Mined Land Wildlife Area

Open — Open year-round for camping. Dispersed primitive camping is available throughout the property on a first-come, first-served basis. Two modern cabins are available for reservation.

About

Mined Land Wildlife Area is a unique 14,500-acre wildlife management area in Southeast Kansas that tells a story of environmental recovery and habitat restoration. From the 1920s through 1974, this land was surface mined for coal, creating over 1,000 strip-mine lakes ranging from a quarter-acre to 50 acres in size, with depths reaching up to 60 feet. The Kansas Department of Wildlife & Parks now manages this rugged landscape, which was acquired primarily through donations, including a major 8,208-acre donation from the Pittsburg and Midway Coal Company in 1981. The terrain is characterized by steep-sided hills and dense vegetation, with about 4,000 acres of native and cool-season grasses, and 9,000 acres of mature woodland featuring bur oak, pin oak, walnut, hickory, and hackberry trees with a thick understory. The remaining 2,000 acres consist of mature bottomland woodland and small crop fields. Over 200 of the lakes are stocked with fish including largemouth bass, rainbow trout, and brown trout, making this a popular fishing destination. Camping at Mined Land Wildlife Area is primarily dispersed and primitive throughout the property, allowing visitors to experience the unique reclaimed landscape. The area also offers two modern rental cabins (Mine 19 Cabin and Coal Ridge Cabin) in Unit 30 near West Mineral, both equipped with heating, air conditioning, full kitchens, and overlooking a 28-acre lake. Hunters pursue whitetail deer, eastern turkey, mourning dove, bobwhite quail, fox squirrel, cottontails, and waterfowl across the property. The area is managed through prescribed burns, wildlife plantings, native grass restoration, and water level management to support diverse wildlife habitats.

Directions

From Columbus, Kansas, travel 10 miles west on Highway 160, then 3.5 miles north on NW 100 Street, and finally 0.5 miles west on Lawton Road to reach the Mined Land Wildlife Area.

Nearby Campgrounds