1900 North Rock Rd. Wichita, Kansas | Backwoods outdoor gear and apparel store | camp, hike, travel, climb, ski, run, fish

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Maybe we love it so because it is the original Backwoods where it all started, in Wichita in 1973. Enthusiasts responded, and soon, we had a following; a dedicated group of backpackers and avid travelers outfitting their next adventure. The fly anglers, always determined to find just the right fly rod and fly reel in their quest for a perfect day on the river can find what they need here. Then the climbers discovered us and it seems ever since we opened the doors, we’ve helped people prepare for just about any adventure imaginable.

It makes perfect sense though; our staff has over 40 years of collective experience and between us, we’ve traveled the world on our own adventure trip destinations to places like Israel, Jordan, Egypt, Argentina, John Muir Trail, Manitoba,Canada, the Grand Canyon, the Smoky Mountains, Moab, and completed 50 of the 54 14er's in Colorado, to name a few. Chances are if you have a trip in the works, someone on our staff has firsthand knowledge of what’s essential for your travel adventure and what’s optional, so you can shop to pack efficiently and effectively. We’ve helped a lot of enthusiasts select everything from camping stoves to outdoor clothing and love to share advice!

We really have a great time together; for a lot of us, walking into work and being surrounded by the wood and rock inside our store almost feels like being outdoors, and the gear! Well, we are all guilty of being gear junkies. We have a huge selection of camping merchandise from mountain equipment and climbing gear, to all-around family camping tent and cozy sleeping bags. We specialize in making sure each customer gets exactly the right outdoor gear best-suited to their specific needs. It’s a great way to make a living working here, sharing our love of the outdoors and learning about the activities and adventures that keep our customers coming back.

People have fun here; the store has a lot of heart,and good humor too; we host lots of educational events and informative demos. Our fly tying workshops are very popular. Probably the most interesting event we’ve done were the open casting calls for the TV show “Survivor” – it was intense and we were mobbed but lots of folks discovered us that day and now are Backwoods regulars. We even have a store mascot – one afternoon a little duck from the pond next to us found its way into our back door – we helped him get back to the pond but he seemed right at home here.

We think of our store as the hub of a community. When we head up to Elk Lake City on a gear test camping trip, we’ll bring as many camping supplies as possible and there’s a 15 mile trail there that’s not like anything else in the area. We pack in and just set up camp along the trail, put all the equipment through its paces and try out everything so we can make great customer recommendations and have firsthand knowledge of our products.

So whether you live in the area or are passing through town, we’ll do our best to help you choose the best gear for your next adventure – it’s the Backwoods way.

Phone:

316-267-0350

Store Hours:

Mon-Saturday: 10am-9pm
Sunday: 12pm-6pm

Address:

1900 North Rock Rd.
Suite 108
Wichita, KS 67206

GPS Coordinates:

+37° 43' 15.24
-97° 14' 29.53

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	Chaplin Nature Center Hike JUNE 9th at 9 A.M. Come and explore the Chaplin Nature Center with Backwoods. Trails follow open prairies, river woodlands, and the sandy beaches of the Arkansas River. Please bring sunscreen and insect repellent - also, RSVP at Backwoods or call us to reserve a spot! For further information, exact dates and times, please visit the event page on Facebook.

	Backpacking 101 In this clinic, we will go over backpacking skills and equipment to make your next trip safe, comfortable, and enjoyable. Come with questions - we will have answers! For further information, exact dates and times, please visit the event page on Facebook.

	Fly Tying This month we will tie Czech Nymphs. Bring your vise, tools and black thread. We will tie 2 patterns and spend some time after talking about how to fish these deadly patterns. For further information, exact dates and times, please visit the event page on Facebook.

	Fly Fishing School Learn the basics of fly fishing. We will cover casting, knots, equipment, and fish behavior. The cost is $25 per person and is limited to 10 participants. Bring your rod, reel, hat, and sunglasses for instruction and fun on the water! For further information, exact dates and times, please visit the event page on Facebook.

Banff Mountain Film Festival World Tour
Tuesday, Sept. 11 at 7pm - The Banff Mountain Film Festival, a program of The Banff Centre, is the largest, and one of the most prestigious, mountain festivals in the world. Hot on the heels of the festival held every fall in Banff, Alberta, the Banff Mountain Film Festival World Tour hits the road. With stops planned in about 390 communities and 35 countries across the globe, this yearâ€™s tour features a collection of the most inspiring action, environmental, and adventure films from the festival. Traveling to exotic landscapes and remote cultures, and bringing audiences up-close and personal with adrenaline-packed action sports, the 2011/2012 World Tour is an exhilarating and provocative exploration of the mountain world. From approximately 300 films entered into the annual festival, award-winning films and audience favorites are among the films chosen to travel the globe. Tickets go on sale August 1, 2012.

For further information, exact dates and times, please visit the event page on Facebook.

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Kanopolis State Park Submitted By: Rick Bodenhamer (Backwoods Wichita Operations Manager)

Kanopolis State Park started it all. The first Kansas state park has drawn visitors to eastern Ellsworth County since 1955. Situated in the rolling hills, bluffs and woods of the scenic Smoky Hills region of Kansas, Kanopolis is located 33 miles southwest of Salina.

The park features a full-service marina, beaches, picnic areas and cabins, as well as trails for horseback riding, mountain biking, and hiking. More than 200 primitive campsites and 133 utility sites are located through the 14 campgrounds in the Langley Point and Horsethief areas. Buffalo Track Nature Trail is an enthralling 1.5-mile route rich in native plants and wildlife, as well as Native American history. Kanopolis offers 31 miles of trails, all of which start in the state park. The Rockin' K trails take visitors to and from the Rockin' K campgrounds. The Horsethief trails loop through canyons and trees. Farther north and west, the Prairie Trails traverse high prairie and Red Rock Canyon. The Alum Creek trails take visitors across vast prairie and through many water crossings. Be aware that it can take more than a day to complete some trails on foot.

Kanopolis State Park also manages nearby Mushroom Rock State Park, a picnic area with unusual geologic formations that amaze first-time and return visitors alike. For more information checkout Kansas Department of Wild Life, Parks, & Tourism

Entrance Fee:

See Here.

Available Activities:

Water skiing

Boating

Swimming

Horseback riding

Mountain biking

Hiking

Address:

200 Horsethief Rd. Marquette, KS 67464

GPS Coordinates:

N38 38.709 W097 59.244

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Elk City State Park Submitted By: Eric Schmidt (Backwoods Wichita Sales Manager)

Elk City State Park is located 5 miles Northwest of Independence Kansas, or 113 miles Southeast of Wichita. Elk City has many activities including, Hiking, Backpacking, Fishing, Hunting, Camping, and sightseeing. Designated in 1967 as a wildlife area it has many habitat types that support a variety of wildlife. Fields of Big and Little Bluestem, Indian Grass, and Switchgrass make up this area of Bluestem Prairie. A prominent feature of the landscape is rock bluffs of limestone called Table Mound. It is one of the few places in the state that you can throw the backpack on your back and set up camp along the trail.