A castle, a 100-foot cliff, mushroom-shaped rocks and an underground tunnel system are all among Kansas attractions that remain unspoiled by crowds.
Five such “undiscovered gems” — all located off the beaten path — are featured in a list of “5 Places in Kansas Locals Hope Tourists Never Discover,” published Nov. 10 at onlyinyourstate.com.
Here’s more about those places.
This castle standing in Coronado Heights Park northwest of Lindsborg in central Kansas helps make that park an undiscovered Kansas gem.
Coronado Heights Park, central Kansas
Coronado Heights Park, a scenic overlook featuring a castle, picnic area and three-mile mountain bike trail, is located on a hill northwest of Lindsborg in McPherson County in central Kansas.
The site is thought to be located near where Spanish explorer Francisco Vásquez de Coronado in 1541 gave up his search for the fabled seven cities of gold and started back to Mexico.
The Works Progress Administration in 1936 built a stone castle that stands on Coronado Heights, which is the southernmost bluff in a series of seven, said the travelks.com website. The park was described by onlyinyourstate.com as being “a picturesque spot for locals and visitors alike to enjoy the great outdoors.”
Point-of-Rocks, southwest Kansas
Point-of-Rocks is a 100-foot cliff at the edge of an escarpment that was once used as a landmark on the Santa Fe Trail, said onlyinyourstate.com.
It is located near Elkhart within the Cimarron National Grassland in Morton County, at the state’s far southwest corner.
“This prominent geological feature offers views of the Cimarron River, and interpretive signs at the overlook give an in-depth history of the area,” that site said. “It’s a peaceful place to spend some time, and you can get there via a short-but-sweet 0.2-mile hiking trail.”
Ellinwood Tunnel System, central Kansas
One of the state’s most fascinating places is the Ellinwood Tunnel System, a series of tunnels Bavarian immigrants built beneath Main Street of that city of about 2,000 people in Barton County in central Kansas, said onlyinyourstate.com.
“Here, businesses, breweries, bathhouses, a train depot, and more thrived for a number of years, including Prohibition days when those wanting a stiff beverage could head underground for a drink,” it said. “Today, you can take a tour of the tunnels through The Historic Wolf Hotel — it’s one of the most unique things to do in Kansas!”
Reservations are required for the 90-minute tours, which are offered at 11 a.m. or 1 p.m. on Mondays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. Reservations may be made online at Book Online | The Wolf Hotel. The tour costs $15 for those 11 and older and 7.50 for children ages 5 to 10.
Arikaree Breaks, northwest Kansas
The “badlands” of Kansas are the Arikaree Breaks, located in northern Cheyenne County at the state’s far northwest corner.
That area’s rugged canyons and rolling hills — which were formed by ancient erosion — defy the Sunflower State’s stereotype for being flat, said www.touristsecrets.com.
“With its canyon-like appearance, the Arikaree Breaks are like the Grand Canyon of Kansas, with deep ravines, a stark contrast to the state’s typical topography of plains and hills,” said onlyinyourstate.com. “They extend 36 miles long and between two and three miles wide in some areas, and the stunning views are seemingly endless.”
Mushroom Rock State Park, central Kansas
Rocks resembling mushrooms “seem to arise out of nowhere” at Mushroom Rock State Park northwest of Marquette in Ellsworth County in central Kansas, said atlasobscura.com.
The 5-acre attraction is the state’s smallest state park. It features “rare Dakota sandstone concretions, up to 27 feet in diameter, deposited 100 million years ago and since exposed by the relentless forces of erosion,” said the website for the 8 Wonders of Kansas Geography, of which the park is a part.
This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: Unspoiled by crowds, here are 5 Kansas ‘undiscovered gem’ experiences