Gypsum Hills Scenic Byway
US 160 between Medicine Lodge and Coldwater through the red buttes, mesas and canyons of the Gypsum Hills in south-central Kansas.
Also known as Gyp Hills
- Length42 miles[1]
- Drive time1 hour[2]
- RoadsU.S. 160[1]
- Start and endMedicine Lodge to Coldwater on U.S. 160; it can be driven in either direction[1]
- Fees and passesThere are no fees along the byway proper[2]
- Best seasonAny time of year; spring and summer bring wildflowers[3]January is the off season because of winter driving conditions; May brings wheat-harvest traffic.
- SurfaceNot verified
- Vehicle notesNot verified
- Seasonal closuresNot verified
Before you go
Road status and weather can change quickly. Check the official road-conditions link before you go.
Facts last checked against the sources on October 29, 2026.
About the drive
The Gypsum Hills Scenic Byway follows U.S. 160 for 42 miles between Medicine Lodge and Coldwater in south-central Kansas. You can drive it in either direction, picking it up from U.S. 281 in the east or U.S. 183 in the west.
The land doesn't look like the rest of the state: red soil, flat-topped buttes capped with white gypsum, canyons and cedars. Wildflowers cover the hills in spring, and after a snow the red ground shows through white.
Three interpretive sites near Medicine Lodge explain the area's history and geology.
Stops along the way
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Medicine Lodge
Town at the east end of the byway.
Official information · 37.28114, -98.58037 · about 0.5 mi from the route line
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Interpretive site at US 160 and US 281
Byway sign stop east of the US 281 junction.
Official information · 37.27568, -98.596 · about 0.0 mi from the route line
-
Interpretive site west of Medicine Lodge
Pullout on the south side of US 160.
Official information · 37.27521, -98.69534 · about 0.0 mi from the route line
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Interpretive site near Forest City Road
Stop on US 160 about 5 miles west of Medicine Lodge.
Official information · 37.28171, -98.74897 · about 0.0 mi from the route line
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Coldwater
Town at the west end, near US 183.
Official information · 37.26892, -99.32679 · about 0.7 mi from the route line
Stops are listed in order along the route; the numbers match the map. Stop locations come from the National Park Service, the U.S. Geological Survey place-names database, the stop's own official page or, where noted in the data, OpenStreetMap (© OpenStreetMap contributors).
Food along the way
In season during the best months to drive
The drive's best months are Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec. Typical U.S. seasons from our Fresh Market Guide; local harvests vary.
- Acorn squashSep, Oct, Nov
- AlmondsAug, Sep, Oct
- ApplesAug, Sep, Oct, Nov
- ApricotsMay, Jun, Jul
Keep exploring
Scenic drives nearby
- Historic Route 66IL, MO, OK, NM, AZ, CA · about 46 mi away
- Wetlands and Wildlife Scenic BywayKS · about 77 mi away
- Smoky Valley Scenic BywayKS
- Flint Hills Scenic BywayKS
More scenic drives in Kansas
Food and farms in the area
Sources
- The Gypsum Hills Scenic Byway (Kansas Tourism, Kansas Byways) (checked 2026-10-29)
- America's Byways: Gypsum Hills Scenic Byway (FHWA) (checked 2026-10-29)
- America's Byways: Gypsum Hills Scenic Byway, visitor services (FHWA byways.org, archived copy) (checked 2026-10-29)
- Route line: U.S. DOT scenic byways map service (geo.dot.gov), retrieved 2026-10-29.
Written by VanillaGoods from the cited official sources. This is a drive to know, not a ranking. Road status and weather can change quickly; check the official road-conditions link before you go.
Spot something out of date? Email help@vanillagoods.com (help@vanillagoods.com).