Flint Hills — South Fork Cottonwood
🏔 Scenic River
Chase / Marion Co. · 40 mi · Class I–II
101CFS/ 3.50 ft
Below Optimal→Stable· +37 cfs in 3h
Optimal: 200–1500 CFS · USGS #07179730
Length
Difficulty
Optimal
Avg Flow
Hist. Median
USGS Gauge
Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve corridor · Kansas Scenic River candidate
Paddling through the last remaining tallgrass prairie ecosystem on earth. The Flint Hills are the only place where the original Great Plains grassland survives intact — four million acres of unplowed bluestem prairie stretching to every horizon. Spring burns turn the hills black, then impossibly green within weeks.
Trip sections
Marion to Cottonwood Falls — 25 mi, Flint Hills canyon
Cottonwood Falls to Emporia — 15 mi, wider valley, prairie views
Outfitters
Flint Hills Trail Outfitters
Cottonwood Falls-based, canoe and kayak rentals
72-Hour Flow Forecast
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10-Year Flow Patterns
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Data Quality
River conditions are community-verified. CFS ranges, difficulty ratings, and trip sections may not reflect every flow level or seasonal change. Always check current conditions, scout unfamiliar rapids, and paddle within your skill level. If you spot an error, use the Improve This River button at the top of the page — your local knowledge is what makes this atlas accurate.