Tent campsites near Olsburg, Kansas offer primitive lakeside camping with varying levels of accessibility. Pottawatomie County State Lake #2 sits at approximately 1,300 feet elevation, with camping areas scattered along the shoreline beneath deciduous trees common to the region's rolling Flint Hills terrain. Nighttime temperatures can drop significantly even in summer, with spring and fall bringing occasional severe weather that campers should monitor.
What to do
Kayaking access points: At Walnut Grove — Milford State Park, campers can launch directly from shoreline sites. "Beautiful spot. Trees for hammocks. Access to the water. Safe cove of water away from boats," notes Carter W.
Fishing opportunities: The coves at Pottawatomie County State Lake #2 attract local anglers year-round. One camper observed "jumping fish and just a few local fisherman visible in various spots" during a September visit. Joe L. reported "Great fishing. Was the only one camping but had some beaver neighbors catching fish all night."
Trail exploration: Walnut Grove features 2.1 miles of trails accessible from the campground. Joe L. mentioned that while Pottawatomie County State Lake #2 lacks formal hiking trails, "a jog around the lake was pleasant." Shea B. noted "There's also a few trails around the lake that were nice to run on with the pups!"
What campers like
Weeknight solitude: Sunday through Thursday typically offers the most peaceful experience at tent sites. One visitor to Pottawatomie County State Lake #2 shared, "We arrived at around 5 on a Sunday and had a hard time finding a spot but by around 6pm all the locals were leaving and we ended up being the only people there by sunset."
Wildlife viewing: Cedar Point — Milford State Park offers opportunities to observe local wildlife. "Wildlife heard all around," reported Joe L. at Pottawatomie. Cori R. added their experience: "We saw a beautiful owl that flew between the trees."
Sunrise views: Morning light reflecting on the lakes creates memorable moments. "Beautiful sunrise on the lake," shared Joe L. about his stay at Pottawatomie County State Lake #2. Chuck Y. similarly described the experience as "morning sunrise was perfect over the water."
What you should know
Road conditions: Access to Shawnee State Fishing Lake and other primitive sites can become challenging after rain. Hanna W. noted Pottawatomie has "Dirt road access... Pretty rough access road. Gravel + washout + steep hill down to lake level."
Site identification: Primitive sites are typically marked by existing fire rings rather than numbered posts. Sue V. describes Shawnee State Fishing Lake as having "camping spots on the east side of lake, identified by fire rings scattered here and there."
Facility limitations: Not all campgrounds maintain restrooms consistently. Tara I. observed at Pottawatomie County State Lake #2 that "The toilets weren't the cleanest but it was nice to have them." Kevin noted in July 2022 that the site was "No longer picking up trash."
Tips for camping with families
Best campsites for kids: North Overlook Park provides amenities specifically for children. "Its a nice quiet place for a picnic with a decent playground for the kids to play," reports Alyn M.
Tent site selection: Some areas have challenging terrain for tent setup. At Cedar Point campground, Leigh M. cautions it's "not a lake for tent camping. Unless you like sleeping at an angle."
Weather monitoring: Summer storms can develop quickly in this region. Kaitlin M. noted that at Cedar Point, "The state parks weather alerts could be followed online easily and there are tornado sirens in the park with shelters nearby."
Tips from RVers
RV accessibility: Walnut Grove Campground accommodates larger vehicles despite being primarily primitive. Timothy P. shared, "primitive site was a bit tight to pull a 36' fifth wheel into, but it's what we signed up for in a pinch."
Leveling challenges: Many lakeside sites require careful positioning for RVs. At Pottawatomie County State Lake #2, one camper found "nice level sites" while another noted the site was "not very level but good enough."
Overnight stopover options: Several campsites serve as convenient rest stops for cross-country travel. Kai W. reported that Pottawatomie County State Lake #2 was "Not a huge detour from I-70 (maybe 20-30 minutes total)" making it ideal for those "just need[ing] a peaceful place to tent camp."
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