Canning Creek, near Council Grove, Kansas, is a charming campground that offers a relaxing escape right by the water. With sites that are mostly positioned directly on the lake, you can wake up to stunning views and the soothing sounds of nature.

The campground is well-equipped with concrete pads, picnic tables, and fire pits, making it easy to settle in and enjoy your stay. Many visitors have praised the cleanliness and maintenance of the facilities, including the vault and flush toilets, which are kept in good shape. One camper noted, “This is a small park... It is a very nice campground,” highlighting the overall quality of the experience.

For those who enjoy outdoor activities, Canning Creek has plenty to offer. Swimming, fishing, and boating are popular during the warmer months, and there are hiking trails nearby for those looking to stretch their legs. The campground is also conveniently located just a short drive from Council Grove, where you can find gas and groceries if you need to stock up.

While some sites are reservable, others are first-come, first-served, so plan accordingly. The friendly atmosphere and helpful campground hosts make it a welcoming spot for families and solo travelers alike. Whether you're just passing through or planning a longer stay, Canning Creek is a solid choice for a peaceful getaway.

## Overview

 Canning Creek Cove Park is located on the 3,310-acre Council Grove Lake in the green expanses of eastern Kansas.
## Recreation

 Boating is a popular pastime at the lake, and two boat ramps are located in the campground for visitors' convenience. The lake is known for its fishing opportunities, with crappie and catfish being the most abundant. Council Grove was also the first lake in Kansas to receive stocking of Saugeye. Hunters will find populations of quail, prairie chicken, wild turkey and deer on the nearly 2,700 acres of public hunting land surrounding the lake. Hiking trails wind along the lakeshore and into the forest. Pioneer Nature Trail is known as the most scenic trail, with plenty of wildlife, greenery and wildflowers creating a beautiful background. Council Grove is also a starting point for the Flint Hills National Scenic Byway. This byway travels through the best of the remaining remnants of the Tallgrass Prairie Ecosystem in North America. Along the byway and 25 miles south is the National Tallgrass Prairie Preserve, where visitors can spot colorful wildflowers in the spring and array of autumn colors in the fall.
## Natural Features

 Council Grove Lake sits in the rolling, grassy prairie of east Kansas, known as the Flint Hills. The lake was created by a dam built in 1964, and now offers recreational opportunities to hundreds of thousands of visitors every year. Historically this area is where the Osage Indians signed a treaty to establish the Old Santa Fe Trail. A marker in the town of Council Grove indicates the place where the treaty was signed. 
## Nearby Attractions

 The town of Council Grove, located about 2 miles southeast of the lake, is a National Historic District, with seven Santa Fe National Historic Trail sites in the community.

Canning Creek

Council Grove is the perfect place for adventurous campers and RVers. There are tons of hikes and other fun activities to partake in. Experience some of the most stunning views that Kansas camping has to offer. Search nearby campsites and find top-rated spots from other campers.

Council Grove

The Best Camping Near Council Grove, Kansas

We took the kayak down with us and drive around the lake to the beach area and had a great time. Everyone camping near by was nice. The host were awesome.

Lots of places to walk to and relax.

Great camping pads with covered picnic tables and built in grills.

Great family get away

Spent three days here this week. even with rain, it was a great camp ground. Corp of Engineers lake. Very clean, large private showers, with enough hot water. Daily trash pick up. Shade on most sites. Very helpful camp ground hosts. Saw 15 turkeys at the wild like area. Would have stayed longer, but more storms promised all night rain. Will return soon.

Epic

Clean, well maintained and patrolled. This campground has a beach and has great views of the lake. There's group sites, primitive sites and sites with electric, water and sewer hook ups. There's a marina store that covers basics and the town of Council Grove is 10 minutes away.

Kansas Corps of Engineers Canning Creek Lake

This is a small park - 43 reservable sites with electric and water hookups. Most sites face the water and are shaded. They have fire pits and a covered cerment picnic table. Sites are fairly level and good size with a gravel pad. It is a very nice campground

Small, quiet COE on the lake

This was a just an overnight for us as we were traveling but really enjoyed it! Loved seeing the lake out the window in the morning. Had a covered picnic table, hook ups, shade, and fairly spaced out sites. Little town was nearby for gas and groceries. 

Great View

**General:** Canning Creek is one of six camping areas operated by the US Army Corp of Engineers on Council Grove Lake. It is spread out on the lake so that all but four sites- 24, 26, 27&amp; 28 (and the group camping areas) are directly on the water. Even though there were only a handful of people camping when we were there on a Monday in mid-April, there was an attendant on duty until 8 pm. 

  

**Site Quality/Facilities:** Most sites have generous concrete pads, some of which could easily accommodate two vehicles, a concrete picnic table (covered by a shelter), a bbq, and a lantern hook. Some sites are reservable and others are not. The rates are very reasonable, as they are for all CoE campgrounds, especially for seniors. All sites have reasonable separation between them. On the map, sites 6-23 look to be very close together but they are reasonably distanced apart. Sites 1-5 (which are not reservable) have very long pull-through drives. All sites (except the group sites) have electric and water and some have 50 amp (these are noted on the map) 

  

**Bathhouse:** Some loops have vault toilets (which were very clean), some have flush toilets, and some have flush toilet/shower combos. None have soap dispensers. We were in site 46 with access to one of the combos. I appreciated the hot water, especially since we woke to snow the next morning! Sites 1-23 have a vault toilet but there is a flush facility within reasonable walking distance. 

  

**Activities/Amenities:** Swimming, fishing, and boating in season but we were passing through, so we did not participate. Minimal playground facilities (mostly in the loop with sites 1-23) and horseshoe pits. There was a hiking trail, but I did not explore it. 

  

We always have a good experience at a CoE campground – they are well run, clean, affordable and, of course, located on or near water. My only beef is that check-in time is 6 pm, although if it is not crowded, you could check in earlier.

Photos of Canning Creek

Real photos from real campers