Kansas Cyclist - Kansas Bicycle Guide and Reference

Fancy Creek State Park is located just north of Manhattan, along the western shore of 12,500-acre Tuttle Creek Reservoir. The facilities at the 372-acre park include camping, a boat ramp, picnic shelters, and a mountain biking and hiking trail.

The Fancy Creek Mountain Bike Trail features 5.5 miles of trail winding through dense cedar forest and open native grassland, running along rocky ridges with scenic overlooks along the way. This trail is one of the best and most unique in Kansas. The trail is an intermediate to advanced trail. There are a few sections that very few riders, even the most experienced, can ride cleanly. There are also sections that beginners will find challenging, but ridable. This is a trail for everybody.

The topography and the plant life along the trail are very unique to the area. The trail is very rocky on the upper sections with mostly cedar trees. The lower sections are mostly deciduous trees and grass with many small creek crossings. While riding this trail you will pass through rocky coniferous forests, ridge running trails, grassland, deciduous forests, and back again. There are many flowing sections separated with technical parts and many switchbacks. Many areas offer great views of the surrounding hills, plains, and Tuttle Creek Lake.