Kansas' Best State Parks
If
there's a single word that sums up the state parks of Kansas, it's variety.
Each park is unique.
From the lush forests of eastern Kansas to the vast grasslands and rugged
canyons of western Kansas, state parks offer a dazzling array of environments
and outdoor activities. Still, there are similarities.
Each park offers an aesthetic, vibrant natural environment where people
of all ages can relax and revitalize. Since
each is situated on a lake or reservoir, fishing, boating, skiing, sail boarding,
and swimming often take center stage. Expansive
campgrounds offer services and amenities suited for all camping preferences,
from 60-foot motor homes to one-person pup tents.
Hiking and biking trails abound, offering state park visitors a rich
array of terrains and habitats to experience. Well-equipped
playgrounds occupy youngsters of all ages with "just plain fun" for
hours on end. And park employees
dedicate themselves to helping visitors have a safe, enjoyable experience.
The
Parks Division of the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks is responsible for
management of 24 state parks and the Prairie Spirit Trail.
This responsibility encompasses about 35,000 acres of land and 25,000
acres of water. Following are brief descriptions of just three of Kansas' 24
state parks. Each of these three offers
unique attractions and recreational opportunities.
Each of these three also gives visitors an inkling of the variety of
landscapes that comprise the Sunflower State.
Cheney
State Park
This 1,900-acre park located 20 miles west of Wichita is one of the top sailing
lakes in the U. S., attracting windsurfers and sail boaters from across the
country. A marina and sailing club
provide amenities for sailors of every stripe.
The 9,500-acre Cheney Reservoir offers productive fishing, as well, and
5,250 acres of adjacent public wildlife area appeals to hunters, natural
photographers, and wildlife watchers alike.
Tuttle
Creek State Park
Located near Manhattan in northeast Kansas, Tuttle Creek State Park offers
visitors a broad variety of outdoor recreation possibilities.
A full line of modern facilities are available, including campgrounds,
boat ramps, beaches, picnic shelters, trails, and a full-service marina. Picnicking, team sports, water skiing, wind surfing, and
bicycling are popular pursuits at Tuttle Creek. Anglers enjoy productive fishing for channel catfish,
flathead catfish, crappie, and white bass.
The 12,000-acre Tuttle Creek Wildlife Area offers excellent hunting and
wildlife watching opportunities.
Scott
State Park
An oasis in the western prairie, Scott State Park is located north of
Scott City, and comprises 1,020 acres surrounding the 100-acre, spring-fed Scott
State Fishing Lake. The park
provides all outdoor recreation opportunities, plus several historic sites, a
private elk herd, and a horse/bike trail. The
park is on the National Register of Historic Places, and is the site of the El
Cuartelejo Indian Pueblo built in 1664.
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