Four developed campgrounds are conveniently located around Kanopolis Lake. The Corps manages two of these campgrounds - Venango and Riverside. The Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism manage Horsethief and Langley state parks. A private concessionaire manages the Tower Harbor Marina.
Fees for Venango and Riverside Campgrounds (1st May - 30th September) include $24.00 electric/water, $22.00 electric, and $18.00 non-electric. There is a $18 per night utility fee at sites with electrical hook-ups from the 1st October – 30th November and 1st April - 30th April in Riverside Campground. During the months of 1st October - 30th April in Venango Campground utilities are unavailable; with primitive camping available free of charge.
The Venango campground is located on the northwest end of the dam and the facilities include: 126 camping sites (81 electric hookups with 30 having both water and electricity), boat ramp, dump station, primitive group camp area with shelter house, reservable picnic shelters, shower house, swimming beach, playgrounds, ATV area and nature trail. The Riverside campground is located on the southeast end of the dam along the Smoky Hill River and the facilities include: 25 camping sites (16 electric and 9 non-electric), dump station, shower house, playground, 9 hole disc golf course, and river access.
Campgrounds contain level campsites, picnic tables, and fire rings. Shower buildings, sanitary dump stations, playgrounds, and drinking water are located in most parks.
Entrance stations are located at most campgrounds and all campgrounds are patrolled routinely by Park Rangers.
Make a Reservation at Venango Campground
Make a Reservation at Riverside Campground
Off Season Camping
OFFSEASON VENANGO CAMPGROUND (OCTOBER 1 - APRIL 30)
Utilities will be unavailable at all campsites in the Venango campground. Primitive camping in the park will remain free and open for the public. Restrooms may be limited to vault toilets.
OFFSEASON RIVERSIDE CAMPGROUND (October 1 - April 30)
From October 1st - November 30th and April 1st - April 30th, electric sites are available on a reservation or walk in basis and require an offseason camping fee of $10/night.
From December 1st - March 31st utilities will be unavailable at all campsites in Riverside. Primitive camping in the park will remain free and open for the public. Restrooms may be limited to vault toilets.
The 3,400 acres of Kanopolis Lake provide anglers with a wide variety of fishing opportunities. The most sought after species include saugeye, white bass and channel catfish. Crappie, and Wipers, a White Bass/Striped Bass hybrid, are also caught.
White bass may be taken soon after the ice melts in the shallows near Bluff Creek. When river conditions allow, the white bass fishing during their March-April up-river spawn can be fantastic.
The best saugeye fishing occurs during their spawning period in late March/early April along the face of the dam or other rocky points. Saugeye may also be taken in the flats from Bluff Creek to Yankee Run Point as the water warms in late April and May.
Most channel cats are caught during summer nights at the upper end of the lake. Fishing just after the spring ice melt or using setlines throughout the lake are also popular techniques which can produce good results.
For the hardy angler, good ice fishing for crappie and white bass can also be found when conditions allow.
Rainbow trout are stocked yearly in the seep stream below the dam. The trout season runs from 1 Nov- 15 April and a special trout permit is required to possess trout during this time. Trout are stocked only in the seep stream by KDWPT.
KDWPT - Kansas Fishing Information
Kanopolis Lake offers hunting opportunities for a variety of game animals. Pheasant, quail, prairie chicken, whitetail deer, turkey, waterfowl, rabbit and squirrel can be found in huntable populations. Fur harvesters may also find coyote, bobcat, beaver, muskrat, mink, raccoon and opossum to pursue.
The Corps of Engineers manages approximately 11,000 acres of land open to Public Hunting. The majority of this acreage is located at the upper end of the lake along the Smoky Hill River. 4,000 thousand acres have also been licensed to the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism for management as a waterfowl refuge. Land management practices such as prescribed burning, tree and grass planting, food plot establishment and timber stand improvement are performed to enhance wildlife habitat. One of the Corps' most important wildlife management tools is the agricultural lease program. Tracts of public land are leased to farmers who incorporate specific wildlife management practices into their farming operation. Public access is available to a majority of these lands, but vehicles are restricted to existing roads. Nearly all Federally owned land is open to hunting, with the exception of the developed parks and portions of the waterfowl refuge. We encourage all hunters to visit the Project Office for further information and guidance.
All Federal and state hunting regulations are enforced. Sportsmanship and safety should be considered at all times. Kansas law requires that any hunter born after 1 July 1957 must complete a Hunter Education course before they can obtain a Kansas hunting license.
Kanopolis Lake Interactive Hunting Map
KDWP - Kansas Hunting Information
Day Use
Bald eagles, white-tailed deer, Canada geese, wild turkey, pheasant, quail, crappie, walleye, channel catfish and other wildlife can be found at Kanopolis Lake. The lake's fish and wildlife resources provide sightseers, fisherman, and hunters ample opportunities to pursue their sports.
Four parks have been developed for public recreation. Two are managed by the Corps of Engineers and two state parks are managed by Kansas Wildlife and Parks. Recreation facilities include hiking trails, an atv riding area, boat ramps, courtesy docks, campgrounds, picnic areas and playgrounds. The marina concessionaire provides a full line of marina services.