Overview
Venango Park Campground is located on the eastern shores of Kanopolis Lake in central Kansas, 30 miles southwest of Salina. Kanopolis Lake is on the Smoky Hill River, and is one of the state's oldest lakes. Many outdoor activities are available, including camping, boating, fishing, hunting and ATV riding.
Recreation
Kanopolis Lake offers great boating and fishing opportunities with plenty of bluegill, Channel Catfish, White Crappie, Flathead Catfish, Largemouth Bass, Saugeye, Walleye, Wiper and KDWPT stocks Trout seasonally. The Venango Park ATV Trail crisscrosses roughly 5 acres of land within the park, making this a popular destination for ATV and motorcycle enthusiasts. Venango Park offers a 1.7 mile hiking only trail that meanders throughout the park. This trail covers different ecosystems that can be found in the area including forests, grasslands, and wetlands. Keep an eye out for the different flora and fauna that can be found in each. Kanopolis State Park also has trails available for hiking, bicycling, and equestrian riders.
Facilities
Venango Park offers a total of 132 faciltites. There are 126 campsites, 5 day use shelters, and 1 group camp. The 126 campsites are a mixture of electric with water, electric only, primitive, and double sites. Other amenities include flush toilets, drinking water, showers, a dump station, boat ramp, beach, playground and nature trail.
Natural Features
The campground is situated on the shady tree-dotted shoreline. Sandstone bluffs, rolling hills, and vast, open prairie lands surround the lake. Wildlife is varied and abundant in the area: Whitetail deer, pheasants, quail, Texas horned lizards, beavers and even Bald eagles are commonly seen. Waterfowl extensively gather at Loder Point Marsh located within the campground. Wildflowers including purple poppy mallow, blue false indigo, yucca and prairie wild rose, put on a colorful display in prairies surrounding 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. The Kanopolis Drive-In theater is just a short drive away, and is open most weekened evenings
The description, directions and fees are the Army Corps of Engineers’s own words, from its record on Recreation.gov.
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
Road
Primitive Road
Road
Primitive Road
Trail
Roads open to all Vehicles, Yearlong
Roads open to all Vehicles, Seasonal
Roads open to highway legal vehicles only, Yearlong
Roads open to highway legal vehicles only, Seasonal
Special Designation, Yearlong
Special Designation, Seasonal
Trails open to all vehicles, Yearlong
Trails open to all vehicles, Seasonal
Trails open to vehicles 50" or less in width, Yearlong
Trails open to vehicles 50" or less in width, Seasonal
Trails open to motorcycles, Yearlong
Trails open to motorcycles, Seasonal
Special Designation, Seasonal
Trails Open to Wheeled Vehicles Only < 50" in Width, Yearlong
Trails Open to Wheeled Vehicles Only < 50" or Less in Width, Seasonal
Wilderness Area
Wilderness Study Area