Updated December 2025
Disclosure: Visit Lindsborg sponsored this post. However, all opinions are mine. I took the majority of the photos.
Lindsborg, Kansas, known as Little Sweden USA, is well-known for its festival scene, art galleries, and eateries. The town, located on the Smoky Hill River, offers a range of outdoor activities that make it unique. If you’re an outdoor adventurer, you need to visit Lindsborg.
Established more than 150 years ago, the town keeps me coming back for its long list of entertaining activities, unlike any other town in the Sunflower State.
10 Outdoor Activities That Make Lindsborg Unique
1.) TRAILS
When the Kansas sun is shining, there is no better place to be than outside exploring. Lindsborg has free, well-maintained trails perfect for getting one’s steps, biking, or dog walking (leash required!). Välkommen Trail is a converted rail bed that runs 4.25 miles. With various points of interest, I enjoyed reading about the town’s early history from the historical markers along the trail.
To view the route, download a colorful map with trail rules here.
Not every small Kansas town can boast more than one trail, which makes Lindsborg unique. Meadowlark Trail, accessible at the southern endpoint of the Välkommen Trail, is a wide, 13-mile limestone trail connecting McPherson with promising scenic views from what was once a Union Pacific railroad corridor. I appreciated the tree-covered shade at the onset of the route.
To view a detailed summary of the trail, access TrailLink.
PRO TIP: Drive to Old Mill Campground to park for free, then walk to the Meadowlark Trail sign. The trailhead has only enough parking for two cars.
2.) CORONADO HEIGHTS KITE FLY
Open fields and windy conditions make Kansas the ideal place to fly a kite, and Coronado Heights (4200 W. Coronado Heights), northeast of Lindsborg, is an incurably scenic spot with views of the Smoky Hills. The site is where it is believed Francisco Vasquez de Coronado and his men explored in search of riches, which they didn’t find.
The town hosts the Coronado Heights Kite Fly! event every May, drawing kite lovers to test their skills. Wings of the World Kites & Toys sells and demonstrates how to fly kites, and participants can also purchase kite kits at the toy store in town, Trollslända (135 N. Main St).
3.) FREDRICKSON OUTDOOR FITNESS PARK
When you’re ready for a cardiovascular workout, Frederickson Outdoor Fitness Park is the place to do it. The fitness station adjacent to Völkammen Trail’s south trailhead is designed with equipment so adults can target workouts to improve their strength, flexibility, and agility.
The outdoor gym includes a shaded area that I found helpful for stretching before workouts or cooling down after strenuous routines. I liked that the rubber surface was easy on the knees, a park feature adults will appreciate.
PRO TIP: Bring bottled water and a towel.
4.) PUBLIC ART WALK
Participating in an art walk is one of my favorite ways to increase my step count. One of the best places to do it is along Lindsborg’s downtown area, where murals, Dala horses, and framed outdoor artwork dot the corridor. I discover a new artistic creation during every visit to Main Street, and I find the framed tiled mosaics stunning.
But the art doesn’t need to be limited to only the downtown area. Everywhere you look, it seems like the community celebrates the arts. Look up, check around the corner, walk through a courtyard, and keep your eyes peeled when visiting a park. From wrought iron arches and wood carvings to painted Dala horses and stained glass windows, you’ll find more than one reason to walk the town on foot.
PRO TIP: Lindsborg Art Council hosts Makers Street twice per year. The interactive art walk highlights local artists’ work in shops and galleries and often features music, live performances, and delicious food.
5.) MAXWELL WILDLIFE REFUGE
Considered one of the 8 Wonders of Kansas Geography, Maxwell Wildlife Refuge (2565 Pueblo Rd.) offers guided tours where nature lovers can view native prairie and wildlife. To locate the park from Lindsborg, drive to Roxbury, north of Maxwell Wildlife Refuge, by 6 miles. Then drive south to Pueblo Road on 27th Avenue (Roxbury intersection, red blinking light), you will then see the park’s signs.
During the 45-minute covered tram tour, visitors view elk, birds, bison (look for baby calves from March through May!), native prairie grasses, and wildflowers. The area is located on the Prairie Trail Scenic Byway, the same area Native Americans and Kansas settlers traveled. Reservations are required three days in advance, and you should review the Tour Calendar before booking.
PRO TIP: Bring a camera with a telephoto lens to capture clear images of the bison from a distance.
6.) LINDSBORG GOLF COURSE
Discovering a hidden gem while road-tripping is the best. Lindsborg Golf Course (1541 Svensk Rd.) is a tucked-away 64-acre, 9-hole municipal course you need to play. Featuring one water hazard and some hilly fairways, the course is easy to moderate in difficulty, with tee boxes for men and women. If the temperature is 55 degrees or higher, the course is open from 9 am-7 pm.
Taking to the links is a delightful way to enjoy the outdoors while getting exercise at an affordable price. The manicured tee boxes and fairways are in good shape, and the golf cart paths are easy to maneuver. Golfers can purchase balls, tees, snacks, adult-only beverages, or bottled water to fill a cooler inside the clubhouse.
PRO TIP: Check the Weekly Specials calendar to take advantage of discount fees. For example, you can play 18 holes and get a golf cart for $16. Wear soft spike golf shoes or tennis shoes.
7.) BROADWAY RFD
Imagine watching actors and singers perform at the park while you relax in a lawn chair, enjoying a summer breeze on a starry night. Broadway RFD (located at Swensson Park’s band shell) is the longest-running outdoor theatre in Kansas. Offering guests quality performances, it’s a special opportunity to appreciate live community theater.
Past productions date back to 1959 and include many well-revered shows, including Oklahoma, The King and I, South Pacific, and The Music Man. Ticket sales start in early June and can be purchased online. The ticket prices are affordable, and kids ages 4 or younger get in free.
PRO TIP: Don’t expect a paper ticket. Your name will appear on a guest list at the gate.
8.) HEMSLOJD QUADRICYCLES
Why not cruise through town on a quadricycle to see the sights while burning calories? After indulging in a delicious ice cream cone from Indigo Moo’d Ice Cream, I needed an easy workout. I found renting the two-seat quadricycle simple at Hemslojd Swedish Gifts (201 N. Main St.). A 4-seater Limo rents for $ 15 for 30 mins or $ 24 for 1 hour. The 2-seater Junior (pictured below) rents for $ 9 for 30 mins and $ 15 for 1 hour.
You can stroll the downtown area and surrounding paved roads like a car. The quadricycle provides a leisurely way to explore the town without breaking a sweat since both passengers pedal, and only one person steers.
PRO TIP: Consider using hand signals to indicate your intended turns.
9.) LINDSBORG SWIMMING POOL
Need a place to cool off? The Lindsborg Swimming Pool (520 S. 1st St.) allows families to splash-splash starting June 1. A kiddie pool provides zero-depth entry and water spouts for children ages 6 and under. Diving boards, lap lanes, and open swim areas guarantee fun for the entire family. Don’t miss the 153′ waterslide, Thor’s Revenge.
A nearby sand volleyball court is ideal for adults to combine physical fitness and fun.
PRO TIP: View the admission prices here.
10.) YOGA ON THE BRIDGE
I can’t think of a better way to practice mindfulness while exercising than performing yoga. Lindsborg resident Tricia Clark hosts Yoga On the Bridge for people of all experience levels. The Runic Yoga session begins by gathering at the rune stone in Riverside Park (near the covered pavilion), then walking together to the Völkammen Trail bridge. The views of the Smoky Hill River are breathtaking, and the sound of chirping native birds relaxes you. With each guided move, your flexibility, energy, and balance improve.
To join a session, contact Tricia by email at [email protected].
PRO TIP: Wear comfortable workout clothes or yoga attire.
BONUS ACTIVITIES
The town’s parks offer explorers a multitude of opportunities to get some exercise. Swede Sk8 Park is designed for daredevils who want to skateboard, trick bike, rollerblade, or use their scooter. It is located adjacent to the Välkommen Trail and adjacent to Kansas Street.
Swensson Park features tennis and basketball courts. You’ll find athletic courts, horseshoe pits, and playground equipment at Riverside Park.
Disc golf is a popular sport for outdoor enthusiasts in Kansas, and Bethany Lutheran College’s 9-hole course (340 E. Swensson Ave.) is a no-cost way to play a round. Over 2,000 feet of course, golfers can catch glimpses of gorgeous sculptures on campus. Each hole is a par 3; grass tees and open spaces make the course approachable for beginners. To find Hole 1, walk to the Northwest corner of Gregory Hall.
Another highlight of the course? After the game, you’re within walking distance of Birger Sandzén Memorial Art Gallery (401 N. First St.). Visitor parking is available in the designated areas shown on this map.
Have you heard of geocaching? A treasure hunt using an app to locate a hidden container lets participants enjoy a free outdoor activity at various locations in Lindsborg. To start, visit geocaching.com to navigate using coordinates and clues.
Considering staying overnight to take in the rest of the town? Check out my additional post, The Best Way to Spend a Day in Lindsborg, Kansas, aka “Little Sweden, for plenty of things to do, from dining to exploring art galleries to shopping.
The third floor’s “Wichita the Magic City” displays help visitors learn the heritage of the Wichita Indians that gave the city its name, the days of booming downtown businesses, and the rise of the Air Capital of the World.
I chose the Cinnamon Dolce Chai Tea Latte served over ice during my visit. I didn’t mind the short wait for my iced coffee because I was keen to sit in a tiny alcove of the café decorated with modern finishes and seating for two people. It provided a private space to enjoy my beverage while using free Wi-Fi to catch up on work.
Admission is free Monday-Friday from 9 am-5 pm – remember to call in advance at 316-221-8000 to schedule a visit.
Let this guide be a starting point for your adventure touring the city on #316Day or any day of the year. For more travel inspiration, head to 
You can’t miss it as you drive down the street. The tall white columns, brick architecture, and sheer size capture the attention of passersby. I was the first guest to check in on the day of my overnight stay, so I was able to peek inside each of the themed bedrooms and tour the home’s main level.
My accommodations in the German Room included private access to a newly remodeled bathroom with modern amenities. The queen bed was comfortable, and the room’s antique vanity and large closet provided ample space to store personal items.
In the morning, I enjoyed a complimentary breakfast of frittata, potatoes, berries, and hot coffee in the company of other early-morning risers in the formal dining room.
To reserve a room at Gufler Mansion Bed & Breakfast for a single night or overnight stay, visit the 
Popular with residents, including college students, it also serves as a retail space selling whimsical gifts. Shoppers in search of puzzles and uniquely crafted artwork are in luck.
PRO TIP: Before walking into the cafe space, stop at the 
Stacked burgers, Philly sandwiches, po’boys, and hot wings dominate the 
The restaurant was packed with diners, and seating at times was limited. Thankfully, they also offer outdoor patio seating, and you can order via drive-up or by phone for carry-out. An employee behind the counter busily blended shakes while others flipped burgers on a flat-top grill. The local hangout sign in the background read, “Come In. We Are Awesome.”
As I munched on my sandwich, I watched the movie “Popeye” on the dining room’s flatscreen TV. A wall of bottled sauces and locally made beef jerky sat for sale nearby. Just as I was about to finish my meal, the owner stopped by to visit.
I learned from him that the Reaper Burger Challenge attracts customers willing to endure the super-spicy sandwich to make a name for themselves and win a free T-shirt. He confessed that the budget was so daunting he couldn’t even finish the burger.
White and his family hosted friends and dignitaries (5 presidents visited) in the red Colorado sandstone home. The newsman declined Frank Lloyd Wright’s design drawings for the house, but upon touring, you’ll recognize some of his design style in its interior.
Six bedrooms and three full baths are furnished with many of the family’s prized possessions. Look for White’s infamous top hat next to the bed and the jaguar rug gifted to him by President Theodore Roosevelt. My favorite artifact is White’s original typewriter in the upstairs study.
Other areas of the zoo facility include a children’s play area and Zoo Education Center. The park is open Sunday-Saturday, 10 am-4:30 pm.
During my park tour, I stumbled upon Monkey Island, which was once surrounded by a moat and housed rhesus monkeys. As you stroll across the park, you’ll find aquatic birds and turtles enjoying the four-acre lake
The well-established trees provided ample shade in different areas of the park. Picnic tables invite you to bring your lunch and enjoy the beautiful setting.
PRO TIP: Take a selfie with the bronze Peter Pan statue. The land was donated by the town’s most famous resident, William Allen White, and named after his daughter’s nickname.
Serious disc golfers travel from afar to compete in the PDGA Professional Disc Golf World Champions in late summer/early fall. The park includes two courses providing golfers a chance to showcase their athleticism.
The receptionist was happy to give me a casual tour of the warehouse, which started in the employee lounge. If ever there was a place you would want to work as a disc golfer, it would be there.
PRO TIP: The facility doesn’t include a retail store. However, you can purchase discs at the 
As you walk the downtown corridor, keep your eyes peeled for 
Cycling for long distances on Kansas gravel roads is a popular endurance sport in the Emporia area. 
The 
PRO TIP: Walk into the 
PRO TIP: Take home a bottle of moonshine available for sale in the merchandise area of the tasting room.
Inside the Buffalo Bill Culture Center, you’ll find permanent and on-loan displays that provide details of the area’s history. I watched a fascinating short movie, “Hidden History – The Ghost Town of Sheridan Kanas 1868,” about a lawless town made up of mostly saloons not far from Oakley. The Kansas Pacific Railroad’s tracks ended there. The video told of men hung from railroad trestles and a mass grave created to bury the dead. The town existed for 15 short months. You can view an oil painting, “End of the Track,” by local artist Chuck Bonner on the wall of the center.
The center also serves as the town’s travel information center, so it’s best to stop there before exploring Oakley. I discovered extensive travel brochures, maps, and a gift shop. The staff was eager to answer my questions and offered me freshly brewed coffee. If you need to research area attractions, knowledgeable employees will help you, or you can use the free WiFi to search the internet. A pet-friendly building, and travelers with dogs appreciate the indoor and outdoor accommodations.
George Sternberg’s rare fossil, a 15′ Xiphactinus Audax, is the world’s oldest known mosasaur, and it sits on display for museum visitors to enjoy. The room that houses it also showcases a mosasaur skull. For fossil hunters and fans, this room promises to get their hearts racing. Since the museum sits on the 
Other museum rooms tell the story of the life of the prairie. You can walk into a replica of a sod house, view the interior of a general store, and listen to audio stories about the railroad. What do you think it would have been like to live before modern technology? The museum showcases the impact of modern communication on society, dating back to the telegraph to the telephone.
I scanned the land. I didn’t see tall rocks protruding from the land. Where were they? Then, out of nowhere, I spotted them. Monuments Rocks or “The Chalk Pyramids” stood as an outcropping just off the road, and I had the entire place to myself.
Located on private land, Monument Rocks is open to the public during daylight hours. The sedimentary formations are Niobrara Chalk, formed during the Cretaceous period on the Western Interior Seaway 80 million years ago. The lines in the rock indicate how the limestone evolved over the years. Listed as one of the 8 Wonders of Kansas, it nearly takes your breath away. It’s easy to see why it was listed as the first National Natural Landmark in Kansas.
I circled the formations with my car and then parked. My path was bright white, and the sun bounced off the rock, illuminating the area. It’s hard to describe the size and scale of the formations. They are enormous. It is reported that every inch of rock represents 700 years of history.
If you’re interested in visiting the outcroppings for yourself, I recommend traveling on a cool weather day or during the morning hours. Avoid making the drive if rain is in the forecast. It’s advisable to pack water and wear closed-toed shoes. To get there, drive 20 miles south of Oakley on U.S. 83, then 4 miles east on Jayhawk Road, 3 miles south, and 1 mile east (dry weather road only).
The Keystone Gallery overlooks the Smoky Hill River valley with a view of Monument Rocks in the “Badlands of Kansas.” I encourage you to look inside the glass cases at the museum and ask questions. Each fossil comes with a story about its discovery, journey to the museum, and the process of preparing it for display.
Before I left Keystone Gallery, I had one question for Chuck and Barbara. What was the story of the old car sitting near the entrance? I was told that Chuck used the 1948 Chevy Suburban for fossil hunting. Now, it sits as an artistic showpiece on the property. Oh, the stories this car could tell! Look closely at the photos below to enjoy the characters representing creatures of the deep.
I’ll never forget meeting Chuck and Barbara. They taught me so much about the region, but more importantly, how to enjoy what you do for a living. To visit Keystone Gallery, drive on U.S. 83, 26 miles south of Oakley or 18 miles north of Scott City. Thirty years later, the couple continues to share their love of fossils with others. View the gallery’s hours 
A visit to Oakley offers more than a few tourist stops. (I’ll return to visit 
