Big Arkansas River – An Outing in the City of Wichita, KS
The Big Arkansas River offers an excellent walking/cycling/jogging path that winds for miles along the river bank. It also offers opportunities for fishing, kayaking, and walking your four-legged friends.
Big Arkansas River Park – Wichita, KS
The path is accessible from the Big Arkansas River Park located at 3900 W 21st St North, in Wichita, Kansas, or you can enter the path on the opposite side of 21st Street at the end of the bridge. The Park has free and ample parking and picnic tables.
Walking Along the Big Arkansas River
The path is handicapped accessible and is generally level with some rolling hills and runs along the west side of the river. Early morning is a great time to walk the river path, especially in the summer when temperatures can rise quickly. Early evening also offers some cooler temperatures for enjoying a stroll or jog after work.
Depending on the time of year and the amount of rain to the north, the path can take on water, particularly near the spillway right under the 21st Street Bridge near the park.
Vantage Point at the Spillway – Get the Fish First
The path along the river is a great way to get away from the city noise and enjoy nature without leaving the city. You will meet fishermen (and women), cyclists, walkers, joggers, and people walking their four-legged friends. As you top the first hill, the park widens out a bit above the river, leaving an expanse of grass and trees. There are a few park benches scatter along the path, and just at the top of this knoll a kindly individual puts out water for your pup.
Early Morning Fishing on the Big Arkansas River
Early morning finds not just people fishing, but birds. Great Egrets line up on the banks to fish. A Great Blue Heron stands on the point of a sandbar, waiting for his meal. Meanwhile, a fisherman lands an 8 to 10 pound catfish, which he photographs and releases.
Spring Brings Lots of Babies to the Big Arkansas River
Spring is hard to resist on the river. It’s a very peaceful experience, particularly when the water is high and rushing over the spillway. In the spring, ducks and geese will be nesting and shepherding their ducklings and goslings through the high grass. Various water birds, including great blue herons, are easy to spot on almost every walk.
Canada Geese and Goslings on the Banks of the Big Arkansas River, Wichita, KS
For the plant lover, there is an abundance of wildflowers, not to mention the exquisite landscaping of some of the houses along the river.
Drawing pictures on the sandy banks of the river is fun for kids and adults, combining water play with art. Of course, kayaks launching from the same shoreline just below the spillway might inadvertently obliterate the artists’ work.
All in all, this path is great for daily use or for a weekend jaunt with kids. They too will enjoy the birds and nature along the river.
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