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

Army Corps of Engineers campground

McFadden Cove

Army Corps of Engineers campground in Kaw Lake, Kay County, Oklahoma. 1,059 feet. 6.1 miles from Kaw City.

Reserve on Recreation.gov
Managed by
Army Corps of Engineers Kaw Lake
Elevation
1,059 ft USGS elevation model, at the mapped point
Sites
15 15 standard electric
Hookups
Electric, Water
Reservations
Recreation.gov
County
Kay County

Overview

McFadden Cove is a small campground situated along the banks of Kaw Lake in north central Oklahoma. It is located near Kaw Lake dam and Hideaway Marina and convenient to several recreational day use areas.

Recreation

The lake and river are known for producing some of Oklahoma's largest catfish, as well as crappie, white bass and walleye, making it a popular destination for anglers.

Hunters' skills are tested with excellent populations of whitetail deer, turkey, quail, rabbit and squirrel. During the fall waterfowl seasons Kaw Lake often attracts large numbers of migrating ducks and geese.

During the winter visitors are likely to spot migrating bald eagles, as Kaw Lake has one of the biggest populations in the state.

Facilities

McFadden Cove Campground offers 15 campsites with amenities including electric and individual water hookups as well as a vault toilet. The boat ramp is right around the bend.

Natural Features

The lake covers 17,000 surface acres and has 168 miles of shoreline. Completed in 1976, the dam and lake help provide a recreational oasis for outdoor enthusiasts of all types.

Nearby Attractions

The area holds a number of historical sites, including several Native American settlements, archeological sites and the Pioneer Woman Museum.

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
  • fishing

The land around McFadden Cove

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 March 11, 2026. Elevation from the USGS 3D Elevation Program. Seasons, fees, water and fire rules change; the managing office has the final word.

Join Overlanding Life
Saved Account

Start with a region

Browse the directory