“Walk the Trails” Ribbon-Cutting and Walk

Scroll down to find a map and descriptions of the themed Wichita walking paths.

Related: Where to Walk in Wichita

Walk the Trails includes nine new walking routes in Wichita and two in Haysville. Each loop has a theme and features signs that highlight entertaining, amusing, or just interesting information about people and places in Kansas.

Wednesday, May 18, 2011 is Walk at Work Day, and everyone will be doing it — even the Mayor. On Wednesday, Mayor Brewer will cut the ribbon on the “Walk the Trails” project in Wichita and Haysville. Special events are planned for Final Fridays throughout spring, summer, and fall that will feature live entertainment along the Wichita Walking Trails.

The new walking trails were developed by Richard Schodorff of Sunflower Title in cooperation with the cities of Wichita and Haysville and other organizations to give residents more opportunities to get out and walk. You can join Schodorff, Mayor Brewer and others for the inaugural walk, which will begin at 11:30 a.m. at the corner of Central and Main in downtown Wichita.

Date: Wednesday, May 18, 2011
Time: 11:30 a.m.
Location: corner of Central and Main, downtown Wichita
Cost: FREE

Here are the eleven new walking trails in Wichita. Each route covers a different walking area that loops around back to the starting point. The mileage is included in the list and a link is provided to each individual map at http://www.downtownwichita.org/get_around-bike_walking_paths.php, or you can download and print the Wichita Walk the Trails map, which includes an overview of all the trails and a small Haysville Walking Trail map.

I should warn you that the descriptions of the routes given below are based on my own interpretation of the maps. There could be inaccuracies despite my best efforts. When in doubt, follow your map and the signs along the walking trails.

1. The Art Trail (1 mile) loops around Mead and Mosley between Douglas and 3rd street in Old Town. Information along the Trail is provided by the Wichita Art Museum.
2. The Wichita Historic Trail (2 miles) follows a route along Main and Topeka, from English to just north of 3rd Street. It passes several historic buildings, including the Scottish Rite Center and Wichita’s original City Hall. Information on the Trail was provided by the Wichita-Sedgwick County Historical Museum.
3. The Exploration Trail (2 miles) travels along the Arkansas River in Downtown Wichita from Waterman (I think it’s the Lewis Street Bridge) to the Keeper of the Plains. Information on the Trail provided by Exploration Place.
4. The African American Trail (1.5 miles) traverses an area north of north of Elm, along Wichita and Main up to 11th Street. Information along this trail was provided by the African American Museum.
5. The American Indian Trail (2.6 miles) begins at the Keeper of the Plains and follows the river along McLean, across the bridge at Central, and back to the Seneca Street bridge area. Information along this trail was provided by the Mid-America All-Indian Center.
6. The Tallgrass Film Festival Trail (1.5 miles) rounds Central and St. Francis down to 3rd Street, then over to Market and down to 1st over to Mead (I think!), then back up to Central. The information on this trail was provided by the Tallgrass Film Association.
7. The Poets Trail (2 miles) curves around Century II from the Waterwalk area, then along William to the INTRUST Bank Arena, down Emporia to Waterman and back to the Waterwalk (just north of Kellogg). The information along this trail was provided by the Kansas Poets.
8. The Sports Trail (2 miles) winds along Central past Riverside Park and along Murdock to Main. Information about Kansas athletes along the trail was provided by the Kansas Sports Hall of Fame.
9. The People of Kansas Trail (2 miles) follows 1st and Douglas between Waco and Mosley. Information on
this Trail provided by Old Cowtown Museum.
10. The Magic Trail in Haysville (2.3 miles) follows a path around an area just southeast of E. Grand and S. Jane. It features images that are optical or verbal illusions.
11. The Sesquicentennial Trail (2.3 miles) loops around Colt Stadium and back to a point near W. Grand and Lamar. Campus High School is taking on the challenge to create a Trail that brings out the best of Kansas’ 150 years.