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Parks, Lakes and Rivers
Parks
Wherever you travel in Kansas, you're always close to one of the state's well-kept parks. Whatever your outdoor interest - hiking, camping, wildlife watching, fishing, biking, horseback riding, hunting or just plain relaxing, a Kansas State Park has just what you're looking for.
Many parks host annual events such as concerts, festivals and competitions.
Looking for a special year-round experience? Rental cabins are available throughout the year at 14 Kansas state parks. Reservations are required and you should call early as cabins are in high demand.
Lakes
You can play to 24 major reservoirs and cast at another 40 state fishing lakes ranging from 50 to 300 acres.
Whether you sail, captain a personal watercraft or prefer easygoing sight-seeing from a pontoon boat, you're never far from a lake in Kansas. The state's 24 primary reservoirs range in size from 1,200 acres to a whopping 16,000 acres. Most of these reservoirs are part of a state park and feature well-kept swimming beaches, picnic areas and campgrounds near the water.
The Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers often maintain recreation areas at the same lakes in Kansas. Separate permits and regulations may apply to those areas.
Rivers
Kansas has three navigable rivers - the Arkansas, Missouri and Kansas. These rivers are open to the public but you must have permission to access them through private land.
The Arkansas River spans four states. The Kansas stretch of the river was a part of the old Santa Fe Trail. It meanders through the prairie of Western Kansas to Wichita where it curves south into Oklahoma.
The Missouri River flows through the northeastern border of Kansas and travels through ten states. Atchison, Leavenworth and Kansas City are among the Kansas communities that settled on the Missouri River.
The Kansas (Kaw) River stretches 171 miles from its origin in Junction City to its confluence with the Missouri River. It is the primary source of drinking water for many communities in northeast Kansas. This recreational treasure was a well kept secret among a few known paddlers and anglers, but is fast becoming a valued recreational resource for thousands of visitors each year.
Parks, Lakes and Rivers Links
Map of Kansas State Parks
Map of U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Recreation Areas
Kansas State Parks Fees
Kansas State Parks Regulations
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