Off Trail Hike LJBSP 06-15
Location: Little Jerusalem Badlands State Park
Type: Off Trail Hike
Date: Sunday, June 15, 2025
Contact: Sara Kay Carrell sarakay.carrell@ks.gov
Phone No: 620-872-2061
Time: 9:00 am - 11:00 am
Other Information:
Please be observant of weather conditions!! I cannot have tours if there has been recent rains, snow or melting/melted snow. Hiking off trail in wet conditions damages the environment of Little Jerusalem. It is also unsafe to have tours in high wind weather (which happens often here!) Monitor the National Weather Service locations for Scott City and Oakley to be familiar with weather conditions prior to your trip!
* Be aware that on occasion we do experience issues with bathrooms and there may be temporary closures due to water supply issues. Please plan accordingly prior to your arrival for that "just in case" time. Oakley, Scott City, or Lake Scott are the only close by locations for restroom options.
Things to Know:
*There is no fee for the tour. You DO need a daily vehicle pass ($5 exact cash or check) OR a Kansas State Park Annual Pass. The self pay kiosk is at the entrance to the park. We DO NOT have an office at LJBSP to make change.
*Meeting location is the Ramada Overlook, the main overlook at the West end of the parking lot.
*Reservations are required. An email is all I need. You will get a confirmation email from me when I check my email when at work! Please email 24 hours in advance for best chances!
*If there are cancellations due to weather, etc, the notice will be posted on this calendar date info page. Emails will also be sent out to those reserved.
**Please plan ahead when making your reservations to know for sure there is space available in a tour!!!
Space is limited on tours. Spaces must be reserved. I try for the tours to not be too much larger than 15-20 people. Please make your plans and email sarakay.carrell@ks.gov to reserve a spot! Hikes down in the rocks will be approximately 1.5 hours. Please plan for about a 2 hour timeframe to allow for time to hike back to the parking lot!. Email is the BEST way to reach Sara Kay!!!
Come to Little Jerusalem Badlands State Park and enjoy an off trail guided hike lead by the naturalist! Be prepared for rough hiking, uneven terrain, and scrambling thru grass and brush. Wear boots or other appropriate footwear that covers the feet. Bring water, a snack, binoculars, and a hiking stick! Please do not underestimate the terrain.
We will start at the main overlook at the west end of the parking lot (The Ramada Overlook) and venture off in a direction that will take us off into the bottoms of the rock formations. Once at the base of the rocks, we will explore the various nooks, crannies, and spires of Little Jerusalem's Niobrara chalk formations. Along the way, we learn about the grasses, forbs, mammals, reptiles, insects, geology, and other great things that nature presents to us. Be prepared for rough hiking, uneven terrain, ups and downs, and scrambling thru grass and brush. No set path is followed! So be ready for an adventure! It is an intermediate level hike/terrain. We hike at a moderate pace with stop and go to learn, talk, ask questions, and take photos.
During the summer, it is HOT down in the canyons. The rock formations do a great job of blocking the wind, so BE PREPARED for temperatures to be 10+ degrees warmer during the hike in the rocks!
During the winter, it can be pretty chilly in the rock formations! The winds are predominantly North or Northwest winds, which means the wind whips right thru the canyon bottoms and can chill us down! Plan for a wind chill factor in the winter!
**Hikes will be cancelled by inclement weather!** If it is snowing, blizzarding, freezing rain, raining, lightning, or any other unsafe weather brought on by Mother Nature, all activities will be canceled at Little Jerusalem. Scott City and Oakley are the closest towns to search for weather on National Weather Service. Cancellation notices will be posted on this hike day's info.