swap with Iolan Jack McFadden, allowing the city to take possession of land along the trail and south of U.S. 54. The land has been a storage site for construction equipment owned by the late Johnny Womack. Bids could come within the next three months.

Time for some Spring Cleaning on the Trail

2011-04-08 06:11:00 MST

Thrive Allen County is hosting a Prairie Spirit Trail Clean-Up on April 30th starting at 9am and continuing until 1pm. Those that wish to participate should meet at Union Tire on West Street in Iola. They recommend that you bring "gloves, hand tools and all your enthusiasm," as you help get the trail in shape for the upcoming season.

Restrooms to open, cyclists relieved.

2011-03-30 15:54:09 MST

According to the Prairie Spirit Trail Manager, Trent McCown, all of the restrroms should be open on the trail by the 16th of April this year. Opening seems to be high on the list that includes mowing and patching many parts of the trail. Help them out by keeping the facilities clean and reporting any damage to the rangers.

Sounds like good timing.

Trail Talk with Trent

2011-03-28 16:57:45 MST

The days are getting longer! Well, that could be taken several ways so I will rephrase and say we are getting more hours of daylight every day. Although snow is not out of the picture, we are starting to see some warm days and it will not be long until things start to green up. We have had some warm days to just sort of dangle spring in front of us and make us start to think about getting out, but I�m sure ol� Mother Nature has a Kansas surprise waiting sometime in the next few weeks.

The restrooms are still closed, but we plan to open them in mid April as normal. The entire trail is open from Ottawa to Iola so travel is possible on the entire trail without any side road detours.

With the wet weather we have had, the trail surface is a little soft in the rural areas, especially after a rain or snow. It is not much a problem for walking, but it does slow you down considerably if you are on a bike. The nice thing about the trail surface though is that it does dry out and firm up rather quickly after the sun comes out.

For the trail staff, spring has already started as we have been getting equipment ready for summer mowing and the start of our burning season. Any day now we will start our routine use of fire in controlled burns along the trail at selected locations. These controlled fires help to stimulate flowers and prairie grasses and to also help with the amount of wildlife diversity along the trail. Take note of the areas and it is often in these burned areas where the best flower diversity can be seen later in the season.

With a Kansas spring we will undoubtedly have wind and storms. These storms can blow limbs onto the trail surface, so as you travel be aware of changing trail conditions. If you find a branch on the trail, don�t be afraid to throw it off the side of the trail. We try to monitor the trail after storms but there are a lot of miles.

In 2009 we had a significant windstorm and many trees were blown down on the trail. We were very pleasantly surprised when we got up to the area south of Ottawa to find a couple of our regular riders had cut a path through some of the limbs with handsaws they carried in on their bikes.

Remember that this is the time of year that weather can change quickly, so be ready and watch for changing weather conditions..

Don�t just plan to get outside more this year than last year. Start today and make it a habit.

Trent McCown, Prairie Spirit Trail Manager KDWP

Bike49 to hit the Prairie Spirit Trail

2011-03-22 08:57:14 MST

According to Kansas Cyclist:

Bike49, an organization that is on a bike tour that hits the 49 continental states of the United States, will be hitting the Prairie Spirit Trail soon. After a trip through a recent snowstorm on the Katy Trail in Missouri, they are recovering in Kansas City. Look for them to head out soon and hit Lawrence from where they will turn south. If you see them along the way, give'em a chat and maybe a power bar.

Bike49 is an organization that promotes cycling by visiting schools and preforming community outreach. You can learn more about them at their website linked below.

Join the 15th Anniversary Party!

2011-03-20 08:16:07 MST

From KOFO Local News

GARNETT � The 15th annual trail celebration dinner hosted by the Friends of the Prairie Spirit Trail will be 6 p.m. March 30 at the Community Building in Garnett�s North Lake Park. Tickets are $7 and are available at the Garnett City Hall, Archer Insurance Agency of Garnett or at the door. March 30 is exactly 15 years to the day after the first stretch of the Prairie Spirit Trail officially opened in 1996 along an abandoned Santa Fe track. The Friends said that since then, there have been many trail improvement projects in Garnett, including the renovation of the Santa Fe Depot, the walking tile project, a train caboose, and a nostalgically-lit pathway complete with benches along the trail. In 1998 the trail was extended from Richmond to Ottawa, where there were also several improvements made in connection with the trail. Two years ago, the trail was extended from Welda to Iola. The trail is now the only trail that is a Kansas state park and is more than 51 miles long.

Friends of the Prairie Spirit needs donations for silent auction

2011-02-13 20:37:49 MST

From PrairieSpiritTrail.Org

"There is a lot to celebrate this year and the Friends of the Prairie Spirit Trail are gearing up for it.

Opened March 30, 1996, the Prairie Spirit Trail turns 15 years old in 2011. With the state of Kansas and the city of Garnett turning 150, the Friends are circling the wagons and making plans for their best celebration yet.

Tickets to the 15th Annual Trail Birthday Bash will go on sale on February 9th at the Chocolate Night meeting and then be available at Garnett City Hall and Archer Insurance. Dinner tickets are $7. Tickets will also be available at the door. The event will be held at the Community Building in Garnett's North Lake Park. A silent auction will begin at 6 pm with dinner to follow at 6:30 pm.

Once again the Friends of the Prairie Spirit Trail are looking for nice and unique silent auction donations. Proceeds help the group with trail enhancement projects. If you would like to donate please contact Pat Mosher, (785) 448-6799 or Glenn Hastert, 448-1622.

If you would like to help with this event contact Friends president Janice Hodgson at 448-6118. Please make plans to attend this celebrating. It will be an enjoyable and insightful evening as we learn what will be happening on the trail in 2011.

Welda Tunnel to be open Friday, October 8th!

2010-10-07 12:45:42 MST

Kansas Department of Transportation has announced that the Prairie Spirit Trail tunnel under Highway 169 at Welda will re-open on Friday, October 8th. This opening eliminated the need for either the 3 miles detour or the short ride on the heavily trafficked Colony Road.

The announcement was followed by much rejoicing in the cycling community.

Friends of the Prairie Spirit looking for support services for bikers.

2010-08-31 13:10:49 MST

Susan Wettstein has posted on the Friends of the Prairie Spirit website that they are looking for a variety of services for riders of the Prairie Spirit Trail. They have had numerous contacts from people looking for Bike Rental, Bicycle Repair and Shuttle Services. If you offer these services or know of places that do, please contact her at Garnett City Hall, (785) 448-5496. If we have missed anything here at Bike Prairie Spirit, let me know through the contact page. I think an enterprising person with a car and a bike rack could pick up some easy extra money if they lived along the trail.

Bikers' Notice.

2010-08-16 13:11:40 MST

Randy at Kansas Cyclist has made me aware that the city of Iola has some city statutes that will be of interest to those of us who are pedaling through town. The relevant sections of the municipal code are:

ARTICLE V. BICYCLES*

__________
*State law references: Authority to regulate bicycles, K.S.A. 8-2002(21); bicycles and play vehicles, K.S.A. 8-1586 et seq.

__________
Sec. 90-141. Surrender for violations.

(a) Any person violating the provisions of this article shall be punished by being required to surrender the person's bicycles, if the person owns more than one, to the chief of police and shall not operate any vehicle within the city for a period of one week.
(b) Any person using or operating a bicycle within the city in violation of any ordinance of the city relating to traffic may be punished therefor, in lieu of or in addition to, other penalties provided, by being required to surrender the bicycles, if the person owns more than one, to the chief of police, and shall not operate any vehicle within the city for one week.
(Code 1988, § 14-505)

Sec. 90-142. Registration; tag; fee; additional regulations.
(a) It shall be unlawful for any person to operate a bicycle within the city, without having registered the bicycle and having an unexpired license therefor. Such registration shall be with, and license shall be procured from, the city chief of police.
(b) The city shall furnish to every owner whose bicycle shall be registered, one number plate or tag for each bicycle, and the tag or plate shall be displayed on the bicycle to which it is assigned during the current registration year in such a manner as to be clearly visible from the rear of such bicycle.
(c) The annual license fee for such bicycle shall be an amount established in section 34-732 for each calendar year, or part thereof. Any bicycle which is registered by a new owner on or following December 24 of any calendar year, may display the number plate or tag for the ensuing calendar year and shall be relieved from such fee for the then current calendar year.
(d) The chief of police shall have the power to make additional regulations necessary to make effective the provisions of this article.
(Code 1988, §§ 14-501--14-504)

Sec. 90-143. Riding on sidewalks.
It shall be unlawful for any person to ride a bicycle on the sidewalks within the corporate limits of the city.
(Code 1988, § 14-506)

As you can see, not very friendly to trail riders. Since the trail is paved in town it could be considered a sidewalk.

Now, I have never heard anyone complain about this. Nobody that I know of has had their bike taken. The licensing fee is $.50. But if you are in an accident heading down to Subway from the trailhead, there could be implications for you and your insurance. Note that registering your bike is not limited to residents.

I think that this is something that needs to be brought to the attention of city administration. The contact information is here. Be polite. we don't want special rights. We would like to bike into town without danger of ALL of our bikes being seized. Just let the four people running the city know that you enjoy the trail and would like to feel that the laws would help facilitate that.

Prairie Spirit Trail destined to grow!

2010-08-10 13:16:18 MST

The city of Iola has announced that it has received $413,000 grant from the federal Department of Transportation to extend the Prairie Spirit Trail. This grant will pay for over 80% of the construction costs and will be available in 2011-12.

The trail will extend south across town to Riverside Park which will provide access to restrooms and showers at the municipal pool. Our sources also state that this will bring the trail close to the local Dairy Queen.

Thanks to Jay Kretzmeier for the heads up on this story.

KC Bicycle Meetup Group Announces Group Ride.

2010-07-27 13:17:19 MST

From their announcement at Meetup.com.

"Check out the longest rails-to-trails project in Kansas! The trail is 51 miles long, so we can bike 51 miles from Ottawa to Iola, camp overnight in a tent at the RV Park in Iola, then bike back! The trail is crushed limestone, so larger tires may be preferred (mountain, cross, or hybrid bikes), but road bikes are certainly an option if you are comfortable on a packed gravel surface. The trail is a state park with a daily fee of $3.50 (so remember to bring 6 dollar bills and 4 quarters for the self-pay station)"

Want to join, but not up for 51 miles each day? You can begin at Princeton and ride 45 miles each day, Richmond and ride 38 miles each day, Garnett and ride 28.6 miles each day, or Welda and ride 19 miles each day.

We will stay overnight at RV of Iola, 8 blocks from the trailhead. The campground is brand new, offering a shower house and laundry facilities. Camping fees are $10.00 per tent. They requested that I call with an approximate number who will be camping, so please update your RSVP by August 23. If you prefer not to camp, a Best Western and Super 8 are nearby. Please make your own reservation and let me know not to count you among the tents when I call the campground.

Those interested in seeing the railroad museum should meet at the Ottawa trailhead at 9:00 a.m. This trailhead also happens to be the two-story passenger train depot built in 1888, which today serves as a museum. Exhibits include a model railroad layout; displays tracing the life of famed abolitionist John Brown; Silkville, the utopian community created to raise silkworms; a Victorian parlor, general store, military room and more. Museum Admission is $3 for adults and $1 for students.

We will depart from the depot on our bikes around 9:30 a.m. Bring plenty of water, sunblock, and snacks. There are restaurants to stop for lunch, as well as supper/breakfast in Iola."

Event date is August 28th. Price is $17.00 per person.

Detour between Welda and Colony.

2010-07-26 13:19:01 MST

From the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks website: "Work has started on a bridge replacement project south of Welda in Anderson County on Highway 169, just north of 900 Road. The Kansas Department of Transportation is removing a highway bridge, which travels over the trail, and completing other associated road construction as they work to lessen the highway curve at this location. The work will cause a small section of the trail to be closed for at least one year. Two alternate routes will be available to go around the construction. Both will be on county roads. The recommended trail route will be marked and it is approximately 4 miles on county roads. This adds about 3 miles to the distance between Welda and Colony, but theses are seldom-used roads with minimal traffic. A second route, which is available but not recommended due to high traffic, will follow the local traffic/highway detour route around the bridgework. This route adds less than 1 mile of travel, but it will be on a road with high traffic use and not signed for bike or pedestrian travel. KDOT will be routing truck traffic onto Highway 59 through Moran to avoid frequent truck traffic on this section of Highway 169, but a significant amount of traffic will still use the Highway detour.

A trail detour map will be posted at the self-pay station in Welda and Colony to allow visitors to familiarize themselves with the route. I also hope to have a map available on the web site soon which will also show the detour. KDOT will be signing this route and signs should be in place soon."