Cheyenne Bottoms, the largest marsh in the interior United States, is a major attraction of the Wetlands and Wildlife National Scenic Byway, part of the Kansas Byways program. The Bottoms, as it is referred to by locals, is considered the most important shorebird migration point in the western hemisphere. Over 45% of all North American shorebirds stop here during spring migration. The over 320 species of birds that inhabit the refuge include whooping cranes, bald eagles, peregrine falcons, least terns, piping plovers, sandpipers, ducks, geese, and red-winged and yellow-headed blackbirds. Yet, when visiting, you’ll see the bustling natural landscape is not only for the birds. Raccoons, deer, beavers, muskrats, mink, reptiles, western painted turtles, sliders, diamondback and northern water snakes, and Graham’s crayfish snakes all share the marsh. 13 interpretive signs along the drive through the Bottoms point out the complexity of managing a wetland resource, especially one with limited water. An overlook platform a short distance from the K-156 entrance delivers an expansive view of Cheyenne Bottoms.
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