Santa Fe Trail

1026 Lake Rd
COUNCIL GROVE, KS 66846-9322

Overview

Santa Fe Trail 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 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

Santa Fe Trail Campground offers 35 reservable campsites, including one group camping area that can accommodate up to 75 guests. Electric hookups, flush toilets and other modern amenities are provided.

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 was 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.

Camp site features

Across 33 camp sites:

Electric hookups: 32 of 33 sites
Water hookups: 29 of 33 sites
Sewer hookups: 2 of 33 sites
Fire pit: 1 of 33 sites
Pets allowed: all 33 sites
Group sites: 1 of 33 sites
Longest RV: 102 ft
Largest party: 75 people
Power up to 50 amps
Equipment: CARAVAN/CAMPER VAN, FIFTH WHEEL, PICKUP CAMPER, POP UP, RV, Tent, Trailer

Directions

From I-70, take Highway 177 south for 30 miles. Continue west across the dam road, then right onto City Lake Road. After a mile turn right into the campground entrance.

Stay Limit

Check in from 4 PM, check out by 3 PM.

Reviews

132 reviews

5 stars

4 stars

3 stars

2 stars

Chris T

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Reviewed 10 days ago

Really great camping area. Nice place

Dean H

Loop:Sfet

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Reviewed 13 days ago

Our favorite site. Clean and quiet

Scott W

Loop:Sfet

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Reviewed 14 days ago

Clean and quiet, so peaceful

Pamela M

Loop:Sfet

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Reviewed 16 days ago

Very nice park. Clean, neat, grass was cut and trimmed. It was a very comfortable weekend.

Luther W

Loop:Sfet

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Reviewed 24 days ago

We stayed at site 21. It was on asphalt. It had a slight incline uphill. The campground is well kept. Bathhouse and restrooms were clean. The campground is really close to Council Grove. A very nice campground overall.

Kenny M

Loop:Sfet

Site:

Reviewed a month ago

Nice campground. The only negative is they need to trim trees. You have to watch for low hanging branches.

Availability

See the Camp Sites section below to find detailed booking availability.

Reserve