Kansas / Morris County

Santa Fe Trail

Closed — Closed for the winter season. Opens April 1 with upgraded 50 amp electrical service at sites 1-13 and part of the group area. Reservations available through Recreation.gov.

About

Santa Fe Trail Campground is located on Council Grove Lake, a 3,310-acre reservoir in the heart of Kansas' Flint Hills, one of the last remaining expanses of Tallgrass Prairie. Operated by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the campground offers 35 reservable sites with electric hookups, along with one group camping area that can accommodate up to 75 guests. The campground features modern amenities including flush toilets and showers, with both shaded sites and open grassy areas for recreation. Council Grove Lake was created by a dam built in 1964 and sits in the area where Osage Indians signed a treaty to establish the Old Santa Fe Trail. The lake is popular for boating, with a boat ramp located within the campground, and offers excellent fishing for crappie, catfish, and Saugeye. Council Grove was the first lake in Kansas to receive Saugeye stocking. Nearly 2,700 acres of hunting lands surround the lake, supporting populations of quail, prairie chicken, wild turkey, and deer. Hiking trails wind along the lake shore and through the forest, with Pioneer Nature Trail being the most scenic option. The campground serves as a gateway to the Flint Hills National Scenic Byway and is about 25 miles from the National Tallgrass Prairie Preserve. The historic town of Council Grove, located 2 miles southeast, is a National Historic District featuring seven Santa Fe National Historic Trail sites.

Directions

From I-70, take Highway 177 south for 30 miles. Continue west across the dam road, then right onto City Lake Road. After a mile turn right into the campground entrance.

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