Off Trail Hike 08-03

Location: Little Jerusalem Badlands State Park

Type: Off Trail Hike

Date: Sunday, August 03, 2025

Contact: Sara Kay Carrell sarakay.carrell@ks.gov

Phone No: 620-872-2061 or sarakay.carrell@ks.gov

Time: 9:00 am - 11:00 am


Other Information:

I cannot have tours if there has been recent rains, snow or melting/melted snow. It is also unsafe to have tours in high wind weather (which happens often here!). Hiking off trail in wet conditions damages the environment of Little Jerusalem. Monitor the National Weather Service locations for Scott City and Oakley to be familiar with weather conditions prior to your trip!

**Please be advised that due to unavoidable circumstances, there might be temporary closures of restrooms due to water issues. Plan ahead and make stops in Oakley or Scott City just in case!**

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!!!

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.

*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! Please email 24 hours in advance for best chances! I do not check email in the morning before the morning tours!

*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.

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.

View Little Jerusalem Calendar