Camping Kansas: Lake Scott State Park – Hidden in the canyons of western Kansas is Historic Lake Scott State Park, where you’ll find incredible camping, fishing, hiking and exploring!
Historic Lake Scott State Park is 15 miles north of Scott City and 40 minutes south of I-70 at the Oakley exit.
It’s about four hours from Wichita and four hours from Colorado Springs, making Lake Scott the perfect halfway point for mountain bound travelers.
Lake Scott
Historic Lake Scott State Park in western Kansas is a relatively small park with a very small lake, but the camping and outdoor opportunities are huge!
Spots are available for RV campers, tents and cabins. There’s also a horse camp area for equestrian visitors.
For hikers and horseback riders, the Bridle Trail is an 8-mile trail that goes around the lake, along the canyon walls, and has access points from all the campsites.
The Bridle Trail is one of my favorite hiking trails in Kansas.
History buffs love the park as well. There are currently 26 archeological sites in and around the park that uncover early American history.
One of the main archeological sites in the park is the remains of the northernmost known Native American pueblo – El Cuartelejo.
The dwelling of the land’s original settlers, the Steele home, is preserved as it was over 100 years ago and is open to visitors.
As you can see, Lake Scott State Park is the perfect place in Kansas for camping and outdoor enthusiasts.
Other Area Attractions
If you’re up for exploring, you’ve come to the right place.
Just south of Lake Scott State Park is Battle Canyon. This is the location of the Battle of Punished Woman’s Fork, the last battle between Native Americans and the U.S. Army in Kansas.
About 25 minutes northeast of Lake Scott State Park is the Monument Rocks National Natural Landmark. This small plot of land contains towering rock formations that randomly rise out of the surrounding plains.
To top off your day trip, be sure to go to the Little Jerusalem Badlands State Park.
This park is about 20 minutes north of Lake Scott State Park and 20 minutes west of Monument Rocks.
In this 332-acre park, you’ll find a one-mile stretch of towering rock formations. This is the largest stretch of exposed Niobrara chalk formation in Kansas.
The Little Jerusalem Badlands State Park is open for walk-in day use from dawn to dusk. Trails and overlooks are available for everyone.
To explore the park’s interior, free guided tours are available only by reservation. This is to protect the area’s fragile landscape.
Other amenities include:
- Full Hook-up Campsites: 4
- Water and Electric Campsites: 51
- Primitive Campsites: 175
- Group Camping: 0
- Cabins: 2 with restroom/shower
- Dump Stations: 1
- Shower Houses / Public Restrooms: 2
- Boat Ramps: 1
Click here to learn more about the Bridle Trail.
Click here to learn more about Lake Scott State Park.
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