Flint Hills National Scenic Byway
Scenic drive · Kansas
Forty-seven miles of two-lane blacktop on K-177 between Council Grove and Cassoday, crossing the largest remaining stretch of unplowed tallgrass prairie in North America. Big bluestem and Indian grass turn copper and bronze through the Flint Hills by mid-October, limestone outcrops breaking up the open horizon. The Schrumpf Hill overlook south of Cottonwood Falls is the spot to pull over.
Don’t miss
Peak: October 15–October 31
Climatological window from published records. The weather model’s elevation extrapolation isn’t reliable on this terrain, so this is the long-run normal rather than a season-specific forecast.
Source: https://takingthekids.com/the-best-times-and-spots-to-see-kansass-fall-foliage-in-2025/
When to go to Flint Hills National Scenic Byway
In an average year, peak color falls between October 15 and October 31. At 1,201 ft, it turns before the lower ground nearby.
Flint Hills National Scenic Byway on the map
Drag the date slider to see when color reaches this corner of Kansas, or tap a pin for that stop’s own peak window.
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Frequently asked
- When does Flint Hills National Scenic Byway peak?
- In a typical year, color peaks around October 15–October 31. The weather model's elevation extrapolation isn't reliable on this terrain, so this is a climatological window (source: https://takingthekids.com/the-best-times-and-spots-to-see-kansass-fall-foliage-in-2025/) rather than a season-specific forecast.
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