Kanopolis State Park and Lake

General Information

Phone: 785-546-2565
Email: [email protected]
Address: 200 Horsethief Rd Marquette, KS 67464

Latitude 38° 37′ 18.0120″ N

Longitude 97° 58′ 12.0000″ W

County/Counties: Ellsworth
Office Hours: M-F 8:00 am – 4:00 pm

Kanopolis Reservoir is operated by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

Resources:

Kanopolis SP (PDF 535.20 kB)

Kanopolis SP Wildlife Viewing Guide (PDF 292.19 kB)

Kanopolis SP Rockin’ K Campground (PDF 337.11 kB)

Kansas State Park Color Guide (PDF 77.63 MB)

2020 Kansas State Park Guide (B&W) (PDF 504.61 kB)

Kanopolis SP Buffalo Track Canyon (PDF 145.04 kB)

Kanopolis State Park 2015 Newsletter (PDF – 1.18 MB)

About

Kanopolis Lake is on the Smoky Hill River and is one of the state’s oldest lakes. Located on the Prairie Trail Scenic Byway northwest of Marquette along K-141, around 5 miles north of the K-4/K-141 junction (or) about 7 miles south of the K-140/K-141 junction east of Ellsworth. Kanopolis State Park is located in the rolling hills, bluffs and woods of the scenic Smoky Hills territory of Kansas.

Want to Reserve a Campsite?

You may make reservations by going online at https://www.reserveamerica.com.

Things to do there

Auto Touring
Biking
Boating
Camping
Fishing
Hiking
Historic & Cultural Site
Horseback Riding
Hotel/Lodge/Resort Privately Owned
Off Highway Vehicle
Picnicking
Playground Park Specialized Sport Site
Water Sports
Wildlife Viewing

Kanopolis offers 27.38 miles of trails open to hikers, mountain bikers, and horseback riders, 15 of which are on the Smoky Hill Wildlife Area. The 3,500-acre lake and 12,500-acre wildlife area provide anglers and hunters abundant fish and game.

Kanopolis Areas

South Shore Area-Langley Point, Hart Marina
East Shore Location- Horsethief

Accommodations/ Camping

Kanopolis Cabins

Kanopolis State Park offers six deluxe cabins as a year-round alternative camping opportunity. The cabins are located in the Little Bluestem Cabin Area at Langley Point Area (South Shore) of the State Park. Cabin names as follows:

Arapaho
Cheyenne
Bat Masterson
Bill Doolin
Buffalo Bill
Wyatt Earp

You may make reservations by going online at https://www.reserveamerica.com.

Langley Point

ADA Camping Available: Yes
Primitive Camping: 105
Water, Sewer, Electric: 16
Water, Electric: 31
Electric: 41

Langley Point Campgrounds

Little Bluestem Campground- Primitive Camping: 15
Sandplum Campground- Primitive Camping: 40
Caving Banks Campground- Primitive Camping: 20
Switchgrass Campground- Electric: 10
Sandstone Campground- Water, Electric: 31
Yucca Campground- Electric: 21
Cottonwood Campground- Electric: 10
Mulberry Campground- Primitive Camping: 30
Sumac Campground- Water, Sewer, Electric: 16

Langley Point Area Facilities

Boat Ramp
Cottonwood Shower Building
Cottonwood Shelter
Langley Point Gatehouse
South Shore Amphitheater
91
Yucca/Cottonwood Camphost (seasonal)
Sandstone Camphost
Jet Ski Beach
Beachhouse Shelter
Playground/ball field
Kid’s Fishing Pond
South Shore Fish Cleaning Station
Sandplum Campground Vault Toilet
Mulberry Sewer Dump Station
Yucca Sewer Dump Station
Little Bluestem Toadstools (camping shelters)
South Shore Beach Boat Ramp
South Shore Boat Ramp
South Shore Boat Ramp Vault Toilet
Swim Beach
Marina
Little Bluestem Shelter
Langley Point Self-pay station

You may make reservations by going online at https://www.reserveamerica.com.

Our favorite Campground at Langley Point:

We love Cottonwood campgrounds! They do not have lake views but have a beautiful park-like feeling. Located within ¼ of a mile of the lake and swimming beach. They are centrally located next to showers and restrooms and are the first campsite you see coming into the Yucca area. We enjoy that it sits lower than the rest making it a quiet area and secluded. The kids rode their bikes dozens of times around the safe campgrounds, which was away from bust traffic from those entering the Langley Point area. When the Kansas wind hit, we were so low to the elevation that we didn’t feel it much as when we walked up the hill to the showers. I have to say, the showers at cottonwood campgrounds were the hottest I had ever taken at any State or National Park. One of the camp hosts said it is because they converted the electricity to solar power and it stays warmer longer. One good thing about this place was the closeness to everything, Playsets, showers, swim beach, and much more.

Horsethief

Camping Available: Yes
ADA Camping Available: Yes
Reservable Sites: Yes
Water, Electric: 13
Electric: 32

Horsethief Campgrounds

Rockin’ K Horse Campground- Primitive Camping: 10; Water, Electric: 13; Electric: 17
Eagle Point Campground- Electric: 15
Rockwall Campground
Sandyshore Campground

Horsethief Area Facilities

Buzzard Bay Fish Cleaning Station
Sandyshore Campground
Indian Rock Picnic Shelter
Horsethief Canyon Boat Ramp
Trailhead B
Horsethief Canyon Vault Toilet
Buffalo Tracks Canyon: Trailhead C
Wildlife Viewing Area Vault Toilet
Wildlife Viewing Area Photo Blinds
Kanopolis State Park Office
Horsethief Area Gatehouse
Buzzard Bay Boat Ramp
Buzzard Bay Vault Toilet
Wildlife Viewing Area
Buzzard Bay picnic/camping shelter
Eagle Point Vault Toilet
Eagle Point Lake access
Burr Oak Amphitheater
Burr Oak Lake access
Rockin’ K Shelter
Rockin’ K ADA campsites
Rockin’ K Corrals
Rockin’ K Primative Camping
Rockin’ K Vault Toilet
Rockin’K Information Center
Rockin’ K Pay Station
Burr Oak Shower Building
Rockin’ K Camphost (seasonal)
Rockin’ K Washbays
Goverland Stage Stop
Rockin’ K Manure Bunkers
Sewer Dump Station
Prairie Dog Town
Eagle Point Camphost
Rockwall Vault Toilet
Rockwall Picnic Shelters

You may make reservations by going online at https://www.reserveamerica.com.

Our favorite Campground at Horsethief:

Eagle Point Campgrounds near Split Boulder Trails. This was a beautiful site with views of the lake and sounds of the crashing waves. Though near to bathrooms, not near the showers. With this campground, you get more of a view and are separate from central areas like the Horsethief main section where all the good stuff is. We did bring the kid’s bikes one time here and they loved the private road to ride up and down on, but they did not have a children’s play set nearby. I loved the privacy here away from the action, one trip without the kids, we enjoyed the quietness and walking the beach area. Very nice for older couples or families without children.

Trails

Trail Season

Trails within the park are open year-round.
The Prairie Trail and Alum Creek Trail are closed from November 1 thru January 31. Alum Creek Trail may be closed at times for hunting seasons. Contact the park office for current status.
Trails or portions of trails may be closed during high water.

Trail Access

Trailhead A—Rockin K Campground – Horses
Trailhead B—Horsethief Canyon Parking – Horses
Trailhead C—Buffalo Tracks Canyon Parking – Mountain Bikes & Hikers
Trailhead D Rockwall Campground – Mountain Bikes and Hikers
Traihead E Split Boulder Trail – Mountain Bikes and Hikers

Our Favorite Trails

Buffalo Track Canyon Nature Trail

The 1.5-mile trail follows Bison Creek. Numbered yellow

Rockin’ K campground

The Horsethief trails loop through canyons and trees.

The Split Boulder Trail

Beginner mountain bike trail, 1.63-mile trail loops through interesting boulder formations, near the shoreline, through trees and meadows back to the trailhead. Hikers are welcome to use this scenic trail.