Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism

TOPEKA– The National Park Service (NPS) is inviting comments on its Draft Chisholm and Great Western National Historic Trail Feasibility Study/Environmental Assessment. The 170-page study evaluates whether the two historic trails are eligible for designation as national historic trails. Once comments are received and evaluated, the final study and recommendation will be sent to Congress for its consideration and action. The comment period ends March 6, 2015.

The draft study recommends designating the Chisholm National Historic Trail and the Western National Historic Trail and administering them as a combined unit of the National Trails System. The NPS also evaluated a No Action alternative.

Both trails originated in the vicinity of San Antonio, Texas. The Chisholm Trail entered Kansas near Caldwell, ran through Wichita and ended at Abilene. Secondary segments of the trail ran to Hays and Ellsworth. The Great Western Trail entered Kansas near Ashland, continued north to Dodge City and then on to Ogallala, Nebraska, branching in several places along the way. The study focuses on the primary routes of each trail, and there are a combined 680 miles of study trails in Kansas.

To read the draft study and make comments, go to: parkplanning.nps.gov.