Horse camping is the perfect way to enjoy Wilson 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 camp in Kansas with your horse is easier than ever. Search horse campsites and discover top-rated spots, as reviewed by other campers.
Located right about in the heart of Kansas, approximately 60 miles west of Salina, Wilson Lake is somewhat of an anomaly among the state’s otherwise flat and featureless plains. This 9,000-acre reservoir, created by the damming of the Saline River, is surrounded by scenic cliffs and sculpted outcrops within the region’s low Smoky Hills. These hills consist of Dakota and Kiowa sandstone formations that were deposited during the Cretaceous Period. Boasting three recreation areas (Wilson Lake State Park, Minooka Park, and Lucas Park), as well as an 8,000-acre Wildlife Area, Wilson Lake offers locals and visitors ample opportunities to get outdoors for camping, hiking, biking, fishing, and wildlife watching. The year-round campgrounds at Wilson State Park feature 240 sites for tent and RV campers in two main areas: Hell Creek and Otoe. Within these areas, campsites are situated around the shores of State Park Cove and Hell Creek Cove, and many have nice views of the lake. RV campers can choose from full- or partial-hookup sites, with back-in or pull-through drives; tent campers have access to primitive sites. Most sites are open and exposed. All are equipped with picnic tables and cooking grills, and have access to water faucets, flush and vault toilets, showers, and cooking shelters. Dump stations are available in both areas. Campsite rates are $10–$24/night, plus vehicle fee; weekly and annual rates are available. The park provides two boat launches for recreational and fishing watercraft, as well as docks and a fish-cleaning station. Common catches in the lake include striped, spotted and smallmouth bass, bluegill, crappie, walleye, and catfish. Paddlers can launch kayaks, canoes and SUPs from anywhere along the shoreline. A swimming area is located in State Park Cove in the Hell Creek Area. Mountain bikers can enjoy riding on the 25-mile Switchgrass Trail, and the 1-mile, barrier-free Cedar Trail is nice nature path for the mobility impaired. Bird and wildlife watchers should be on the lookout for white-tailed deer, rabbits, quail, turkeys, and a variety of resident and migratory waterfowl, songbirds and raptors.
Hayland Farms is a picturesque 120-acre hay meadow in North Central Kansas, featuring pristine native grasslands and scattered groves of trees, along with a lush 40-acre alfalfa patch. This charming property is home to Tom and Heddy Mahoney and is conveniently located just a few minutes south of I-70.
For those seeking a tranquil escape, the camping area is nestled within a secluded grove of cedar and cottonwood trees, offering a serene retreat. The campground is equipped with a firepit, picnic tables, and a combination shower house and toilet facilities, ensuring a comfortable stay.
Hayland Farms is also a private aviation airport and is identified on aeronautical sectional charts as 87KS. If you are and aviator and would like to use the campground/runways, you must call first to make arrangements. For additional information visit (haylandfarms.com). Click on "Pilot/Runway Information".
Each fall, for one day, Hayland Farms comes alive as it hosts an aviation fly-in, a car and tractor show, and a variety of other exciting events. For more information on dates and activities, visit haylandfarms.com.
Other things to note
The Horse Shoe campsite is named for the natural horse shoe formation of cedar and cottonwood trees that encompass the commons area of the campground. This formation of trees offers exceptional protection from the sometimes windy days on the Kansas prairie. Within this area are picnic tables, firepit and a horse shoe pitching pit. The fire-pit also has an open grill attached. Firewood is provided. Tents are allowed in the commons area but campers and RV's must park along the perimeter of the tree grove due to limited access. Adjacent to the campground is a combination shower house and compost-style toilet facility with a wash sink as needed.
$35 - $40 / night
Rockin’ K is the designated campground for equestrians. Sites 1-10 are available for non-equestrians by request or reservation. Sites 1-4 are ADA accessible.
The first state park in Kansas, Kanopolis State Park is situated in the rolling hills, bluffs and woods of the scenic Smoky Hills region of the state. From the towering Dakota sandstone bluffs to the caves and crevices of Horsethief Canyon, the park and surrounding area offer rugged beauty and stunning vistas. The park is split into two areas north and south of the dam and there are two federal parks, as well.
It was beautiful at sunset, very nice campground with good hot showers.
Nice easy place to pitch a tent or hang a hammock. Primitive campground is well maintained and largely unoccupied because of the lack of hookups for RVs. Stayed on 4th of July and only one other family was in the entire campground. Close to swimming beach, but bring your own water as there is no spigot nearby. Great birds too!
BEAUTIFUL views!!! Very windy but worth it for water front. We stayed in a loop alone that could have had 3 other sites, next to beach access. Bathrooms were a bit of a walk but again, worth it!!
Thought I had seen a mirage once we pulled into the park after miles of Kansas greens and browns.
Self reg station (electronic) at the park as well as reserve early online.
We've camped at Wilson State Park three times now on eastbound road trips and I can't recommend it enough! There are sheltered sites on green lawns where tent campers can spend a quiet night. Trees provide shelter from wind and thunder storms. Depending on where you camp you can walk to swim in the reservoir. And the Switchgrass MTB is surprisingly fun! Just be careful to let it dry out before you ride since that wet sand can wreak havok on your drive train. I've only camped at Wilson on weekdays and it's never crowded.
Every spring I look forward to getting out of the city and relaxing peacefully at this beautiful Lake! I love the gorgeous sunsets, the beach area, the hiking trails, and picking guitar with my besties! There's nothing better than being submerged in mother nature and I can't think of a better place to do it!!
I grew up here, stopped going when it became a party haven filled with drama, recently gave it a second chance and could not be happier I did so. It has really been cleaned up in all aspects. I WILL RETURN 🙂
Big Bluestem Campground Site 78! Prime spot with large shade tree to block western sun. 20’ from water’s edge with path to drop kayaks in, swim or even sit lawn chairs into the water to cool off. Noted as largest saltwater and clearest lake in Kansas. 30/50A/120V and water hookups. Concrete pad. Clean showers a few hundred yards away. Trash bin in middle of loop. Marina two loops away; about 4 minute drive. Outstanding rock formations, reminds me of Utah. Water levels effect access to some formations. Great time, great weather, we’ll be back soon! T-Mobile service 1-4 bars. Streamed HotSpot for ROKU without issues.
This park is huge and it can be confusing to find your way if you haven't been here. We had a park host help us, which was great. We booked Sandstone 408 based on a review here. It did not disappoint! Right across from the lake. Large site. Everything we need. Come and enjoy!
My wife and I camped in site 093 and really enjoyed the scenery of the lake and the park itself. Great place for a weekend getaway or long fishing trip on the reservoir. All the facilities were very clean and the park was well maintained.
Perfect mix of shade and shoreline. Beautiful views. The closest restroom is 1/2 a mile away up in Buzzard Bay though. For how popular this spot is, they need to build one closer to the campground. Also wish they would make these spots reservable as they fill up very quick since they are first come first serve. Especially on weekends. Would also be great if they didn’t allow RV’s taking up space meant for primitive camping.
Stayed two nights at Wilson State Park on our way from Georgia to Alaska. We were so pleasantly surprised! Several campsites to choose from, each offering different (but equally beautiful) views & amenities. Tons of hiking and biking trails. We camped in November so some of the bathrooms were closed but there was one open bathroom facility that was drivable with hot showers. Only con was the showers were push button style so somewhat of an inconvenience. We arrived late, which was not a problem. There were no gates and we were able to check-in and pay the following day. All in all, a fantastic experience and we would definitely return!
Do yourself a favor and stay at Blue Stem primitive site 5. Beautiful view of the reservoir, and it’s on the end so you have a huge open area all to yourself. Buffalo Track Canyon Trail has gorgeous views with 2 small caves, and beautiful rock coloring. Before you head to your campsite make sure you stop off at Mushroom Rock for a photo op! The kids fishing pond is stocked with catfish, my kids loved catching something other than our usual blue Gill! The only reason I’m giving this 4 stars is because the concrete shelter is covered in offensive graffiti and there was trash all over our campsite. I got most of it picked up so hopefully others can enjoy it! Don’t forget your 7 principles of Leave No Trace!
We camped at caving banks primitive area. Easy access to the shower house, nice breeze, successful fools gold hunt. Easy walk to the beach through the cottonwood grove to cool off. Wanted to camp on the northside to hike the trails easier but the shower house was broken over there.
Spots were well spaced and organized. Some had water/electric with others being just electric. Great system for checking in after hours without a reservation. Would stay again.
Amazing primitive camping with driving access to shower in park. Beautiful lake view. We are tent campers with 2 old dogs it was perfect
Only stayed one night during our road trip. Lake was really beautiful and our campsite was in a great location. We stayed in a tent in one of the Coneflower primative spots. We had a great view, a little shade and a trail down to the lake. Bathrooms were decent, but very hot. Breeze off the lake was perfect but we had to secure the tent pretty good to keep it from blowing away.
The marina sells firewood, ice, and other goodies. Staff were all very friendly.
We will definitely come back here when we have more time!
While I read up quite a bit on traveling thru Kansas, this state park is truly better than I could imagine. Very scenic, peaceful, and plenty to do( or do nothing& enjoy the solitude). It's always hard ranking campgrounds, but this is easily a top 5 for me. We drove to nearby Minooka Park,that looks great as well. This area is great. Groceries, gas,& golf nearby. Restaurants too. If considering a visit, book it and you won't be disappointed.
We had the last spot at the end of the drive, which seemed to be a popular place for day users to park and walk the edge of the water. Several groups showed up looking to cool off and walked right by our spot. Also the area kind of smelled like dead fish. We ended up leaving because we found several tics and were worried about our dogs. It was pretty though and the weather was great. A little pricy for what it is.
stayed here for 2 nights . I have to say the views and campsites were excellent.
who knew that in the middle of Kansas there is a 9000 acre lake that is just breathtaking
I will be going back next time I go thru Kansas.
not anyone around as far as staff but well maintained .
7 miles from the Intestate so its easy to get to.
try and get the waterfront sites they are large with great views
This was our second time camping here and we loved it just as much as the first! We stayed on Wheatgrass loop site #57. The sites are huge! This back-in site was easily 50-60ft long. Water and electric hookups were conveniently located and the site was mostly level side to side. And that view! chefs kiss
Now for the downsides, and this isn’t something to fault the park for, but more of a campground etiquette thing: because this site is on the way to both the nearby beach and the trash dumpsters, other campers were constantly walking through our site. Something to be mindful of if you decide to camp on this loop, but it wouldn’t stop me from camping here. We will definitely be back!!
Good to lake to fish and camp. Well taken care of. I enjoyed my stay.
We came in the late afternoon on a Friday in October. Drove from the interstate. We saw the sign & turned. We became completely lost. I picked up a map at the office, which was closed, but it didn't help. We drove around then came back to the office. There was a conservation officer in the parking lot who saved us! There are TWO areas of this state park. We were in the Horsethief Area. Our campground was Sandstone, which is the Langley Point Area. Get out of Horsethief, turn right & cross the dam. Make the first right& we couldn't miss it!
This is a wonderful area. There are lots of campgrounds. 14 to be exact! Equestrian, primitive, walk in, water& electric. They have cabins& a marina. We were in site 408 in Sandstone- IMO the best site on this side. Great view of the lake. The sites are generous in size& clean.
Two concerns: this was a busy weekend. Every campsite was full. Aside from the conservation officer we saw on Friday afternoon, we saw NO park employees. The office remained closed on Sat. This brings me to point 2- the bathrooms/showers are typical state park, but they were DIRTY! No one cleaned them Sat. There were spiders & cobwebs everywhere. The garbage wasn't emptied, the sinks& toilets were dirty. Not good. We camped at Kanopolis State Park- Langley Point Area in a Travel Trailer
Loved this place!
What a lovely campground and state park. It’s 16 minutes off I70 and feels so remote and peaceful- no highway traffic noise. We pulled in late at night on a Monday in October after many hours in the road and were thrilled at how peaceful and clean it was. We stayed at campsite 17 right on the lake in the loop with electric and water hookups, picnic table, fire pit(but no firewood available- gotta buy it at a local fish and tackle store outside the park) No need for leveling blocks, easy to settle in and cook dinner. In the morning we hiked some of the trails and showered in the shower house. Beautiful views of the lake from the trails. We could have stayed another night and will return on another cross-country trip. Lovely!
Wilson State Park is truly a hidden gem. It is surrounded by miles of rolling farmland, so it is like an oasis when you see this beautiful lake as you enter the park. We stayed in Foxtail Loop in Site 61. It couldn't have been more perfect. We pulled-in at sunset and discovered that our site had a completely unobstructed view of the sunset over the lake. We stayed for two nights and couldn't have been happier with it. There are several hiking trails throughout the park to explore. We were surprised by the warm weather when we got there in early October 2020, it was 94 degrees! That said, we would absolutely go back and definitely recommend it.
Ranger Review: Camp Zero 10 liter cooler at Wilson Lake in Kansas Campground review-driving up to Wilson Lake you would never know you were in the middle of Kansas. There are rolling hills surrounding the lake. There is not clearly marked signs which made the area kind of confusing for us. There are so many loops with camping and 2 other parks in this same area. The lake itself is very large and lengthy. It’s beautiful-perfect for boating, fishing, or kayaking. There are not a lot of trees so the area can get pretty windy. Lots of sites face the water. Prices vary from 10-24 per night. There are also park permits and service fee you must pay. Sites range from primitive to full hook ups. Most have fire rings and picnic tables. There are plenty of trails for hiking and biking and swim beaches. The bathrooms are clean and there are showers,marinas,dump stations. Check in and out is at 2 pm. Make sure to check out the town of Lucas for all the fun art. Product Review: As a Ranger for the DRYT, I get products to test from time to time and I tested the 10 liter Camp Zero at Wilson Lake. What I love about the Camp Zero cooler is: 1: The light aluminum handle with gripping pad. Makes it easier to carry without losing grip 2: The rubber feet on the bottom makes it so it doesn’t slide around in the car or boat and get scratched or scratch up the car. 3: the molded cup holders on the top of the cooler that turns it into a much need table on the beach 4: The heavy duty rubber latches to keep the cooler latched. They are bear resistant 5: The awesome colors you can get them in I chose the bright green 10 liter cooler. The green is so fun and cheery and I know that I’ll be able to spot it where ever it is. This cooler really keeps the drinks cooler for extended periods of time. It is so heavy duty, and sturdy. The cooler is a little heavy once you put ice and drinks in it so I’ll just make my husband carry it. I’m excited to take this Camp Zero 10 liter cooler with me on all our adventures
I camped there in early October and this campground appeared to have multiple spots for campers with horses. There were numerous horse pens along with some dispersed camping area. There looked to be a trail for horse riding nearby. It was a short walk to the showers, which were nice and warm. There was only one other camper at the campground when we went.
Camping near Wilson Lake, Kansas, offers a mix of beautiful scenery and outdoor activities. Whether you're looking to pitch a tent or park your RV, there are plenty of options to enjoy the great outdoors.
Camping near Wilson Lake, Kansas, has something for everyone, from families to solo adventurers. Just remember to plan ahead and enjoy the beautiful outdoors!
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Wilson Lake?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Wilson Lake is Wilson State Park Campground with a 4.7-star rating from 27 reviews.
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Wilson Lake?
TheDyrt.com has all 7 equestrian camping locations near Wilson Lake, with real photos and reviews from campers.
