Did You Know El Dorado State Park is the Largest State Park in Kansas? (2024)

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618 NE Bluestem Rd. El Dorado, KS 67042

El Dorado State Park is the largest state park in Kansas and is located on the western edge of the scenic Flint Hills. The park sprawls across 4,500 acres along the eastern and western shores of El Dorado Lake. Seven trails offer outdoor adventure for hikers, bikers, and horse riders of all skill levels.

The 4,000-acre wildlife area along the shores of the upper end of the lake is popular for hunting. The park features a large ADA archery range, as well as an impressive amphitheater and stage specially designed for special events and concerts.

Great For:

  • Camping
  • Archery
  • Fishing
  • Boating
  • Hiking
  • Biking
  • Horseback riding
  • Shooting range

Did You Know El Dorado State Park is the Largest State Park in Kansas? (2)

  • Did You Know El Dorado State Park is the Largest State Park in Kansas? (3)*click to enlarge
    618 NE Bluestem Rd. El Dorado, KS 67042

    • Cross Country Course
      • Length - 1 mile
      • Usage – Hiking
      • A meandering trail in the Flint Hills, used for cross country and walk/run competitions.
    • Tallgrass Prairie Trail
      • Length - .5 miles
      • Terrain - Paved
      • Difficulty level – Easy
      • Usage – Hiking
      • ADA ACCESSIBLE
      • A scenic trail displaying the wildflowers of the Flint Hills.
    • Walnut Ridge Trail
      • Length - .57miles
      • Terrain - Natural
      • Difficulty level – Easy
      • Usage – Hiking, Biking
      • A scenic trail accessed from the campground that follows the Walnut River
    • Teter Nature Trail
      • Length - .82miles
      • Terrain - Natural
      • Difficulty level – Moderate
      • Usage – Hiking
      • A diverse nature trail winding through the Flint Hills down into a bottomland hardwood forest and a small stand of Paw Paw trees.
    • Walnut River Trail
      • Length - 2.5miles
      • Terrain - Semi hardened
      • Difficulty level – Moderate
      • Usage – Hiking, Mountain Biking
    • Boulder Bluff Horse Trail
      • Length - 15.55 miles
      • Terrain - Natural
      • Difficulty level – Moderate
      • Attributes: Camping, Correls/Pens
      • Usage – Biking, Hiking, Horseback Riding
      • The trail is a scenic stroll through the Flint Hills along the shoreline of El Dorado Lake. An equestrian campground is available in Boulder Bluff Area 1.
    • Double Black Diamond Trail
      • Length - 2 miles
      • Terrain - Natural
      • Difficulty level – Difficult
      • Usage – Walking; Mountain Biking
      • A challenging bike trail through the timber of the Walnut River

    Tall Grass Park

    • 1001 Turkey Creek Dr
    • (620) 245-2565

    Nestled in the Turkey Creek housing subdivision, Tall Grass Park offers a neighborhood park featuring toddler-age playgrounds, a gazebo and a 1/10 mile walking track. Local families and their visitors benefit from the secure area surrounded by beautiful flowers and tall grasses.

  • Modern Cabins
    10
    Primitive Cabins
    0
    Primitive Campsites
    589
    Electric and Water Hookups
    307
    Full Hookups
    165
    Did You Know El Dorado State Park is the Largest State Park in Kansas? (5)

      Exploring one of the 28 Kansas State Parks provides visitors an opportunity to see the natural beauty of this amazing state. The state parks system includes a rail trail, historic structures and events.

      • Pileated woodpeckers
      • Scissor-tailed flycatcher
      • Barred owls
      • White-tailed deer
      • Turkeys
      • Western kingbirds
      • Great-crested flycatchers
      • Quail
      • Crappie
      • Smallmouth bass
      • White bass
      • Wipers
      • Blue catfish
      • Channel catfish
    • Trails

      • Tallgrass Prairie Trail
        • Length - .5 miles
        • Terrain - Paved
        • Difficulty level – Easy

      Facilities

      • ADA Archery Range
    • El Dorado Mural

      PIE Powell City Pride Project Fund completes the first mural. Partners In Education Foundation, Inc. (PIE) is proud to announce the…

      El Dorado Disc Golf Course

      18-hole amateur and championship level disc golf course. Offers activity and fun for the entire family and enthusiasts alike.

      Kansas Oil Museum

      The Kansas Oil Museum is the one of the largest museums in the state with a focus on the history of America's early 20th-century oil…

      Historic El Dorado Missouri Pacific Railroad Depot

      This historic building was renovated through the efforts of community volunteers and placed on the National Register of Historic Places in…

      El Dorado Civic Center

      Houses a large open hall for weddings, dances, retreats or conventions. A kitchen is located off the main hall. There are also three smaller…

      Coutts Museum of Art

      Step into a world of artistic wonder at the Coutts Museum of Art, a cultural gem established in 1970. Embark on a captivating journey…

      El Dorado Historic District

      The Historic District of El Dorado provides us with “A significant way of preserving our history as we move towards the future.” El Dorado…

    • El Dorado State Park FAQs

      Do I need a permit to visit El Dorado State Park?

      You’ll need to purchase aVehicle Permit for daily visits or have a valid State Park Passport.

      A Camping permit is required for overnight stays. 14-Day, Seasonal, and Annual Camping Passes are also available online as well as at the State Park Offices.

      El Dorado Park Office - (316) 321-7180

      Park Permits

      Where can I buy the permits needed to get into El Dorado State Park?

      Vehicle permits, camping, and utility permits are required year-round and are available online,from the office, or self-pay station.

      El Dorado State Park Office - (316) 321-7180

      Purchase Permits

      Do you have to pay to get into El Dorado State Park?

      Yes, El Dorado State Park requires a permit for park usage and overnight stays. For more information on State Park fees, please click here.

      El Dorado Park Office - (316) 321-7180

      Park Fees

      Are dogs allowed at El Dorado State Park?

      Yes, all pets must always be restrained by a camper, cage, hand-held leash, or tethered chain no longer than 10 feet. They are not allowed on swimming beaches or swimming areas that are delineated by buoys or other markers or in public buildings or structures. Dogs participating in authorized activities or assisting the visually or hearing impaired are not subject to these restrictions.

      Park Rules

      Can I fish at El Dorado State Park?

      Yes, fishing is permitted at El Dorado State Park.Questions pertaining to fishing should be directed to the El Dorado Park Office - (316) 321-7180.

      Fishing License

      Can I hunt at El Dorado State Park?

      Questions pertaining to hunting and the wildlife area should be directed to the El Dorado Park Office - (316) 321-7180

      Hunting License

      Can I fly a drone at El Dorado State Park?

      Drone flying is only permitted in some designated areas at some State Parks. Please contact theEl Dorado Park Office at (316) 321-7180for more information on whether or not drone flying is permissible.

      More About Drones

    • El Dorado State Park Photos

      About Kansas State Parks

      Did You Know El Dorado State Park is the Largest State Park in Kansas? (15)

      Learn More About Kansas State Parks

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      Sand Hills

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      Historic Lake Scott

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      Cross Timbers

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      Did You Know El Dorado State Park is the Largest State Park in Kansas? (2024)

      FAQs

      Did You Know El Dorado State Park is the Largest State Park in Kansas? ›

      El Dorado State Park is a state park in Butler County, Kansas, United States, located just north of El Dorado. The largest of Kansas' state parks, El Dorado is nestled in the scenic Flint Hills and sprawls across 4,000 acres (16 km2) along the eastern and western shores of El Dorado Reservoir.

      What is the largest state park in Kansas? ›

      Camping and Picnicking

      All these parks are administered by the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks. In fact, El Dorado State Park is the largest state park in Kansas. These parks offer the full array of amenities including an equestrian campground, a large amphitheater, and cabins.

      What is the largest state park in the United States? ›

      1. Adirondack Park, New York. Adirondack Park is the largest park in the continental U.S. and all 50 states, boasting around 6 million acres of land. Located only hours from NYC, Adirondack is also the largest protected land in the continental states, helping to preserve mountain and forest wildlife in New York.

      What are some fun facts about El Dorado Kansas? ›

      Fun Facts of El Dorado

      El Dorado was platted in 1868 and incorporated September 12, 1871. Following the Civil War, El Dorado established itself as the county seat and grew to a city of nearly 3,500 by 1900. Fact #2: William Allen White lived most of his childhood in El Dorado near Central and Vine.

      How big is El Dorado Lake in Kansas? ›

      About the Lake

      The lake consists of approximately 8,000 surface acres of water, 4,500 acres of park lands and 3500 acres of wildlife area. Management of the reservoir resources has been granted to the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks.

      What is the biggest park in Kansas City? ›

      DESCRIPTION: At 1,805 acres, Swope Park is the crown jewel of the Kansas City, MO, park system. As Kansas City's largest park, and one of the largest urban parks in the United States, Swope Park is home to many of Kansas City's finest attractions.

      What is the biggest state? ›

      Although its 50 states vary widely in size, one is by far the biggest: Alaska. At 665,384 square miles (1,723,337 square km), it is more than double the size of the second largest state, Texas, and more than 400 times the size of the smallest, Rhode Island.

      What is America's largest park? ›

      Look to Alaska

      Wrangell-St. Elias National Park & Preserve may be the largest national park in the U.S., but some of its neighbors aren't too far behind. In fact, seven of the 10 biggest national parks can be found in Alaska.

      What is the biggest park in the world? ›

      North America's largest national park: Sprawling across nearly half of the world's largest island, Northeast Greenland National Park is also the single largest national park and biggest land-based protected area on the planet.

      What is the largest city park in America? ›

      Chugach State Park – Anchorage, Alaska

      Spanning 495,199 acres, this park is not just the largest urban park in the United States, it is the largest in the world! Known as a day trekker's paradise, Chugach State Park has over 280 miles of maintained trails for hiking and biking.

      Why is El Dorado so famous? ›

      The legend of El Dorado is popular folklore, and even ensnared Sir Walter Raleigh. The lust for gold spans all eras, races, and nationalities. To possess any amount of gold seems to ignite an insatiable desire to obtain more. Through the centuries, this passion gave rise to the enduring tale of a city of gold.

      What is a fact about El Dorado? ›

      Originally, El Hombre Dorado ("The Golden Man") or El Rey Dorado ("The Golden King"), was the term used by the Spanish in the 16th century to describe a mythical tribal chief (zipa) or king of the Muisca people, an indigenous people of the Altiplano Cundiboyacense of Colombia, who as an initiation rite, covered himself ...

      What is Dorado known for? ›

      Discover luxury resorts, immaculate golf courses, and golden beaches in this upscale city on Puerto Rico's northern coast. With a name that literally means “golden,” it's appropriate that Dorado is one of the most luxurious destinations in Puerto Rico.

      Can you swim in El Dorado Lake, Kansas? ›

      This is a lovely place to go boating, jet skiing, camping, fishing, walking/hiking, swimming, etc. There is an off-leash area for dogs to run and play up by the dam.

      What is the largest lake in the state of Kansas? ›

      The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Kansas City District welcomes you to Milford Lake. Milford Lake has 15,700 surface acres of water and 163 miles of shoreline, making it the largest in Kansas.

      How large is El Dorado Park? ›

      El Dorado State Park
      Area4,500 acres (18 km2)
      Elevation1,352 ft (412 m)
      Established1981 (Reservoir)
      Visitors1,615,212 (in 2022)
      5 more rows

      How many state parks does Kansas have? ›

      Twenty-eight state parks invite you to explore Kansas outdoors.

      What is the smallest park in Kansas? ›

      Mushroom Rock is Kansas's smallest state park; as well as being "one of the 8 wonders of Kansas Geography." Mushroom Rock State Park is managed by Kanopolis State Park, under regulation of Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism.

      How big is Shawnee State Park? ›

      Shawnee State Park is 3,983 acres of Pennsylvania's scenic Ridge and Valley Province.

      What is the first state park in Kansas? ›

      Kanopolis State Park started it all. The first Kansas state park has drawn visitors to eastern Ellsworth County since 1955. Situated in the rolling hills, bluffs and woods of the scenic Smoky Hills region of Kansas, Kanopolis is located 33 miles southwest of Salina.

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