Southwind Rail Trail

On my way home from Chanute Tuesday I stopped to ride the recently finished Southwind Rail Trail. This rail-to-trail built on the former right of way of the Leavenworth, Lawrence and Galveston Railroad, runs a little over 6 miles between the towns of Iola and Humboldt Kansas. The trail built by volunteers is a Southward extension of the Prairie Spirit trail which is a State managed trail.
They (volunteers) have done a really nice job with the trail. It is nice and wide, it’s surface a fine gravel, and mostly tree lined which blocks the wind but it’s not tree covered so there is little shade.
I parked and started at the trail-head in Humboldt and rode into Iola and back for 16.4 miles. Within Iola the trail (Prairie Spirit) is paved. Both towns have dining options (bonus points from us) and should have most amenities you would need.