Managed by the US Army Corps of Engineers within Council Grove Lake, North Richey Cove runs two loops with roughly 12 sites, each equipped with a tent pad, covered picnic table, and either a fire ring or elevated grill. Vault toilets are on-site. Showers are available at the adjacent Richey Cove campground, and a boat ramp sits at the entrance. Sites are close to the water. Reviewers note the access road is rough, so low-clearance vehicles should plan accordingly. Water hookups are available, and the campground allows pets, campfires, and alcohol. At $10 a night and among the least-visited spots on the lake, it draws less traffic than nearby alternatives, making it a reasonable choice for dog-friendly camping near Council Grove Lake.
Description
Overview
North Richey Cove Campground 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 a boat ramp is 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 lands surrounding the lake. Hiking trails wind along the lake shore 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.
Facilities
North Richey Cove Campground offers 8 reservable campsites. The campground has plenty of shade, along with open grassy areas for games and recreation.
Natural Features
Council Grove Lake sits in the rolling, grassy Flint Hills. The lake is 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.
Map & DirectionsNorth Richey Cove is located in Kansas near Council Grove
Directions
From I-70, take Highway 177 south for 30 miles. Richey Cove entrance is located on the west side of the highway at the dam road.
Coordinates
38.707211 N
96.497767 W
Connectivity
T-Mobile5GExcellent Coverage- Verizon5GExcellent Coverage
AT&TLTESome Coverage
Connectivity
- T-Mobile5GExcellent Coverage
- Verizon5GExcellent Coverage
- AT&TLTESome Coverage
Access
- Drive-InPark next to your site
- Hike-InBackcountry sites.
- Boat-InSites accessible by watercraft.
Site Types
- Tent Sites
- RV Sites
Features
For Campers
- Trash
- Phone Service
- Toilets
- Alcohol
- Pets
- Fires
For Vehicles
- Water Hookups
Drive Time
- 36 min from Manhattan, KS
- 54 min from Topeka, KS
- 1 hr 12 min from Lawrence, KS
- 1 hr 38 min from Wichita, KS
