Kansas / Ellsworth County / Kanopolis Recreation Area

Venango Park

Closed — Closed for the season. The campground typically operates from April through October or November. Reservations available through Recreation.gov.

About

Venango Park Campground is an Army Corps of Engineers facility located on the eastern shores of Kanopolis Lake, one of Kansas's oldest reservoirs on the Smoky Hill River, 30 miles southwest of Salina. The campground features 126 campsites including electric with water, electric only, primitive, and double sites, along with 5 day use shelters and 1 group camp. Situated on shady, tree-dotted shoreline surrounded by sandstone bluffs, rolling hills, and open prairie, the campground provides flush toilets, drinking water, showers, a dump station, boat ramp, beach, and playground. Kanopolis Lake offers excellent fishing for bluegill, channel catfish, white crappie, flathead catfish, largemouth bass, saugeye, walleye, and wiper, with seasonal trout stocking by Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks. The Venango Park ATV Trail crisscrosses roughly 5 acres within the park, making it popular with ATV and motorcycle enthusiasts. A 1.7-mile hiking-only trail meanders through different ecosystems including forests, grasslands, and wetlands. Waterfowl extensively gather at Loder Point Marsh within the campground. Wildlife is abundant: whitetail deer, pheasants, quail, Texas horned lizards, beavers, and bald eagles are commonly seen. Wildflowers including purple poppy mallow, blue false indigo, yucca, and prairie wild rose bloom in surrounding prairies.

Directions

From the North: Take HWY 140 to HWY 141. Travel south on HWY 141, then 0.5 miles west on Venango Road; look for signs to the park. From the South: Take HWY 4 to HWY 141. Travel north on HWY 141, then 0.5 miles west on Venango Road; look for signs to the park.

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