Kansas / Osage County / Melvern Recreation Area

Arrow Rock

Closed — Closed for the season. Typically operates from spring through fall. Reservations available through Recreation.gov.

About

Arrow Rock Campground is located on Melvern Lake on the eastern edge of the Flint Hills of Kansas, America's last expanse of intact tallgrass prairie. The campground features 33 campsites, with 19 sites offering electric and water hookups and 14 standard non-hookup sites. Each site includes a fire ring and picnic table. Facilities include flush and vault toilets, showers, drinking water, and a dump station. Additional amenities include a boat ramp, dock, fish cleaning station, and playground. Melvern Lake impounds nearly 7,000 acres of water on the Marais des Cygnes River Valley, providing excellent opportunities for boating, swimming, and fishing. Anglers can catch walleye, crappie, channel and flathead catfish, as well as black, striped, white and smallmouth bass. The 4-mile Tallgrass Heritage Trail begins in the campground and winds through tallgrass prairie, timbered areas, and along the shoreline. The surrounding 18,000 acres offer hunting opportunities for deer, quail, turkey, ducks, rabbits, and squirrels. The Flint Hills landscape features rolling hills with big bluestem, switchgrass, and Indian grass, though trees and shade are sparse within the campground itself.

Directions

From US-75, take the Olivet exit. Continue onto K-276 west for 1 mile, then turn north onto South Fairlawn Road and continue another mile. Turn west onto Arrow Rock Parkway and follow to the campground.

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