In 2026, the American Discovery Trail Society (ADTS) celebrates the outdoors and 250 years of our independence with the American Discovery 250 Relay— a 6,800-mile journey along the entire American Discovery Trail from California to Delaware, starting in July and ending around Thanksgiving. The ADTS invites all to join in the celebration by participating for a day or more in a relay, attending one of over 100 local events, or sharing your story of personal growth and adventure. Together, we commemorate America’s past and shape our future.
The ADT route in Kansas is 575 miles. While on the ADT in Kansas, you will walk in the footsteps of the pioneers, the Great Plains Indian tribes, and many a western hero or bandit. You will see unique geological formations, follow rivers, view the gorgeous Flint Hills and Smoky Hills, and watch birds at the Cheyenne Bottoms Wildlife Refuge. Most of the route through the Sunflower State is on paved or gravel back roads. The American Discovery Trail generally follows the Santa Fe National Historic Trail for much of the way. The trail includes a 143-mile stretch from McPherson to Great Bend, then to Kinsley.
Interested participants or teams are asked to register at discoverytrail.org/america-250-relay. Organizers will work with registrants on their relay destinations closer to the start of the event. Runners, cyclists, hikers, wheelchair users and horseback riders are all encouraged to take part. We also encourage interest from those who wish to help with logistics, welcoming events or sponsorships.
The ADTS is making the turn-by-turn route instructions and GPS tracks free to the public during the 2026 year as part of the celebrations thanks to a generous donation from Indiana Trails. To access these files, please visit: discoverytrail.org/route
About the American Discovery Trail
The American Discovery Trail is the nation’s first non-motorized coast-to-coast trail. It runs for 6,800 miles through 15 states and Washington, D.C. The route incorporates numerous local, state, and national trails, with most of them designed for walking, hiking, and running and for bicycle and equestrian use. It connects scores of scenic and historic trails, backcountry roads, national parks and forests plus thousands of state and local properties of historic, cultural and natural significance. Users can experience their local environment, or the 23 ecosystems the trail passes through - deserts, mountains, forests, waterfronts, and plains. You can learn more about the ADT by visiting www.discoverytrail.org.