Horse camping is the perfect way to enjoy Council Grove Lake. If you're an equestrian lover who prefers nature-based adventure, yet still wants comfort, this is the perfect opportunity for you. Finding a place to stay in Kansas while traveling with your horse has never been easier. You're sure to find the perfect site for your Kansas horse camping excursion.
This recreation area is part of Melvern Lake
Outlet Campground is situated below the Melvern Lake Dam on the eastern edge of the Flint Hills of Kansas. Visitors enjoy the area's wide range of recreational activities, including boating, fishing, hiking and hunting. Find a virtual tour of Melvern Lake at http://www.photographyoptions.net/images/melvern/tour.html
Melvern Lake impounds nearly 7,000 acres of water on the upper reaches of the Marais des Cygnes River Valley. Boating and swimming are popular activities on the lake. Anglers will find walleye, crappie, channel and flathead catfish, as well as black, striped, white and smallmouth bass. The 18,000 acres of land surrounding Melvern Lake provide plentiful hiking and hunting opportunities. Several trails wind around the lake, including the 4-mile Tallgrass Heritage Trail, which begins in the campground. Hunters may find deer, quail, turkeys, ducks, rabbits and squirrels throughout the area.
The Flint Hills represent America's last expanse of intact tallgrass prairie, made up of big bluestem, switchgrass and Indian grass. The rolling hills on the south side of the lake are wooded, and the campground has scattered trees and limited shade.
For local information, please call (877) 444-6777 or call (785) 549-3318 for general information.
$66 / night
This recreation area is part of Tuttle Creek Lake
$26 / night
This recreation area is part of Pomona Lake
Traveler
Beautiful well-kept park with gorgeous trails, beach, lots of shade, and quiet camping. We’ve been here three times now and just love it. Outlet park is below the dam. If you’re into fishing/boating the giant lake has a marina with everything you need to get out on the water as well as a kitchen where they serve hamburgers and other food items. The Marina is currently closed as of 8-2-24 due to weather damage but will reopen.
Guide
Stayed here for a quick overnighter off season. Looks like this is state land with designated camp sites in season. I parked. Near the boat launch and had a quiet night. There is a pit toilet close.
Traveler
There’s a sewage dump station the next camping loop over (Hickory Hollow) if you can’t stay at a space with a sewage hookup. Pull through and back in spaces, decent amount of shade at almost every spot, primitive and RV/Camper sites. There’s even a firewood crate ($7). Close to trails and we even saw 2 deer on our way to park. Gorgeous fall leaves this time of year (October). Water has a slight sulfur smell, but who’s sink in KS doesn’t.
Traveler
Beautiful campgrounds with so many activities available! The general store is super helpful, as they sell firewood and ice, and have kayak and canoe rentals. There are a few swim beaches, and plenty of sand to sit in and relax. Our actual campsite was great and came equipped with a firepit and picnic table, and we could walk to the lakeshore. We will be back!
GuideWe had a great family trip to Melvern Lake. Fishing at the Dam release was fun but pretty difficult to reel in fish. Camp was pretty quiet, and bathrooms were pretty good (toilets, showers, and sinks with warm water). The water was pretty gross for swimming and rocky. Saw deer and turkey.
Guide
Great activities to do in lake and a fun splash pad for the kids. Lots of trails and equestrian trails to hike. Fishing was fun and I believe the lake is regularly stocked. Will stay here again.
TravelerIt’s a long gravel road to get there and you’re mostly just in farmland, but there are waterfront sites and it’s flat. There’s a ground toilet you can walk to. I wouldn’t swim in or even filter the water, but makes for a pretty view.
TravelerThe spots are fairly small and close together, but the camp hosts were really nice people! we had a super pretty view near the water, pets allowed, decent price, and it was pretty quite!
ScoutSpent the weekend here and glad we had reservations prior as it was full even though it was the end of October and the weather wasn't the best. Close to Melvern and the railroad tracks so if the sound of trains all night isn't your thing, then pick somewhere else. Excellent clean restrooms and showers. Great views of the lake from many spots. Also good cell service. Only 8 miles from Lyndon where there are restaurants, gas and a dollar store although no grocery store.
GuideSites level and on the larger side. Basically the water is a large pond with a circumference road with sites off of it. Restrooms clean, virtually no road noise yet it's right near it.
ScoutClean facilities, quiet camping, great fishing lake, and nice bike paths.
Guide
Stayed here for a couple nights, its a nice campground but fairly busy with close proximity to Manhattan and Fort Riley as well as the ORV park. Predominantly RV campers and off road rigs. We were able to snag a drive up tent spot and had no neighbors which was nice and relaxing.
TravelerBeautiful as always. Loved our camp site. Shower house was cleaned regularly. Water was down a little at the beach, but didn’t stop us from enjoying it.
Traveler
Covered pavilion with a view of the lake. We happened on it thru Dyrt on our way out to Yellowstone and it fit our needs exactly. Close to I-70, but you felt away from everything. Highly recommend.
ScoutThe fivestar loop is decent for tent camping. The sites were fairly small and jammed next to each other, and half of them didn't have great tree cover, but they all have a nice firepit and picnic table. It was super duper windy off of the lake for us, so be ready for wind. Bathrooms were nice and clean and the staff were very nice.
LegendThis was one of our favorite Kansas State Parks. At the end of May, it was almost empty. We had our pick of sites. We got a prime tree shaded spot on the water. In fairness, most sites are on the water or have a water view. Spectacular sunsets.
There was only 1 small bath house open while we were there, but it was clean and the shower was hot. It was one of those push button kind that only stayed on for a min. Not a problem to just keep pushing.
We road bikes, but the cold spring winds made kayaking impossible. In the summer, I can see why this place would be a fun destination. Swimming, boating, fishing, horses, archery, wide open spaces.
The roads within the park are not the best. Also, online reservations must be made 48 hrs in advance, otherwise, its day by day.
GuideThe outlet area below Melvern Reservoir has been our favorite camp site for over 35 years. Full service campground, laundromat at each shower house, plenty of shade, and lots of fishing. My husband is known as Fred the Fisherman. The only problem is that it's very hard to get reservations, as they fill up fast. Good luck!
TravelerI slept here on my way from Denver to Washington DC in February 2021. I have a mini camper in my CRV, I pulled up at midnight, went to a spot right by the shore and saw some incredible stars. Free and easy, and a nice change from all the flat dry Kansas fields.
TravelerCedar Park offers great vehicle access, lake access, fire rings, picnic tables, and bathrooms. Area is clean and there is beach access for fishing and Kayacking.
TravelerStayed here Father’s Day weekend in 2018.
LegendWoodlands Hills campground has both primitive and electric and water sites available. Each site has a picnic table and fire ring are are nice and spacious. There are ADA sites available. This campground has water access and a beach area. I think it’s so neat how they have life jackets hanging in case you didn’t bring any. There are clean restrooms and shower house, a dump, and access to trails. There are group sites near by with extra long tables, volleyball,basketball,horseshoes,and trails.
LegendSunset Ridge is a small tenting campground along side sunset cabins. Sunset ridge is nicely shaded. Each site has a covered picnic shelter and grill. The sites are nice and spacious. The cabins to have large shelters with tables and grill. There are 5 cabins all with horse breed names and there is one that is ADA.
LegendWe really enjoyed Prairie View campground. We were in site 116, which our camper door faced a cove of the lake and the boat ramp. It was like there was no one else camping by us. We were able to launch our kayaks a few feet from our campsite which was nice. Each campsite was equipped with electric and water, a fire ring,and a picnic table. The sunsets over the water were beautiful. The restrooms and shower were ok. There was a sign that stated it was only as clean as the last person who used it. Was t to excited about that during Covid. We were able to see a few blue heron and a Golden and a bald eagle. We will definitely be back as it was very peaceful
LegendMilford lake is a large beautiful lake near Junction City Kansas. There are 8 different campgrounds around the lake,3 cabin areas, multiple marinas and day use areas and swim beaches. There is an equestrian campground with stalls and trails. We really like Prairie View with our camper door facing the lake. Loved the wild life too
Legend
Cedar point has some very spacious primitive and tent sites. There are also some with electric and water. Some of the sites in this campground have nice water views. Most have fire rings and tables. There are restrooms, bath house, trash receptacles and a dump. There is also a swim beach and a hiking trail. It’s a very pretty area and this park has wildlife to view like the large flock of turkey vultures who live in the dead trees of cedar point.
GuideThis was a beautiful clean campground with a nice lake. Only complaint is that several of the restrooms were still closed due to a flood in 2019. We were able to find a lovely primitive camp site for hammock camping!!!
TravelerMy husband and I stayed in a site with beautiful trees and sunflowers growing all around us. The monarchs must have been migrating because they were all over the trees. You can drive down to the water. We didn’t see a lot of campers but there were quite a few people fishing off the shore. Bring bug spray, as the mosquitoes and chiggers were biting! Very quiet stay for a couple nights!
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Council Grove Lake?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Council Grove Lake is Woodland Hills — Milford State Park with a 4.3-star rating from 6 reviews.
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Council Grove Lake?
TheDyrt.com has all 8 equestrian camping locations near Council Grove Lake, with real photos and reviews from campers.
