The Kansas River, also known as the Kaw River, flows past the majestic Flint Hills, across wide plains, and into the limestone hills of eastern Kansas. The entire river is rated as Class I difficulty. It is a shallow, sandy-bottomed river with many big sandbars and islands, wild beauty, and gentle nature. Wildlife is plentiful and many native bird species can be spotted on the river banks. This trip from DeSoto to Wilder Road will take you through almost every kind of habitat you will find on the Kansas River in a span of only a few miles. Already confined between hills, the channel grows narrower and the river makes a final charge over a limestone riverbed then into a long, steep-sided pool. There are intermediate access points along the way to shorten it up.