A dark green Toyota pickup with a roof tent parked in tall dry grass as mist closes in.

Army Corps of Engineers group campground

Bloomington West

Army Corps of Engineers group campground in Clinton Lake, Douglas County, Kansas. 961 feet. 7.7 miles from Lawrence.

Managed by
Army Corps of Engineers Clinton Lake
Elevation
961 ft USGS elevation model, at the mapped point
Sites
1 1 group standard non-electric
Hookups
Electric, Water
Reservations
Recreation.gov

Overview

Woodridge Park has 450 acres for hiking and primitive, walk-in camping. Tent camping is allowed throughout

the park and along the 4.5 mile George Latham hiking trail. Campfires are allowed at designated locations

only. Drinking water and a vault toilet are available in this park.

Recreation

A horseshoe pit, sand volleyball court, playground and softball field, basketball goal and boat ramp are all provided at the campground, making it the perfect spot for entertaining large groups and family functions.

However, Clinton Lake is the main attraction, offering opportunities for boating, fishing, canoeing, jet skiing, swimming and countless other water sports.

The lake's fish and wildlife resources provide sightseers, fishermen, and hunters ample opportunities for their sports, and Clinton Lake is well-stocked with crappie, walleye, channel catfish and white bass.

Wildlife viewing is also a popular activity, with bald eagles, white-tailed deer, Canada geese, wild turkey and other wildlife in abundance at Clinton Lake.

Four trail systems are located around Clinton Lake, including the North Shore, South Shore, Smokehouse and the George Latham Trails. All offer hiking, biking and equestrian opportunities within a 20 minute drive.

Facilities

This spacious group site offers 25 individual sites, four with 20/30 Amp electric and water connections. This area has a total capacity of 150 guests. A boat ramp is located within a mile of the site, and grills, flush toilets, showers and drinking water provide a comfortable camping experience.

Natural Features

Congress authorized Clinton Lake in 1962, and the finished reservoir was filled in 1980. While the Dam and Reservoir were originally built for flood control, the area has now become a recreational oasis for millions of visitors to enjoy the beautiful green Kansas backdrop.

Clinton Lake's beautiful setting of steep bluffs, wooded shoreline and clear water is unequaled among Kansas lakes. Shoreline development has been limited in an effort to preserve as much of the natural setting as possible.

Clinton spans 8 miles up the Wakarusa Valley and covers 7,000 surface acres. If the lake ever approaches the top of its flood pool, an additional 5,800 acres will be covered, extending the area to 13 miles along the valley floor.

Nearby Attractions

The Army Corps of Engineers Visitor Center, located on the northwest side of the dam, has several informative displays covering topics such as the history of the area, reasons for the dam and the wildlife in the area. The Clinton Lake Museum, located within the Bloomington East Park, has information on the history of the region and the Underground Railroad. The cities of Lawrence and Topeka are within a 30 minute drive.

The description, directions and fees are the Army Corps of Engineers’s own words, from its record on Recreation.gov.

What people do here

  • boating
  • camping
  • canoeing
  • day use area
  • fishing
  • photography
  • picnicking
  • softball fields
  • star gazing
  • swimming site
  • water sports

The land around Bloomington West

The ringed pin is this group campground; the others are its nearest neighbours. Switch on forest roads or BLM routes to see the way in.

Interactive map. Drag to pan, scroll or pinch to zoom, and select any point to see which agency manages the land. Arrow keys pan and the plus and minus keys zoom when the map has focus. A list of every state with its share of federal land is on the Explore page.

Map layers

Layers
Base map
Legend

Federal land, by managing agency

  • Bureau of Land Management (BLM)
  • US Forest Service (USFS)
  • National Park Service (NPS)
  • US Fish and Wildlife (USFW)
  • Bureau of Reclamation (USBR)
  • Department Of Defense (DOD)
  • Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA)
  • Other Federal
  • State
  • Local
  • Alaska Native Lands (Patented or Interim Conveyed)
  • Alaska Native Allotment

Federal campgrounds, by agency

  • Forest Service
  • Bureau of Land Management
  • National Park Service
  • Army Corps of Engineers
  • Reclamation, Fish and Wildlife and others

State and local land (USGS PAD-US)

  • State land
  • County and city land
  • Regional agency or district
  • Land trust or conservancy

Gaps with no tint inside public land are private parcels, often old mining claims and homesteads. They are not open to the public.

Dashed clay lines on the base map are unpaved tracks from OpenStreetMap. They show what exists on the ground, not what is legal to drive.

Select any point to see who manages the land.

Boundaries are approximate and land status changes. This map is a planning aid, not a survey or a statement of access. Confirm routes, closures and camping rules with the managing office.

Source: Recreation Information Database (Recreation.gov), record updated March 11, 2026. Elevation from the USGS 3D Elevation Program. Seasons, fees, water and fire rules change; the managing office has the final word.