• Prairie Dog State Park MapP*click to enlarge​
    13037 State Hwy 261 PO BOX 431 Norton, KS 67654

    • Steve Mathes Nature Trail
      • Length – 1.4 miles
      • Terrain – Concrete, and dirt
      • Difficulty level - Easy
      • Usage - Walking
      • First 1000ft are ADA accessible.
  • Modern Cabins
    2
    Primitive Cabins
    2
    Primitive Campsites
    154
    Electric and Water Hookups
    67
    Electric-only Hookups
    13
    Full Hookups
    10

    Exploring one of the 28 Kansas State Parks provides visitors an opportunity to see the natural beauty of this amazing state. The state parks system includes a rail trail, historic structures and events.

    • Prairie dogs
    • Owls
    • Coyotes
    • Turkeys
    • Pheasant
    • Waterfowl
    • Bald eagles (sesasonal)
    • Golden eagles (seasonal)
    • Largemouth bass
    • Wipers
    • Crappie
    • Saugeye
    • Channel catfish
  • The first thousand feet of the trail is ADA.  There are 15 ADA campsite pads.
  • The Last Adobe House in Kansas

    Visitors can tour an adobe building that was originally built in 1892. The house was preserved by a group of activists during the park’s creation.

    The Hillmon Schoolhouse

    This one-room schoolhouse, built-in 1887, was relocated to Prairie Dog State Park in the 1960s.

    Destination Kitchen

    Your “destination” for top brand kitchen ware, gadgets and supplies. Enjoy lunch with signature sandwiches, salads, brick oven pizza…

    Norton Aquatic Center

    "2 water slides, 2 diving boards, zero depth entry, baby pool, lap pool, bath house, concession area and Red Cross certified swimming…

    Norton County Historical Museum

    1938 WPA Stone Library, Historical Society and Museum. The Museum has been housed in Norton's original Public Library since 1992. This…

    Norton Elmwood Park Speedway

    Configuration: Semi-Banked Oval, Length: 1/2 mi., Surface: Dirt Directions: 1 mile south of US 36 and US 283 intersection. Turn east after…

    Norton Historic Theatre

    The Norton Theatre is a twin movie theatre showing premier and non-premier movies 6 days a week. The Theatre is staffed with volunteers…

  • Prairie Dog State Park Photos

    About Kansas State Parks

    Kansas State Parks

    Prairie Spirit Trail

    A century ago Kansans took the train from town to town, watching the countryside lazily pass as they road the rails.

    Historic Lake Scott

    Just north of Scott City lays a stunning canyon nestled among the prairie and natural springs.

    Flint Hills Trail State Park

    It’s the kind of place where you can travel many miles in near silence as your hiking boots or bike tires move over a surface velvety…

    Hillsdale

    Hillsdale State Park is only minutes away from the 2 million-plus people of the greater Kansas City area. It’s a place where…

    Pomona

    For decades visitors have come to Pomona State Park by automobile. Now, they’re also coming by horseback and bicycle.

    Wilson

    Terms like “world-class” and “one of the nation’s best” are usually unwarranted. Both are accurate for Wilson…

    Glen Elder

    Long before civilization, native people came to be healed within the sacred waters of Waconda Springs. The springs are now deep within Glen…

    Kanopolis

    Carson and Custer once explored the jagged prairies in what’s now Kanopolis State Park on horseback.

    Kaw River

    On the Kansas River kayaks and canoes often float in solitude as they pass towering cottonwoods, nesting bald eagles, kingfishers, otters…

    El Dorado

    El Dorado State Park’s 4,000 acres makes it Kansas’ largest. Yet you can be as secluded or social as you like amid landscapes…

    Crawford

    Where the Ozarks spill into Kansas, in the Great Depression the government gave jobs to hundreds of destitute men with the Civilian…

    Cedar Bluff

    A few minutes south of the hustle and hassle of I-70 in western Kansas, life goes relaxingly slow at Cedar Bluff State Park. 

    Tuttle Creek

    Tuttle Creek State Park is a story of two special places. One sits where both land and lake are expansive, with a campground on classic…

    Elk City

    Elk City State Park sits in a gorgeous valley with natural greatness on both sides. 

    Eisenhower

    Within Eisenhower State Park sits 1,000 acres of some of the last wild prairie in eastern Kansas. 

    Little Jerusalem Badlands

    Welcome to the "Badlands of Kansas" - Little Jerusalem State Park in Western Kansas is truly a sight to see!

    Sand Hills

    Rather than water, it’s the work of the wind that draws people to Sand Hills State Park.

    Meade

    “Oasis” may be the best way to describe this 400-acre paradise shaded by tall cottonwoods, with an 80-acre lake of cool…

    Mushroom Rock

    Just south of Salina stands one of Kansas' many natural wonders - Mushroom Rocks.

    Lovewell

    It’s been called the “Serengeti of the Sky”, when hundreds of thousands of northward migrating snow geese arrive at…

    Webster

    Far from any sizable cities, many might consider Webster State Park “in the middle of nowhere.” Those who know the park will…

    Milford

    Kansas’ largest, Milford Reservoir has enough shoreline to reach from Kansas City to Salina. The waters within that 161 miles of land…

    Fall River

    Life’s easy at Fall River State Park, where crowds are few but recreational possibilities are many.

    Perry

    Perry State Park sits well within Kansas, but with long ridges of hickory and assorted oaks it wouldn’t look out of place in the…

    Cross Timbers

    Southeast Kansas’ Cross Timbers region is a narrow, rugged, 50-mile finger of steeply timbered hillsides that rise to towering…

    Lehigh Portland State Park

    Visit the newest State Park in Kansas - Lehigh Portland Trails, a vast network of hiking and biking trails around Elk's Lake in Iola.

    Clinton

    Clinton State Park is a 1,400 acre island of unspoiled nature amid the suburban sprawl of northeast Kansas.

    Cheney

    The park’s 1,900 acres are laced with good trails and dotted with shaded cabins and campsites. In the reservoir you can sample some of…

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