What clients say about Alcove Spring Park in Blue Rapids (KS)
Wonderful trail to take you kids on. Multiple options on directions to go. I would NOT take someone who is handicapped out on the trail. These trails are by no means wheelchair safe
A very important historical site of the Oregon trail. There are interesting signs about the pioneers, including the Donner Party who camped here on their journey to California. There are well maintained trails thru wooded areas and open fields with many outsanding views. There is an informative display and maps at the kiosk in the parking area. There are no restrooms. This place is pretty hidden and I had trouble reaching it on my first try. There are no signs on highway 77 directing you to the site. Driving down a long dirt, and in some spots, muddy road with a big dip in it, was not ideal for my small car. I found the Sunflower road turnoff to be a better way to get to the site than the Osage road turnoff, further north, which google maps originally directed me to take the first time I visited.
Nice place the trails are clean and maintained. There are free maps in the parking lot. And some great views and historical landmarks. So now the negative points . There's only one restroom in the park. And it's on a trail. So if you need to use the restroom when you get there you have to go on that certain trail. While the trails are clean each trail connects to other trails, but only the trail heads are mark.
First major milestone on the Oregon Trail. If you're interested in the Trail, you have to stop here. It's a couple miles off the highway on a dirt road. The site is well maintained with multiple walking trails, good signage and maps to show you the way. It's a short walk to the Alcove itself. You can certainly see why people would stop here for a couple days of rest.
Special peice of ground. You can feel the history. The trails are well maintained, easy to get to you can spend all day exploring or enjoying a picnic and a nap, this place is magical.
From previous reviews I heard about lots of ticks. We went during the winter and stayed on the trails. We didn't have any ticks. But we also didn't get to enjoy the waterfall since it only runs from spring to summer, which is why only 4 stars. Still, very nice views and educational too.
Nice park! We were the only ones there. We saw wagon ruts (or swales), a beautiful little waterfall and freshwater spring, along with a lot of historical markers and fun facts! We took a nice little hike to the homestead. Not to be missed
Went during the day in the middle of the week and i had the place to my self. but it seemed that the spring was all dried up and has been for quite some time. There is a little informational booth at the entrance with some brochures it in with a map, which doesn’t really help you navigate the expansive network of multiple intersecting trails that make up this rather large park. there were some metal numbers attached to various trees Which I assumed we are for a purpose but they had no correlation to anything and weren’t even on the map to use as a reference so I’m not sure what the purpose was but all in all it was a pretty good park, very large and Quiet and a surprisingly lack of human refuse lying around. The only thing I didn’t like was the lack of educational information throughout the park or even at the entrance to tell you really what the park was about it seemed to only touch on the history of the park and why it was important enough to be made an official park, you were mostly being informed of the individuals that put in the paperwork and made the park happen.
A hidden gem in Northeast Kansas. We went there Sunday around 11 and no-one was there. Such a peaceful and calm place to hike. Lots of different trails with amazing views
Nice single track trail through woods & fields. Abundant wildlife. Natural spring where the Donner party and others stopped on the way west. Peaceful & Serene.
Alcove is a great place to walk trail and enjoy nature. A map is included at main entrance in box. We loved hiking Alcove Springs Park we will be back to finish the trails!
This is a lovely place to visit but don't plan a long stop--it is primitive so there are no bathroom facilities. Also, if you ask your phone for directions, take the longer route. The most direct/shortest route for us took us on a scary, one lane dirt road. The slightly longer route was also a dirt road but it was in much better shape!
What a beautiful park nestled in the prairie! It has a nice mixture of tall grass, trees, and wonderful creeks that flow clear. Then throw on top of all that the history that is found in the surrounding area. Finally you have a perfect place to sit and relax as you watch the sunset end the day!
Worth the effort to take the gravel road. 5 minute walk from parking and very quiet and calming site. Kids will enjoy the walk. Path is natural/rustic Not wheel chair or walker assisted paths.
Wow, what a gem of a park. Many trails in the shade, fun creek winding through park. Might be a good 8dea to bring shoes you can get wet if it has rained recently or if water in creek could be high. Good sized parking lot at entrance. Lots of history at this site. Be sure to go to outlook as there are great views.
There was some flooding which blocked access tonthe entire property. But, it was interesting to see where the early pioneers took rest from travelling. It was much cooler temperatures at the waterfall than the surrounding landscape, so it was easy to see why it was a good place to cool down.
Went to Kansas band concert in late September. Weather cooperated, just beautiful. Very organized event. Was not bothered by insects so they must have sprayed the area ahead of time. Plenty of food vendors available. Plenty of volunteers to help people park and get ride to concert seating. Would go there again to attend outdoor concert.
This is stop #27 in the National Park Service's auto tour guide for the Oregon Trail in Kansas.
A popular campground for Oregon Trail travelers, including members of the Donner Party who withstood one of the delays that resulted in their demise here as the nearby Blue River flooded in 1846. To reach the spring itself, use the parking lot on the west side of the park and walk the short trail shown on the kiosk by the parking lot. If it has rained recently, there will be a 10-foot waterfall that falls into the pool next to the spring. You will also see carvings in the rocks around the spring, including the name of the spring as coined by a member of the Donner Party.
We've been twice, once when the creek that makes the waterfall was dry and once when it was flowing after a rain. Both times we had the whole peaceful setting to ourselves.
Orchestra on the Oregon Trail was a magical experience. The dragonflies were dancing and the crowd was bushed, listening to beautiful music by the Topeka Symphony Orchestra until dusk.
The trails were very interesting and well kept too.
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