Red Hills Mining District Loop

The Red Hills rise like alien monuments from the wheat fields of southwestern Kansas, their rusty sandstone slopes scarred by decades of salt and gypsum extraction. This 24-mile loop connects old mining roads through Barber County’s most dramatic terrain, passing the massive Hutchinson Salt Company excavations and threading between 200-foot red mesas that give the region its name. Key waypoint is the abandoned Gypsum City townsite, where concrete foundations mark Kansas’ brief mining boom era.

Easy to moderate difficulty on maintained gravel roads, though loose red dirt can get slippery when wet. Any high-clearance vehicle handles it fine in dry weather. Spring and fall offer the best conditions — summer temperatures regularly hit 100°F with no shade, while winter ice makes the red clay roads treacherous. No permits needed on public roads, but mining operations require staying on designated routes. Several primitive camping spots exist along Clark County line roads with expansive views across the red mesa country.