Attractions and Places To See around Hays - Top 5

Hays offers a variety of natural features, including creeks, lakes, and forested areas. You can visit Slaughter Creek, known for Spanish Moss thriving on trees, or explore Elm Waterhole, a small lake formed by the damming of Slaughter Creek. Beyond the immediate area, the Hays Bison Herd at Frontier Park West provides a unique wildlife viewing opportunity, and Cedar Bluff State Park offers scenic landscapes for hiking and recreation.

Yes, Hays has several family-friendly attractions. Mary Moore Searight Metropolitan Park features extensive parkland, trails suitable for all ages, and amenities like tennis courts and a Disc Golf course. The Latta Branch Greenway Trail is a well-kept path with fitness stations and picnic areas, perfect for a family outing. For summer fun, the Hays Aquatic Park is also a popular choice.

Hays is rich in history. You can explore the Fort Hays State Historic Site, which preserves original buildings from a 19th-century military post. The Chestnut Street District, known as 'The Bricks,' offers a self-guided walking tour of historic downtown. Additionally, the Ellis County Historical Museum provides insights into the region's past, including exhibits on Wild West figures and Volga German settlers.

Hays offers various hiking opportunities. Mary Moore Searight Metropolitan Park has both Metro Trails for runners and hikers, and Equestrian Trails that are also suitable for walking. The Latta Branch Greenway Trail is another option with a dirt and gravel path. For more detailed routes, you can explore guides like Easy hikes around Hays or Hiking around Hays.

Yes, Hays has notable cultural attractions. The Sternberg Museum of Natural History at Fort Hays State University is renowned for its fossil collections, particularly those found in the Great Plains. The Ellis County Historical Museum showcases local history, and the Hays Arts Center Gallery features various exhibits by local and regional artists throughout the year.

Beyond hiking, Hays provides several outdoor activities. Mary Moore Searight Metropolitan Park offers amenities like basketball and Disc Golf. Cedar Bluff State Park, a short drive away, is excellent for camping, swimming, and fishing. For those interested in running, you can find various routes in the Running Trails around Hays guide.

Yes, you can observe wildlife in the Hays area. The Hays Bison Herd at Frontier Park West is a direct link to the region's Wild West past, offering a chance to see these majestic animals. Additionally, trails like the Big Creek Nature Trail and Vineyard Park Nature Trail provide opportunities to encounter local flora and fauna in their natural habitats.

For unique natural formations, consider a trip to Monument Rocks, approximately 114 miles from Hays, which are striking 70-foot-tall sedimentary chalk formations. Closer to Hays, about 62 miles away, are the Castle Rock Badlands, offering distinctive rock formations to explore.

Ellis County, including Hays, is known for its strong Roman Catholic and Volga German heritage, reflected in its historic churches. The most prominent is the Basilica of St. Fidelis in nearby Victoria, often called 'The Cathedral of the Plains,' a magnificent Romanesque-style church built from native limestone.

Visitors particularly enjoy the peaceful and tranquil environments found in places like Slaughter Creek within Mary Moore Searight Metropolitan Park. The easy and scenic singletrack trails around Elm Waterhole are also highly appreciated for their forested settings and opportunities for a relaxing outdoor experience.

Yes, several trails around Hays are dog-friendly. The trails around Elm Waterhole are suitable for walking with dogs. Many of the trails within Mary Moore Searight Metropolitan Park also welcome dogs, making it a great place for you and your canine companion to explore.