There were so many white-tailed deers! My dog was going bananas over them and we had to leash her up. We were on a trail very near the lake, and the sounds of the water crashing onto the beach were so amazing. The sunset was so beautiful and make the trees in the distance seen pink. I got some good photos of the sunset.See more..
We were camping at Kanopolis State Park. This is about 15 minutes away. We found out why they call this area "the smokey hills". The morning fog & the rolling hills were beautiful. There's 2 areas with parking on both sides of the road. There's a pit toilet. The short trail on the pit toilet side takes you to some rock formations surrounded by corn fields. The rock formations on the other side of the road are out in the open. There's a short trail up a rocky hill with a view of the rocks below. Some of the graffiti on the rocks are pretty old. I had fun looking at the dates. The state park site says there's a $5 day use fee, but no one was there checking. There were 4 cars there when we left.See more..
Big Bluestem Campground Site #78 has both water and 50/30A/120V connection; IMO one of the best camping sites. Plus a large shade tree to block the setting sun. We were able to put our kayaks in right from our sites. Also caught several catfish just sitting at the picnic table. Known as the clearest lake and largest salt water lake in KS, and that not mentioning the beautiful rock formations; reminiscent of Utah. Fishing was great with worms from the marina; stripe bass, catfish, perch and sunfish were hitting hard. Rolling grassy hills with plateaus, easy lake access, hiking trails, bike trails, boat rentals, playgrounds and beaches. Lots to do! Water level was normal, so some rock formations were beneath the surface. Water was very clear, visibility was probably 50’.See more..
Went to the grand opening of the new shooting range at El Dorado State Park. Great facility that I highly recommend to anyone looking for some trigger time. See more..
4.0Scott State Park(47 reviews) - Small lake in Western Kansas Saturday: State Parks
It's okay but it's a lake in arid-looking Western Kansas...who knew!? Just a few miles north of Scott City, it's a small lake with some nice bluffs. I took my road bike and got around nicely in a short amount of time. Saw some baby Canadian Geese (yes they are dirty birds who can ruin beaches, etc) and a whitetail deer. And I biked for no more than 30 minutes. Saw plenty of camping opportunities, and some kayaks are available for rent though I did not check into that. Would enjoy hiking some of the bluffs. Biked up to the ruins. Cool history but that's about it. The most interesting thing to me was a short hike around Punished Woman's Fork (site of the last Indian battle in Kansas) just outside the lake. Pretty and quick little hike and some neat history there.See more..
4.5Milford State Park(47 reviews) - First time camping Saturday: State Parks
Me and my boyfriend's first time camping, we live in Wichita and we got there in less than 2 hours, we got an awesome spot to put up a tent, restrooms and showers weren't far. Beautiful relaxing views, lush and green. The areas looked clean and everyone around us were nice and considerate of their music volume. We had a walking trail near us, lots of noisy birds though but it's part of the scenery. I could had stayed a few extra nights.See more..
Grandkids and I hiked the horse thief hiking trail. It was amazing to see areas I never knew existed and I've lived here all my life. It was not that strenuous for an almost 70 year old and the photography was great. Streams, caves, ravines....all kinds of terrain. We did a circle of about 2.5 miles round trip. Plenty of parking but this was in February so good time to go plus snakes are not out. Bring water and sun shade of sorts. You will need tennis shoes or boots.See more..
4.5Elk City State Park(31 reviews) - Challenging mountain biking State Parks • Parks
The bike trails start at the north side of the dam by the spillway with several sections available for all riding capabilities. The lower section is suitable for beginners and younger riders along the river edge. Heading south from those trails to the “esses” for good technical and climbing sections - an excellent workout!See more..
4.5Prairie Dog State Park(23 reviews) - SO relaxing, beautiful place to crash, just didn't want to leave. State Parks • Parks
September 2019 on the way to Rapid City S.D. from Manhattan, KS, this location is a treasure to just to crash in. The day we had stop was a breezy warm day, just a few walking steps to a nearby park overlooking a lake. So nice to unwind and felt so refresh afterward from that long drive. In fact, after 45 minutes soaking up warm sun rays, mixed with constant breeze and all, I just didn't want to move. call 785-877-2953 ,we used reserveAmerica.comSee more..
This was a great stop. They have two trails. One is 1 1/5 mile and goes along the rim of the badlands with a couple viewing areas. The other is 1/4 mile and goes to a viewing site. There is great signage with birds, animals, and plants you might see. The sky seemed to go on forever! There is a $5 state park fee. Credit cards were not accepted that day, and we had to search our car for exactly $5. There are good restrooms. We also ate lunch there. This is a newer state park showcasing the grasslands of Kansas, and we are happy we stopped.See more..
The lake was beautiful. We enjoyed the quiet underneath the big trees and green grass while looking at the lake. We stayed in the Cheyenne cabin. Appreciated the airconditioning and shower! Nothing fancy, but better than a tent. We were able to grill, have a fire pit, but then go inside to make dinner and sleep in a bed. They have basic pots and pans and silverware, but some were in bad condition like the handle being broken. If there is something you know you'll need, bring it with you.See more..
Great place to visit. Very tranquil and relaxing drive around the lake. Plenty of pretty spots to sit and appreciate the views. Also picnic areas. Bathroom facilities and play areas of you have children. See more..
Our favorite campground on Melvern lake. This is the easiest place to camp on the lake. The staff don’t bother you with check in and the camp gate. A camp pass gets you waved in the sites go quick so reserve early. The bathrooms and facilities are clean and stocked. Ike’s store has the things you forgot and most importantly ice cream on a hot day! I still am trying to get them to let me help realize the deer that are so tame in the park. We love this placeSee more..
We stayed in our RV trailer in late September for a Day and Night. Very peaceful, serene place. Saw a beautiful sunset over the water. Very clean, well kept facilities. Nice beach area and swimming area, and boat dock. This is a good sized lake. We plan on staying again on our return trip. The road to the Campground is scenic as well.See more..
This state park is off the beaten path but worth the drive. There are lots of birds and wildlife to see and hear. We had 13 was pull they hull him car trouble and the camp host Cheri could not do enough to help us. She let us use her phone to call Good Sams roadside assistance and make a few more calls since our Verizon did not work. She even brought us a call at 8 am; the park has areas that are presently flooded but looks like a fun place. See more..
We came on a day where there was not a soul in sight, and after a moment's panic at not knowing where our cabin was or how we'd get in (no posted phone numbers or internet), we drove around 'til we found the cabin. A number had been taped to the door so we let ourselves in. We got the two-story cabin, plenty big for our family of five, three being teenagers. They all want to come back this summer, to swim and explore.See more..
4.5Cheney State Park(8 reviews) - Nice state park campground State Parks
We stayed in the South Loop camp area. Had a site on the water. Watching the sailboats and water-skiers having a blast. Got quiet when it was supposed to get quiet. Went for several walks and thought the place was quite clean! We were here on a Sunday afternoon into Monday morning. Great Wi-Fi included.See more..
We rented the Cedar Crest cabin for two nights over the weekend. The cabin was a nice size for our family of six, and there was a lot of space to cook and sit around the fire outside. We kept saying how peaceful it was there. We rarely have days with no wind in KS. We enjoyed seeing wildlife, like a bald eagle, deer, and several species of birds. I gave the park four starts because I felt the cabin should have been a bit cleaner. It’s early in the season, but there aren’t a lot of signs that the park has been maintained. They have obviously had a ton of rain and probably have had their hands full managing that. The lake elevation was very high. Our family had a wonderful time exploring and even swimming where we could find a good spot to get in the water. We would love to come back when the water level is more normal.See more..
4.0Meade State Park(4 reviews) - Great get away! State Parks • Bodies of Water We have never camped in Kansas, so we thought we would try out the Park. 3 hour drive for us, but oh my what a great place. Sites are on Reserve America, and we chose Lake View 3, we got there in a hot day (97) and the wind blew like crazy, the second day was in the mid 80's and beautiful, then the third day we woke up to mid 50's. Was relaxing and a very friendly place.See more..
3.0Lovewell State Park(3 reviews) - Great place to get outdoors State Parks • Bodies of Water
I was in the area for bird watching. The lake is surrounded by some great habitat. There were thousands of geese using the lake. I saw a couple of dozen Bald Eagles. In the past I have even seen Whooping Cranes here. The large areas of habitat surrounding the lake provide opportunity to see many species of birds. The many square miles of surrounding privately owned native grasslands provide the opportunity to see Greater Prairie Chickens.See more..
nice little beach to take a dip in, plenty of parking, nice views from beach and water, safe as swimming area is cordoned off from the boats, but water is not very clear when we went in JulySee more..
4.0Flint Hills Trail State Park(3 reviews) - Rails to Trails Spent 1-2 hours State Parks Biked from Admire to Council Grove , June, 2019. Surface , a 7, on a 1-10 scale. Some washed areas , but all rideable. The new bridges are impressive! A great way to see the Flint Hills. The trail runs 117 miles from Osawatomie to Herington. There are no mile markers, toilets , or water sources. Will need to use services of small towns as you pass thru, and those services may be minimal in some/ most places. We saw deer, turkeys, a snake , and a mud turtle. Great for nature watching. Suggest googling Flint Hills Trail State Park for further , more detailed info. Hope you enjoy it as we did!See more..
3.5Webster State Park(2 reviews) - Hidden Gem!! State Parks • Bodies of Water
I have been camping for over 30 years, and we just had the best camping experience of our lives. Mushroom camp site 12. Huge area, water front, playgrounds, clean bathrooms, you couldn't ask for anything better!!!!See more..
2.0Wilson State Park(1 review) - Not the best stop State Parks We stayed one night here while traveling through. Directions to the campground were totally inaccurate. The signage in the campground was difficult to understand. One of the dump stations was inoperable. The water spigot leaked terribly. Toilets were 1/2 mile or more away. But the view of the reservoir was amazing!!See more..
5.0Hillsdale State Park(1 review) - Great Place to Camp State Parks • Bodies of Water • Nature & Wildlife Areas
We come to Hillsdale SP in Paola, Ks to stay every time we come to the area to see our son. This park has premium sites which are paved and prime gravel sites. There are no BAD sites. We can stay for 2 weeks for under $400. Full hook-ups. In addition to your camping fee you need to purchase a state park pass. If you are staying any length of time, it might be more cost effective to purchase and annual pass for $25. NOW, there are more primitive camping areas with just water and electric, no sewer and maybe some with no hook-ups. There is something for any type of camping you like to do. All the campground areas are nice. I've not had an opportunity to check out the showers and toilet facilities as the full-hook up campground does not have them.There are some small hiking trails in the park and a shooting range. Of course there is the lake if you want to bring your boat. There is also a small beach.See more..
