Red Hills, Physiographic division in south-central Kansas, United States.
Red Hills is a physiographic region in south-central Kansas marked by rolling terrain dotted with flat-topped mesas, buttes, and deep canyons. The area spans across Clark, Comanche, and Barber counties and features distinctive red-colored rock formations that rise above the surrounding plains.
The red sediments here were deposited during the Permian Period when this area was part of a closed basin within the Pangaean supercontinent. Over time, weathering and erosion of these ancient rock layers created the distinctive landscape visible today.
Native Americans named this area Medicine Hills, and the nearby Medicine River reflects this historical connection to the landscape.
The Gypsum Hills Scenic Byway runs 42 miles from Coldwater to Medicine Lodge along US Highway 160 and provides constant views of this landscape. Allow time to drive the route in your own vehicle and stop at various viewpoints along the way.
The dissolving of gypsum deposits created numerous sinkholes throughout the area, including Big Basin which spans about 1 mile across. These natural depressions are distinctive features that shape both the appearance and water drainage of the landscape.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
