The grasslands of the plains are also home to a variety of plants and flowers. Native peoples were keenly aware of the healing qualities of the unique plants found on the prairie, and used them medici-nal purposes. Leaf team from the Alfalfa plant was used to stimulate appetite. Cedar tree leaves and berries were boiled to cure external and internal ailments. Cottonwood bark contains an aspirin-like compound that was used for scurvy.

ClimateThe climate of Kansas is very changeable. There are no natural barriers that are a moderating effect on the wind patterns or precipitation. Prevailing winds are generally from the south or southwest, with an average speed of 10-12 miles per hours. Thunderstorms can occur, especially during the hottest parts of the summer.

Important Safety Tips• Know the operating limitations of your bicycle.• Know your own limitations.• Carry emergency repair equipment.• Wear a helmet.

Be Environmentally Friendly• Resist the urge to pioneer a new road or trail.• Stay away from wild animals• Obey gate closures and regulatory signs.• Get permission to travel across private land.• Don’t spook livestock

BikeGreat Bend, KS

www.VisitGreatBend.com

3007 10th St., Great Bend, Kansas 67530www.visitgreatbend.com

information@visitgreatbend.com

BendGreat

C O N V E N T I O N & V I S I T O R S B U R E A U

Great Bend Services

Great Bend Population: 15,652

Lodging• America’s Best Value Inn 3500 10th Street - (620) 793-8486• Baltzell Motel 705 10th Street - (620) 792-4395• Best Western Angus Inn 2920 10th Street - (620) 792-3541• Comfort Inn 911 Grant Street - (620) 793-9000• Days Inn 4701 10th Street - (620) 792-8235• Highland Hotel and Convention Center 3017 10th Street - (620) 792-2431• Travelers Budget Inn 4200 10th Street - (620) 793-5448• Travelodge 3200 10th Street - (620) 792-7219

Wireless Internet Access• Great Bend Convention & Visitors Bureau office• Great Bend Zoo - Raptor Center

LibraryGreat Bend Public Library1409 Williams Street - (620) 792-2409

Emergency Road Conditions911 511

Hospitals• St. Rose Ambulatory and Surgical Hospital 3515 Broadway - (620) 792-2511• Great Bend Regional Hospital 514 Cleveland Street - (620) 792-8833

“Great Bend — It’s InOur Nature To Inspire!”

If your inspiration comes from biking, hiking, paddling, outdoor photography or birding. . .then Great Bend, KS is your natural wonderland.

Fashioned from whole Kansas cloth and deeply held-Midwestern values and motivated by perseverance and resolve, Great Bend is a blend of 19th century pioneer spirit and 21st century vision. It is a city that has made peace with, and thrives by the environment in which they live, while embracing their role as the guardian of one of nature’s most inspiring habitats.

You will find rural charm, amazing natural resources, and true Midwestern hospitality combined with all the amenities travelers need and expect for an “inspiring” visitor experience.

Natural EnvironmentAs you travel along, watch for grasses and wild-flowers undulating in the wind. These are the plants of the Mixed Grass Prairie Region. "Mixed"refers to the blending of tall and short grasses along with wildflowers and herbal plants that were used by Native peoples as sources for food and medi-cines. Grasses found in this region include Silver Bluestem, Buffalo Grass, Bluestem, Sideoats Grama, and Blue Grama.

The central Great Plains grassland is a broad and historically shifting ecosystem that fluctuates with climatic changes. Rolling-to-hilly landscapes create a variety of soils that feed and anchor the plants, and long root systems allow them to grow continu-ously. As a group, prairie grasses are highly adapt-able to drought conditions and can quickly take advantage of favorable rainy conditions.

Grasslands provide food and shelter for birds such as pheasant, quail, cranes and Meadow Larks. Prairie grasses, herbs and wildflowers heal the earth through re-growth, eliminate pollutants, and prevent soil erosion.

Indian names for plants gave an indication of their uses. Rabbit Brush felt scratchy to the skin; the boiled stems and leaves were used to wash itchy areas. A kind of mint called "mad-dog" was used to treat rabies.

The healing methods were carried out with spiri-tual application and respect for the plant and the patient.

Kansas & Oklahoma RR

AreaWildlife

BottomsState

ConservancyNature

CheyenneCheyenne

NatureConservancy

NE 170TH ST

Salt

Slou

ghH

orse

Trail between Fort Harker & Fort Z

arah

ClaflinCem.View

Pleasant

NE

100

AV

E

NW 170TH ST

NW 180TH ST

Kansas & Oklahoma RR

NE 190TH ST

Missouri Pacific RR

NE 60 RD

NE 90 RD

SW 20 RD

NE 8

0TH

AVE

Cem.

NW 3

0TH

AVE

EdenNW 190TH ST

NE 200TH ST

Creek

Santa Fe Trail

ValleyCem.St. Francis

Xavier

St Paul

NE 16

0 AVE

SE 80

AVE

State

airport

SW 50 RD

NE 11

0 AVE

SE 10

0 AVE

NE 10 RD

NE 30 RD

SE 30 RD

SE 50 RD

SE 20 RD

56

96 56

28156

281

NW 100 RD

NW 50 RD NE 50 RD

Bottoms

WildlifeArea

BA

RTO

NR

ICE

NE

40T

H A

VE

BA

RTO

NS

TAFF

OR

DE

LLS

WO

RTH

RIC

E

Great Bend Ellinwood

K & O RR

K & O RR

Cem.

St Peter/

Cem.Montgomery

Cem.Wilson

St. JohnCem.

Cem.Phillips

Cem.Olivet

Hoisington

HillcrestMemorial

Park

ParkMemorial

Golden Belt

Redwing

K & O RR

NE

60

AV

E

K-4

K-1

56

SE

60

AV

E

US-281

156

4

NW 80 RD

NW 30

AVE

NW 40

AVE

NW 40 RD

W Barton County RD

SW 30 RD

NW 60

AVE

NW 13

0 AVE

SW 11

0 AVE

SW 11

2 AVE

SW 60

AVE

PawneeRock

Heizer

Olmitz

Albert

NW 10

AVE

Santa Fe Trail

STA

FFO

RD

PA

WN

EE

BA

RTO

NP

AW

NE

ER

US

H

Dundee

4156

KWEC

overlook

156

96

156

96

SW 40

AVE

Cem.Rock

Pawnee

Cem.EverettCem.

Unmarked

Cem.Patterson

Cem.Unmarked

Cem.ValleyWalnut

Cem.ValleyDundeeCem.

Cem.Unmarked

Cem.St. Anthony

Cem.St. Ann's

PAWNEE

SW 50

AVE

Bergtal

The paved routes described in this bro-chure were selected by experienced bicy-clists. However, few of the roads chosen have special provisions for cyclists. The routes may be started at any point and traveled in either direction.

AQUA:• Starting point: Either Hike/Bike Parking* Area west of 10th & Patton or Barton County Historical Village parking lot on US Hwy 281 south of Great Bend.• Description: Paved Arkansas River hike/bike path.• Points of interest: Stone Lake; Barton County Historical Village; Arkansas River.• Distance: 8 miles one way.

RED:• Starting point: Hike/Bike Parking* Area west of 10th and Patton.• Description: Low traffic, some shoulders, couple of hills.• Points of interest: City of Great Bend; Barton Community College; Kansas Wetlands Education Center; Cheyenne Bottoms.• Distance: 18 miles one way.

“Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better.”— Albert Einstein

PINK:• Starting point: Barton County Historical Village** parking lot on US Hwy281 south of Great Bend.• Description: Low traffic, no shoulders• Points of interest: antique stores in Ellinwood; Ellinwood Underground Tunnels; Barton County Historical Village.• Distance: 24 miles if straight route on SE20 Rd.; 30 miles if you include southern leg on SE 60 Ave.

PURPLE:• Starting point: Hike /Bike Path Parking* Area west of 10th & Patton.• Description: Short distance on US Hwy 56 has traffic but good shoulders.• Points of interest: S.R.C.A. Dragstrip; Barton County Expo and Fairgrounds; B-29 Memorial at Great Bend Municipal Airport; Fuller Park; Fuller Brush Company headquarters.• Distance:13 miles.

ORANGE:• Starting point: Hike/Bike Parking* Area west of 10th & Patton.• Description: Low traffic, no shoulders, couple of hills.• Points of interest: Fuller Brush Company headquarters; S.R.C.A. Dragstrip; Barton County Expo and Fairgrounds; Mennonite church and cemetery; antique stores in Pawnee Rock; Pawnee Rock National Monument.• Distance: 29.6 miles.

Lake Barton Mountain Bike Trail2 miles N38.44897 W-98.77652

Cheyenne Bottom Off-Road Bike RouteVariable N38.44879 W-98.73641

Arkansas River Off-Road Bike Route4.5 Miles N38.34922 W-98.77420 * Hike / Bike parking N38.36162 W-98.83167

** Barton County Historical Society parking N38.35005 W-98.76550

Pictures courtesy of the Great Bend Convention and Visitor’s Bureau.

LIGHT GREEN:• Starting point: Hike/Bike Parking* Area west of 10th & Patton.• Description: Low traffic, no shoulders, some hills.• Points of interest: Fuller Brush Company head-quarters; S.R.C.A. Dragstrip; Barton County Expo and Fairgrounds; area cemeteries (see map).• Distance: 27.4 miles.

Additional Routes Pick up a “Scenic Byways” bike route map at the Convention & Visitors Bureau office, 3007 10th Street, Great Bend. (N 38.3613 W -98.7797)

The routes follow county roads through flat to gently rolling terrain (elevation varies 400-500 feet). These are two lane roads of narrow- to-medium width, with no shoul-ders and minimal traffic.

Route Maps and Riding Conditions