Gyp Hills Scenic Byway Extended Loop

The red rock bluffs rising from the prairie south of Medicine Lodge look more like New Mexico than Kansas, and that’s exactly what makes the Gyp Hills Extended Loop worth the drive. This technical circuit follows ranch roads and BLM two-tracks through the most rugged terrain in the state, navigating steep-sided arroyos carved through red sandstone and white gypsum beds. The route connects multiple historic homestead sites and passes through the abandoned townsite of Aetna, where crumbling foundations mark another failed prairie settlement.

This is moderate to difficult territory requiring high-clearance 4WD and careful route-finding skills through unmarked ranch gates and wash crossings. Spring rains turn the clay-rich soil into slick gumbo that’ll strand even the best-equipped rigs, so stick to dry conditions April through October. Dispersed camping is allowed on BLM sections, but respect private land boundaries and carry plenty of water – the nearest services are 40 miles away in Medicine Lodge. You’ll earn some of the most unique geology and solitude Kansas has to offer.