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Recreation

Nestled within the Kansas Flint Hills, Manhattan is filled with great opportunities for both active and passive recreation. From hiking, biking, and fishing to golfing and just relaxing in tranquil spaces, Manhattan has it all. The city maintains a number of community parks and facilities, providing an assortment of diversions, including playground equipment, ballfields, tennis courts, picnic areas, and more. In addition, the community maintains a great trail system, which spans nine miles and is utilized by bikers and walkers.

Golfers of all skill levels revel in the challenge of four local golf courses. Colbert Hills Golf Course opened in 2000 and boasts a strong partnership with K-State. This 18-hole, 7,525-yard course sits upon scenic rolling hills and stands as the first PGA collegiate course, as well as an Audubon Signature Gold course. The 18-hole, 6,427-yard Stagg Hill Golf Club is another superb choice for golfers in the area, as it features tree-lined fairways and a location along the Kansas River. Adding to the offerings is the 18-hole Manhattan Country Club and the nine-hole, 2,100-yard Wildcat Creek Golf Course.

Just minutes outside of Manhattan is the popular Tuttle Creek State Park, an area affording visitors a multitude of outdoor diversions. The Tuttle Creek Reservoir stands as Kansas’ second largest reservoir, offering 12,500 acres of water and around 100 miles of wooded shoreline. More than 16,000 acres of land surround the lake, incorporating a number of trail systems for nature walking, biking, and equestrian use, plus an 18-hole disc golf course, campsites, and ample hunting and fishing activities.

Exceptional programming is offered at the Konza Prairie Biological Station, an 8,600-acre native tallgrass prairie. The area, which is owned by The Nature Conservancy and Kansas State University, is an ideal place for research, education, and prairie conservation. Here, visitors can take advantage of self-guided nature trails and on-site programming for grades kindergarten through 12th, plus youth and adult groups.

And just outside of Manhattan, in Junction City, is Rock Springs—an excellent option for retreats and conferences. Seasonal diversions offered include archery, swimming, canoeing, horseback riding, and an array of environmental and historical programming, along with a dynamic leadership adventure course.