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Recreational archery is a fast-growing sport that can be enjoyed – and mastered – by enthusiasts young and old. It can be practiced as a sport on its own or as a stepping stone or adjunct to bowhunting or bowfishing.
Recreational Archery Ranges on Department Lands (with links to each site listed)
There are no state parks that have ATV Trails available however, some federal properties and local municipalities do have trails available. A helpful website is the Kansas ATV Association.
No KDWP properties have ATV Trails available however, some federal properties and local municipalities do have trails available. A helpful website is the www.katva.org or Kansas ATV Association.
This is a list of biking trails, distance, and links to their locations. Please contact location managers for more information.
| Trail Name | Location | Miles |
|---|---|---|
| Sandy Point Trail | Glen Elder State Park | 6.5 |
| Scott Bridle Trail | Scott State Park | 7 |
| Eagle Trail | Meade State Park | 0.8 |
| Clinton Hiking and Biking Trail | Clinton State Park | 16 |
| Delaware Area Bike/Hike Trail | Perry State Park | 14 |
| Prairie Spirit Rail Trail | Prairie Spirit Trail | 32 |
| Chautauqua Hills Trail | Cross Timbers State Park | 5.5 |
| Woodson Cove Overlook Trail | Cross Timbers State Park | 1.3 |
| Post Oak Trail | Fall River State Park | 0.7 |
| Eagle Rock Mountain Bike Trail | Elk City State Park | 4 |
| Post Oak Self-Guiding Nature Trail | Elk City State Park | 1.0 |
| Osage Lowlands Trail | Elk City State Park | 1.7 |
| Drywood Creek | Crawford State Park | 6.8 |
| Switchgrass Mountain Bike Tail | Wilson State Park | 24.5 |
| Crystal Trail (Short and Long Loop) | Milford State Park | 2 |
| Eagle Ridge Trail | Milford State Park | 8 |
| Waterfall Trail | Milford State Park | 0.6 |
| Pipeline (Campground) Trail | Milford State Park | 3 |
| Fancy Creek Trail | Tuttle Creek State Park | 3 |
| North Randolph Trail | Tuttle Creek State Park | 13 |
| Boulder Bluff Trail | Eldorado State Park | 12 |
| Kanopolis Trails | Kanopolis State Park | 26 |
Camping on land and waters owned by the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks is allowed only in designated areas on department lands and waters and shall be subject to provisions or restrictions as established by posted notice. (K.A.R. 115-8-9)
Most Kansas State Parks have camping facilities available (with the exception of Mushroom Rock, Prairie Spirit Trail, Flint Hills Trail, and Sand Hills State Parks.) Visit the state park pages to find out more!
All camping at state parks is limited to a stay of not more than 14 consecutive days in a campground unless otherwise established by posted notice or as otherwise authorized by written permit from the department.
All campers and camping units at state fishing lakes or wildlife areas are limited to designated camping areas and a stay of not more than seven consecutive days on that department managed land unless otherwise established by posted notice or authorized by written permit from the department.
Not all state fishing lakes and wildlife areas allow camping. For those that do, there is currently no cost to camp, but camping first-come, first served and reservations are not accepted. Camping is not allowed at any walk-in hunting area.
Upon completing seven consecutive days on the same campsite, each person and all property of each person shall be absent from the department-managed area for at least five days.
An extended camping stay of not more than seven additional consecutive days at the state fishing lake or wildlife area may be granted by written permit from the department if vacant camping sites are available.
This is a list of places that you can rent canoes/kayaks.
Below is a list of State Parks that have disc golf course.
Paddling down a river or across a lake is an enjoyable and safe activity, gaining popularity. But according to statistics, paddlers in small crafts such as canoes, kayaks and rafts are more than twice as likely to drown as individuals operating other types of vessels.
The higher rate of fatalities can be attributed to two factors:
Prepare by doing the following:
Paddleboarding is an activity that started in the 1940’s in Hawaii, but recently has exploded in popularity across the country as an outdoor recreation activity. It's a great way to connect with nature, an excellent form of exercise. However, due to the popularity of paddleboarding and the unfamiliarity of the waterways for many of the users, education is becoming a necessity in order to enjoy this activity safely.
In the State of Kansas paddle boards are considered a vessel and therefore are subject to the same laws and regulations as other paddle craft. As such, paddleboarders need to carry a USCG approved, properly fitting life jacket and if you're 12 and younger you must be wearing your life jacket. Inflatable life jackets are only approved for persons 16 years of age and older. Paddle boards must also not operate inside a designated swim area or in any area restricted to boats marked by buoys. If you plan to be out on your SUP between sunset and sunrise you must also carry a flashlight or lantern with you.
The Coast Guard definition of a paddle board allows them to be operated in a swimming area without wearing a life jacket, but Kansas has specific definitions of a vessel and an SUP falls into the same category as a canoe or kayak. Kansas has not adopted the Coast Guard definition and therefore their carriage requirements for equipment and operation restrictions do not apply. If you have any questions please call the KDWPT Boating Education Section at 620-672-0770.
There are more than 10,000 miles of streams and rivers in Kansas
Most streams and rivers in Kansas are privately owned. The public rivers are the Kansas, Arkansas and Missouri (shown at right). They are open to the public between the ordinary high water marks on each bank. This is the line that can be seen where high water has left debris, sand, and gravel during its ordinary annual cycle. When these rivers flow through private land, permission is needed from adjacent landowners to access the rivers as well as when picnicking, camping, portaging or engaging in any other activity on the adjacent private lands.
Except where they pass through the legal limits of a government entity, the rest of our streams and rivers are privately owned, and permission is needed from the landowners to access and use the streams and adjacent lands for any purpose.
One of the world’s longest prairie rivers
The Kansas River was designated as a National Water Trail on July 14, 2012. Known locally as the Kaw, the Kansas River begins at the confluence of the Republican and Smoky Hill Rivers near Junction City and flows 173 miles to Kansas City where it joins the Missouri River. The Kansas River watershed drains almost the entire northern half of Kansas and part of Nebraska and Colorado (53,000 square miles). The major cities along the Kansas River include Junction City, Manhattan, Topeka, Lawrence and Kansas City.
Visit Kansas River Trail for information about enjoying this spectacular prairie river.
More Info: National Water Trails System
The sixth longest river in the U.S.
The Arkansas River travels about 1,469 miles from its origin near Leadville, Colorado, through Kansas and Oklahoma to its confluence with the Mississippi River at Napoleon, Arkansas. In Kansas, the Arkansas River is pronounced“Ar-Kansas,” and is sometimes shortened to the “Ark River.” A 192-mile portion of the Arkansas River in Kansas was designated as a National Water Trail on June 3, 2016. The trail begins in Great Bend and ends at the Kansas-Oklahoma border southeast of Arkansas City. The Ark River is prone to seasonal reductions in flow. When the flow is low, the river divides into several small channels flowing in a broad, shallow bed. During drier periods, it may run dry on its surface in southwest Kansas, but picks up water as it flows through the state. By the time it reaches Wichita, there is often plenty of water for a scenic, leisurely float trip.
Arkansas River Access in Kansas
More Info:
The longest river in North America
The Missouri River flows through the northeastern border of Kansas – separating Missouri and Kansas – and travels through 10 states on its journey from its origin near Three Forks, Montana to the Mississippi River at St. Louis, Missouri. In Kansas, the cities of Atchison, Leavenworth and Kansas City are among the communities that settled on the Missouri River.
Missouri River Access in Kansas
More Info:
All Kansas state parks and many wildlife areas and fishing lakes have hiking trails available that encompass a wide variety of terrain, distances and physical abilities. Accessible trails are available at many state parks. Maps and other information are available online by visiting individual state park, wildlife area or fishing lake pages. Volunteers from the Kansas Trails Council maintain some of these trails.
Open to any non-motorized travel – hiking, biking and horseback riding; accessible for electric wheelchairs in many locations
This 117-mile crown jewel is the seventh-longest rail-trail in the U.S. and the longest trail in Kansas. It follows the general route of the Santa Fe National Historic Trail and is a component of the coast-to-coast American Discovery Trail.
The trail crosses the Flint Hills, one of the last remaining tallgrass prairie ecosystems in the world. It is home to abundant prairie plant and wildlife species, spectacular views, national historic sites, and a diverse set of recreational areas. On eastern portions of the trail, hikers and bikers travel along the Marais Des Cygnes River, between rushing waters and towering bluffs, through rolling farmland and riparian woodlands. Trail-goers can enjoy the sites and hospitality of more than 12 rural communities across five counties. Visit Flint Hills Trail for more information.
Most State Parks have 1 or more beach areas available with the exception of Mushroom Rock, Prairie Spirit Trail, and Sand Hills State Park. Visit the state park pages to find out more.
Swimming at a beach is much different than swimming in a pool because the water may be murky and harbor floating or submerged debris, the bottom may be uneven and there may be wind and waves. Follow these safety measures for a safe, enjoyable visit: