Kansas / Ellsworth County / Kanopolis Recreation Area

Riverside

Closed — Closed for the season. The campground operates April 1-30 and October 1-November 30 with limited services (electricity available, water and flush toilets subject to freezing closures, vault toilets remain open). Full services operate during peak season May 15-September 15. Reservations via Recreation.gov.

About

Riverside Campground is a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers facility located on the Smoky Hill River immediately downstream from Kanopolis Lake in central Kansas, approximately 30 miles southwest of Salina. The campground offers 24 total sites, including 16 with electric and water hookups and 8 primitive non-electric sites. Set in a wooded riverside environment, the campground provides exceptional wildlife viewing opportunities with whitetail deer, Great Blue Heron, quail, turkey, rabbits, squirrels, and numerous waterfowl species frequently spotted. Facilities include flush toilets and showers during the main season, drinking water, a playground, dump station, and direct river access for fishing and water activities. Sites 1-9 back up to a steep riverbank requiring supervision of children. The campground is surrounded by the distinctive landscape of Kanopolis Lake, featuring sandstone bluffs, rolling hills, and vast prairie lands. Kanopolis Lake provides excellent fishing and boating opportunities, while nearby Kanopolis State Park, Kansas' first state park, offers extensive trail systems for hiking, mountain biking, and horseback riding. The area's history is preserved at the Fort Harker Museum in Kanopolis and the Rogers Art Gallery and Museum in Ellsworth, both showcasing the settlement of the American West.

Directions

From Salina, take Highway 140 west 19 miles to Highway 141. Travel south 14 miles on Highway 141, then east 0.5 miles on Riverside Drive. From Ellsworth, take Highway 140 east 15 miles to Highway 141, then south 14 miles on Highway 141 and east 0.5 miles on Riverside Drive. From Lindsborg, take Highway 4 west approximately 15 miles to Highway 141, north 3 miles, then east 0.5 miles on Riverside Drive.

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