Chase County Scenic Drive

Chase County contains vast areas of unspoiled prairie. In the spring, after the pastures have been burned, some of the hills look like they are all rock without enough soil to support life, and it’s easy to see where the name Flint Hills came from. Later, by the end of May, the harshness is buried in a thick carpet of wildflowers and lush bluestem grasses.
The Flint Hills Scenic Byway, or Kansas Highway 177, extends from Council Grove to Cassoday, right through the heart of Chase County. It is a journey into the history of the American West, passing through the Flint Hills and Cottonwood Falls, home of the historic Chase County Courthouse,past the Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve and through prairie which has remained unchanged for thousands of years.
Sharp’s Creek Drive is one of the prettiest roads in the county. Head south and east from Bazaar and go at least a couple of miles beyond the Kansas Turnpike onto the open range to experience what the first settlers must have seen and felt. If you travel east from Matfield Green you can still ford the Verdigris river. The road west from Matfield Green through Wonsevu to Burns in Marion County provides a similar experience. Stop somewhere and savor the solitude and silence.