Scott State Park offers equestrian camping facilities near Garden City, Kansas. The park sits within a canyon containing a spring-fed lake, creating an unexpected contrast to the surrounding flat farmland. Located about 70 miles north of Garden City, the park maintains several campground areas with sites specifically designed to accommodate horses and trailers.
What to do
Hiking and exploring: Circle Drive campground serves as an excellent base for hiking the park's trail system. "There are lots of historic places in the park that we visited and hiking trails along with Monument Rocks just 19 miles to the East and Little Jerusalem 19 miles to the west. There is no shortage of things to do," notes Shannon G. from Circle Drive campground.
Water activities: The lake provides multiple recreation options during warmer months. "We spent the hot park of the days kayaking in the lake. The boat house rents kayaks, canoes, and paddleboats but only on weekend," explains a visitor to Circle Drive. For fishing enthusiasts, the lake offers accessible shore fishing. "The lake is small but very pretty, easy to kayak, SUP and fish," reports Nancy C.
Wildlife observation: The park and surrounding area support diverse wildlife viewing opportunities. One camper at Circle Drive campground observed: "In the area, we saw turkey, owl, lots of buzzards, geese, albino buffalo and more cows than I have seen in one place."
What campers like
Unique landscape: The park's setting distinguishes it from typical Kansas terrain. "As you approach this lake, you will think your GPS is lying to you. You are in the middle of corn fields and no lake is visible, even when you are just a mile away. The lake sits in a gorge, and you won't see it until you are right at the top of and/or descending into the gorge," explains Jason W. from Circle Drive campground.
Swimming areas: The designated swimming beach provides relief during hot weather. Shawn S. notes, "Small beach area but you can get in water anywhere. Dogs not allowed on beach anywhere. Had a great day kayaking and staying in water to keep cooled off."
Seasonal quietness: Visitor patterns follow predictable cycles at the park. "We pulled up on a Saturday afternoon and the park was packed. Thankfully we had reservations. By Sunday evening there was hardly anyone left so we felt like we had the whole park for the next couple days," reports a Circle Drive camper.
What you should know
Bathroom facilities: Bathroom availability varies by campground and season. At Elm Grove campground, one camper found: "This campground had two available bathrooms. One is a pit toilet with no lights, so bring a flashlight. The second had sinks, flush toilets, and showers, but had no main bathroom doors and completely open to the elements at the 8 foot height."
Site conditions: The terrain affects campsite quality throughout the park. "Sites are on gravel or grass and not always level for our 30' 5th wheel," reports a visitor to Circle Drive. Some areas have fire ring limitations, with Bob M. noting, "Only negative was no fire pits in this loop, but all the tent sites had fire pits. Strange."
Reservation system: During peak periods, securing a site requires planning. "RV spots fill up quickly so reserve ahead of time. Lots of walk up sites available," advises Keri F. The park maintains a self-pay station for late arrivals, with Emily G. commenting, "Love that there is a self pay station so coming in late is not a problem."
Tips for camping with families
Beach and swimming options: The swimming area provides family-friendly recreation. "Very nice park area with amazing swimming area," notes Keri F. from Lakeside Campground, adding that there's a "well painted swimming area" with a "small store for essentials and bait."
Playground facilities: Families with children can utilize dedicated play areas. "Nice state park hidden away in the middle of nowhere, great stop on the way to Colorado... nice playgrounds for kids," reports Steve W.
Wildlife viewing opportunities: The park offers accessible wildlife observation appropriate for all ages. Nancy C. shares, "In the area, we saw turkey, owl, lots of buzzards, geese, albino buffalo and more cows than I have seen in one place."
Tips from RVers
Site selection: RV campers should consider specific campground areas based on their needs. "Standard Campground in middle nowhere Kansas. We were passing through to Colorado and were also planning to see the nearby Monument Rocks and New Jerusalem Badlands SP," notes Ryan L. from Scott State Park.
Utilities and hookups: Electric and water connections are available at designated sites. "Verizon cell is available as is electricity and water. Dumping service is at the entrance," reports a Circle Drive visitor. Another camper notes, "Sites are not marked real clearly. Water not on at dump station."
Spacing considerations: RV sites vary in their proximity to neighbors. One camper observed, "Sites are a little close to each other," while another noted their site was "very private and spacious."
