The Gypsum Hills — also known as the Red Hills, Gyp Hills, or Medicine Hills — stretch across south-central Kansas near Medicine Lodge, just 90 minutes west of Wichita.

This breathtaking region challenges the flat-prairie stereotype of Kansas. Instead, visitors discover dramatic mesas, vibrant red hills, rugged buttes, steep canyons, and sweeping prairie views unlike anywhere else in the state.

Nicknamed the “Red Hills” for their iron-rich soil, the landscape glows with deep rust tones set against blue skies and green valleys. Red cedar trees dot the terrain, while hidden caves and winding backroads invite exploration.

Native American tribes once called this area the Medicine Hills, honoring the nearby Medicine River, whose mineral-rich waters held—and continue to hold—sacred significance

Each September, the hills come alive during the annual Peace Treaty Festival in Medicine Lodge. Held the last full weekend of the month, this beloved tradition features an inter-tribal powwow, parades, local vendors, family activities, and exciting rodeos — including the Kansas Championship Ranch Rodeo and Buckapalooza.

Every three years, Memorial Peace Park hosts the renowned Peace Treaty Pageant, a grand outdoor performance portraying 300 years of regional history. The production features explorers such as Hernán Cortés, Meriwether Lewis, William Clark, and Sacagawea, culminating in the signing of the 1867 Medicine Lodge Peace Treaty.