Kansas Regions & Landscapes

Kansas is often described as flat, but that reputation overlooks the state’s remarkable diversity. In reality, Kansas is divided into eleven distinct geological regions, shaped by ancient seas, glaciers, rivers, and millions of years of erosion.

In the east, wooded hills and river valleys dominate the glaciated terrain of northeast Kansas and the Ozark Plateau in the far southeast. The surrounding Cherokee Lowlands gradually transition west into the gently rolling Flint Hills and Chautauqua Hills, home to one of the largest remaining expanses of native tallgrass prairie in North America.

Moving farther west, the landscape opens into river lowlands, sand dunes, and expansive wetlands, particularly along the Arkansas River corridor. Central Kansas is also home to world-class birding destinations like Cheyenne Bottoms and Quivira National Wildlife Refuge where migration seasons bring extraordinary wildlife activity.

North-central Kansas is dominated by the Smoky Hills and unique places like Mushroom Rock State Park. Beyond that, the High Plains stretch across western Kansas—often subtle at first glance, but punctuated by dramatic chalk formations such as Monument Rocks and Castle Rock, surprising terrain like the rugged Arikaree Breaks and the subtle landscapes of the Cimarron National Grassland.

Kansas is anything but one-dimensional. Explore the regions below to experience the full range of landscapes the state has to offer.