Kansas State & National Parks + Forests

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State Parks

Cedar Bluff State Park – Located in north-central Kansas, Cedar Bluff State Park covers over 8000 acres and features a 3500-acre reservoir. The park is popular for boating, fishing, and camping, and also offers hiking trails and picnic areas. One unique feature of Cedar Bluff State Park is its rock formations, which are over 85 million years old and contain fossils from the late Cretaceous period.
Cheney State Park – Situated in south-central Kansas, Cheney State Park covers over 1900 acres and includes a 650-acre reservoir. The park is known for its excellent fishing, with species like bass, crappie, and catfish commonly caught in the lake. Other popular activities include boating, hiking, and camping. Cheney State Park is also home to a large variety of wildlife, including deer, turkey, and waterfowl.
Clinton State Park – Located near Lawrence, Kansas, Clinton State Park covers over 1500 acres and includes a 1500-acre lake. The park is popular for boating, fishing, and swimming, and also offers hiking trails, camping areas, and picnic shelters. One interesting fact about Clinton State Park is that it was built by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in the 1970s as part of a flood control project on the Wakarusa River.
Crawford State Park – Situated in southeast Kansas, Crawford State Park covers over 500 acres and includes a 150-acre lake. The park is known for its scenic beauty and excellent fishing opportunities, with species like bass, crappie, and catfish commonly caught in the lake. Other popular activities include hiking, camping, and wildlife viewing. Crawford State Park is also home to a historic limestone quarry, which was used in the construction of many buildings in the area.
Cross Timbers State Park – Located in eastern Kansas, Cross Timbers State Park covers over 2000 acres and includes a 6500-acre lake. The park is popular for boating, fishing, and camping, and also offers hiking trails and picnic areas. One unique feature of Cross Timbers State Park is its rugged terrain, which includes steep bluffs and rocky shorelines.
Eisenhower State Par – Situated in north-central Kansas, Eisenhower State Park covers over 1800 acres and includes a 600-acre lake. The park is popular for boating, fishing, and camping, and also offers hiking trails and picnic areas. One interesting fact about Eisenhower State Park is that it is named after President Dwight D. Eisenhower, who was born in nearby Abilene.
El Dorado State Park – Located in south-central Kansas, El Dorado State Park covers over 4000 acres and includes a 8000-acre lake. The park is known for its excellent fishing, with species like bass, crappie, and catfish commonly caught in the lake. Other popular activities include boating, hiking, and camping. El Dorado State Park is also home to a nature trail that winds through the park’s woodland and prairie areas.
Elk City State Park – Situated in southeast Kansas, Elk City State Park covers over 1000 acres and includes a 4500-acre lake. The park is popular for boating, fishing, and camping, and also offers hiking trails and picnic areas. One unique feature of Elk City State Park is its historic Elk River Falls, which was once used to power a grist mill and sawmill.
Fall River State Park – Located in southeast Kansas, Fall River State Park covers over 900 acres and includes a 250-acre lake. The park is popular for fishing, boating, and camping, and also offers hiking trails and picnic areas. One unique feature of Fall River State Park is the historic stone arch bridge, which was built in the 1930s and still stands today.
Glen Elder State Park – Located in north-central Kansas, Waconda Lake covers over 13,000 acres and is known for its excellent fishing opportunities. The lake is home to a variety of fish species, including walleye, crappie, and catfish. The park also offers camping, hiking trails, and picnic areas. One interesting fact about Waconda Lake is that it was created by the construction of the Glen Elder Dam, which was completed in 1968.
Hillsdale State Park – Situated in northeast Kansas, Hillsdale State Park covers over 10,000 acres and includes a 4,500-acre lake. The park is popular for fishing, boating, and camping, and also offers hiking trails and picnic areas. One interesting fact about Hillsdale State Park is that it was once home to a Native American village, and artifacts from the village can still be found in the area today.
Kanopolis Lake State Park – Located in central Kansas, Kanopolis State Park covers over 15,000 acres and includes a 3,500-acre lake. The park is popular for fishing, boating, and camping, and also offers hiking trails and picnic areas. One unique feature of Kanopolis State Park is the Mushroom Rock State Park, which is located nearby and features unique rock formations.
Kaw River State Park – Situated in northeast Kansas, Kaw River State Park covers over 76 acres and includes access to the Kansas River. The park is popular for boating, fishing, and hiking, and also offers picnic areas and a boat ramp. One interesting fact about Kaw River State Park is that it was created in partnership with the city of Topeka as part of a larger riverfront redevelopment project.
Lake Scott State Park – Located in western Kansas, Lake Scott State Park covers over 1,200 acres and includes a 100-acre lake. The park is known for its beautiful sandstone bluffs and historic sites, including a preserved 19th-century adobe house and a reconstructed 16th-century pueblo. Lake Scott State Park is also home to a popular hiking trail that winds through the park’s rugged terrain.
Little Jerusalem Badlands State Park – Situated in western Kansas, Little Jerusalem Badlands State Park covers over 300 acres and features unique rock formations and cliffs that are over 85 million years old. The park is known for its stunning views and is popular for hiking and wildlife viewing. One interesting fact about Little Jerusalem Badlands State Park is that it is home to a variety of rare plants and animals, including several species of cacti.
Lovewell State Park – Located in north-central Kansas, Lovewell State Park covers over 1,100 acres and includes a 2,500-acre lake. The park is popular for fishing, boating, and camping, and also offers hiking trails and picnic areas. One unique feature of Lovewell State Park is the Lovewell Wildlife Area, which is located nearby and features wetlands and prairie habitats that are home to a variety of birds and other wildlife.
Meade State Park – Situated in southwest Kansas, Meade State Park covers over 400 acres and includes a 80-acre lake. The park is popular for fishing, boating, and camping, and also offers hiking trails and picnic areas. One interesting fact about Meade State Park is that it is home to a historic stone cabin that was built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s.
Mushroom Rock State Park – Located in central Kansas, Mushroom Rock State Park covers over 5 acres and features unique rock formations that have been sculpted by erosion over millions of years. The park is popular for hiking and wildlife viewing, and also offers picnic areas and a small playground. One interesting fact about Mushroom Rock State Park is that it was established in 1965 as one of the smallest state parks in Kansas.
Perry State Park – Situated in northeast Kansas, Perry State Park covers over 1,000 acres and includes a 11,000-acre lake. The park is popular for fishing, boating, and camping, and also offers hiking trails and picnic areas. One unique feature of Perry State Park is the nearby Clinton Wildlife Area, which is home to a variety of wildlife species.
Pomona State Park – Located in east-central Kansas, Pomona State Park covers over 4,000 acres and includes a 4,000-acre lake. The park is popular for fishing, boating, and camping, and also offers hiking trails and picnic areas. One interesting fact about Pomona State Park is that it was named after the nearby town of Pomona, which was once a bustling railroad stop in the late 1800s.
Prairie Dog State Park – Situated in northwest Kansas, Prairie Dog State Park covers over 1,150 acres and includes a 1,000-acre lake. The park is popular for fishing, boating, and camping, and also offers hiking trails and picnic areas. One unique feature of Prairie Dog State Park is the nearby Nature Trail, which winds through a wooded area and offers scenic views of the lake.
Prairie Spirit Trail State Park – Located in eastern Kansas, Prairie Spirit Trail State Park covers over 50 miles and is a popular destination for hiking, biking, and horseback riding. The trail follows a former railroad corridor and passes through several small towns and historic sites. One interesting fact about Prairie Spirit Trail State Park is that it was established in 1996 as one of the state’s first rail-trail projects.
Sand Hills State Park – Situated in southwest Kansas, Sand Hills State Park covers over 1,100 acres and includes sand dunes that reach up to 30 feet high. The park is popular for hiking, wildlife viewing, and camping, and also offers picnic areas and a small lake for fishing. One unique feature of Sand Hills State Park is the nearby Wetlands and Wildlife National Scenic Byway, which offers scenic views of the park’s unique landscape and wildlife habitats.
Tuttle Creek Lake – Situated in northeast Kansas, Tuttle Creek Lake covers over 12,000 acres and is one of the largest lakes in the state. The lake is popular for fishing, boating, and camping, and also offers hiking trails, picnic areas, and a marina. One unique feature of Tuttle Creek Lake is the nearby Konza Prairie Biological Station, which is a 3,487-acre research and educational nature preserve.
Webster State Park – Situated in north-central Kansas, Webster State Park covers over 880 acres and includes a 3,700-acre lake. The park is popular for fishing, boating, and camping, and also offers hiking trails and picnic areas. One unique feature of Webster State Park is the nearby Prairie Dog State Park, which is just a short drive away and offers additional recreational opportunities.
Wilson State Park – Located in central Kansas, Wilson State Park covers over 9,000 acres and includes a 9,000-acre lake. The park is popular for fishing, boating, and camping, and also offers hiking trails, picnic areas, and a marina. One interesting fact about Wilson State Park is that it is home to the historic Wilson Lake Dam, which was constructed in the 1960s and is considered an engineering marvel.

National Parks

State & National Forests

National Natural Landmarks

Haskell-Baker Wetlands: An example of undisturbed wetland prairie. 38.916667°N 95.233333°W
Baldwin Woods: A unique remnant oak-hickory stand.
Big Basin Prairie Preserve: Excellent examples of collapse features formed by groundwater geological processes. 37.240278°N 99.9975°W
Monument Rocks: Pinnacles, small buttes, and spires of Niobrara formation chalk. 38.790556°N 100.7625°W
Rock City: A unique cluster of about 200 great spherical sandstone concretions. 39.090889°N 97.735553°W