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A gray 4x4 Sprinter with a roof rack on a two-track through a wildflower meadow, cloud sitting on the mountains behind.

Army Corps of Engineers campground

Riverside

Army Corps of Engineers campground in Kanopolis Lake, Ellsworth County, Kansas. 1,420 feet. 7.6 miles from Marquette.

Reserve on Recreation.gov
Managed by
Army Corps of Engineers Kanopolis Lake
Elevation
1,420 ft USGS elevation model, at the mapped point
Sites
29 19 standard electric, 10 standard non-electric
Longest rig
80 ft The longest vehicle any site is listed for
Hookups
Electric, Water
Reservations
Recreation.gov
County
Ellsworth County

Overview

Riverside Campground is located on the Smoky Hill River just downstream from Kanopolis Lake in central Kansas, 30 miles southwest of Salina. Kanopolis Lake, one of the state's oldest lakes, provides many outdoor activities, including boating, fishing and hunting.

Recreation

Kanopolis Lake offers great boating and fishing opportunities. On land, hunting, hiking, and biking are popular activities.

Facilities

Riverside Campground offers 24 campsites, 16 with electric and water hookups and 8 primitive campsites. Other amenities include flush toilets, drinking water, showers, a playground, dump station and direct river access. During the peak season (May 15- Sep 15) all camping payments will be made directly to Recreation 1 Stop. Below is the proper procedure when arriving at Riverside: 1.If Reservation is made prior to arrival, proceed to reserved site and have reservation number available for proof of payment. 2.If arriving without a reservation do the following: -Select Campsite (Reservations are not posted. Do not set up on site until payment is made) -Visit www.recreation.gov or call 1-877-444-6777 to check availability and pay for camping fees. -Record you reservation number for proof of payment -Set up on Campsite

Natural Features

The campground is situated on the wooded riverside where wildlife is abundant. Whitetail deer, Great Blue Heron, Quail, Turkey, Rabbits, Squirrels and a wide variety of waterfowl are commonly seen. Sandstone bluffs, rolling hills, and vast, open prairie lands surround the lake.

Nearby Attractions

The Fort Harker Museum in Kanopolis and the Rogers Art Gallery and Museum in Ellsworth both portray the settlement of the American West. Kanopolis State Park, Kansas' first, offers numerous trails for hiking, biking and equestrian activities. The park also has additional boating, fishing, and picnicking areas.

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

What people do here

  • camping
  • disc golf
  • fishing
  • picnicking
  • water access

The land around Riverside

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

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.

Nearest campgrounds

Camping near

Source: Recreation Information Database (Recreation.gov), record updated February 25, 2026. Elevation from the USGS 3D Elevation Program. Seasons, fees, water and fire rules change; the managing office has the final word.

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