Butcher Falls Guide Before Visiting 2026 Updated

Butcher Falls is a waterfall in Chautauqua County, Kansas, about 4.7 miles west of Sedan. This guide covers what to check, bring and expect before you go, using visitor ratings, official USGS records and live conditions for this exact location.

At a glance

Location

Chautauqua County, KS

Nearest town

Sedan (4.7 mi)

Visitor rating

★★★★★ 4.5 from 45 reviews

Crowds

Quieter

Coordinates

37.14727, -96.26805

USGS topo

Elgin NE quad

Getting there

Butcher Falls sits about 4.7 miles west of Sedan in Chautauqua County. Google lists the address as Summit Township, KS 67361.

Open directions in Google Maps or Apple Maps, or view the map on the Butcher Falls listing. Navigation apps sometimes route onto seasonal forest roads, so check road status if you are heading into the mountains.

Kansas has very little public land, and much of the countryside around these falls is privately owned ranch and farm land. Before visiting any site, confirm that it is on a public road, a public park or other open area, or that the landowner allows access; never cross fences or gates without permission. Several sites are reached by unpaved county roads that become slick or impassable after heavy rain. Ticks and chiggers are abundant in grass and woodland from spring through fall, and poison ivy is common along creek banks. Summer heat can be intense. Flash flooding along small creeks is a real risk during strong thunderstorms, and low-water crossings should never be driven through when water is moving over them.

What to bring

This checklist is tailored to Butcher Falls based on what visitors report and the conditions typical of Kansas. For the complete list, see our waterfall hike packing guide.

• Offline map and coordinates. Save 37.14727, -96.26805 and download offline maps; cell service is often weak near waterfalls.
• Shoes with real grip. Rock near falling water stays wet and slick even in dry weather.
• Water and a snack. More than you think you need, even for a short walk.
• A light rain layer. Spray from the falls and quick-moving showers can soak you.
• Headlamp. In case your visit runs later than planned; check sunset time in the conditions panel above.

How to prepare

Timing

Late spring and early summer bring the most reliable flow to Kansas waterfalls. May and June are typically the wettest months in eastern Kansas, and heavy thunderstorms during that period can turn small ledges into impressive pour-overs for a few days. By July and August, high heat and evaporation reduce many creeks to pools or dry beds, and the falls may stop flowing entirely. Autumn rains sometimes revive them, and the oak woodlands of the Chautauqua Hills add color in late October. Winter is usually dry, with occasional ice storms. Spring is also severe weather season in Kansas, so watch forecasts for thunderstorms, hail and tornado warnings before heading out on rural roads, especially in the late afternoon and evening. With 45 reviews, it sees fewer visitors than the region's headline falls, so you may have it to yourself on a weekday.

Safety

Stay behind railings and off wet rock, never climb on the falls, and keep children within arm's reach near the water. Check the weather panel above for flood or storm alerts before you set out; water levels can rise fast after upstream rain. Our waterfall safety guide covers the most common hazards.

Respect the place

Pack out everything you bring, stay on established paths to limit erosion, and leave rocks and plants where they are. See Leave No Trace at waterfalls.

What visitors say

Butcher Falls holds a 4.5-star average across 45 Google reviews, and 78% of reviewers give it five stars. That makes it the most reviewed waterfall in Chautauqua County. Visitors have shared 157 photos.

The topics that come up most in reviews: quiet locationscenerywalkbeautiful placerentrainfallscabin

See the rating breakdown or read reviews on Google.

History of the area

Butcher Falls was entered in the Geographic Names Information System on October 13, 1978, and it appears on the USGS Elgin NE 7.5-minute topographic map.

Its neighbors on the map tell the story of the surrounding land: Pool Creek (stream, under 0.1 mi), Rock Creek (stream, 0.4 mi), Possum Creek (stream, 0.6 mi), and Spring Creek (stream, 1.4 mi).

Chautauqua Hills. This narrow band of wooded sandstone hills reaches into Kansas from Oklahoma and is unlike most of the state, with oak and hickory forest rather than open prairie. Chautauqua County, around Sedan, has two of the state's four listed falls. Butcher Falls is the most reviewed waterfall in Kansas, and Osro Falls is another ledge drop rated highly by visitors. In neighboring Elk County, Wildcat Creek has a small set of falls of its own. All of these are low drops where creeks spill over sandstone or limestone shelves, and all depend heavily on recent rain.

Nearby waterfalls to add to your trip

Summary

Butcher Falls about 4.7 miles west of Sedan is rated 4.5 out of 5 by 45 visitors. Check the live forecast and stream gauge above, save the coordinates for offline use, and pack for wet, uneven ground. Ratings, hours and access can change, so confirm conditions with the land manager before you drive out.

See the full Butcher Falls listing for the map, photos and nearby landmarks.