Glen Elder State Park
- Status
- Status not posted
- Entrance fee
- Statewide rule — see below
- Day-use reservations
- None mentioned
- Dogs
- Statewide rule — see below
- Camping
- YesAlso cabins
- Official site
- travelks.com(785) 545-3345
Official page last checked Oct 29, 2026. How we keep this current
Overview
In Mitchell County, about 13 miles west of Beloit, Glen Elder State Park covers about 1,789 acres.
Visitors come for archery, hunting in season, fishing, wildlife watching, and hiking. For overnight stays there are campsites (RV sites with full hookups, tent sites, and primitive or hike-in sites). There are also cabins for rent.
Pets
Pets must always be restrained by a camper, cage, hand-held leash, or tethered chain no longer than 10 feet; not allowed on swimming beaches/buoyed swim areas or in public buildings.
Statewide rule from Kansas's park system (source). This park’s page doesn’t state its own pet rules, so check for local restrictions.
Fees and passes
Per vehicle: $5 daily vehicle permit or annual Kansas State Parks Passport ($15.50 resident via vehicle registration, $25 at KDWP office); camping permit required in addition for overnight stays, prime-site fee Apr 1–Sep 30, $3 per-stay transaction fee.
Statewide fee rule from Kansas's park system; this park’s page doesn’t list its own fees.
Kansas park passes
- Daily vehicle permit — $5. Daily vehicle entry; not required at Mushroom Rock, Prairie Spirit Trail and Flint Hills Trail state parks Details
- Kansas State Parks Passport (annual vehicle permit) — $15.50 with Kansas vehicle registration renewal; $25 at a KDWP office. Entry to any Kansas state park without the $5 daily vehicle fee Details
From the Kansas state guide. Confirm which passes this park accepts.
Reservations
- Day use
- No day-use reservation requirement mentioned
- Booking system
- CampItKS (KDWP camping reservations)
We link to the official booking system rather than showing live availability, which changes minute to minute.
Camping
| Campground or site type | Sites | Hookups / features | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Campsites | — | Electric and Water Hookups: 120; Full Hookups: 0 | — |
Camping details from the park
Modern Cabins
2
Primitive Cabins
0
Primitive Campsites
195
120
Full Hookups
0
From the official park page, checked Oct 29, 2026. Site counts and prices can change; confirm when booking.
Cabins and lodging
- Modern Cabins: 2 units
Modern Cabins
Primitive Cabins
Things to do
FishingWildlife viewing and birdingHikingArcheryHuntingCamping
Trails
| Trail | Length | Difficulty | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Waconda Springs Replica Trail | 2.5 mi | Easy | WalkingNatural surface |
Trail descriptions from the park
- Waconda Springs Replica Trail
- Length – 2.5 mile(s)
- Terrain - Natural
- Difficulty level - Easy
- Usage – Walking
Fishing
- Channel catfish
- Blue catfish
- Flathead catfish
- Walleye
- White bass
- Smallmouth bass
- Largemouth bass
- Crappie
Kansas Fishing License
A state fishing license is usually required.
Amenities
Camping
- Tent camping
- RV camping
- Electric hookups
- Water hookups
- Sewer hookups
- Primitive or backcountry camping
Lodging
- Cabins
✓ listed by the park · ✕ the park says it is not available. Anything not shown here isn’t mentioned by the official source — that means unknown, not unavailable.
Accessibility
Campsites
Campsites are reservable at CampItKS
- Kanza
- Cheyenne
- Kaw
Cabins
Cabins are reservable at CampItKS
- Leotie
- Tahoe
Boat Ramps
- Kanza Boat Ramp/Dock
- Osage Boat Ramp/Dock
Other Facilities
- Osage Fish Cleaning Station
- Visitor Center
- Kanza Shower Building
- Kaw Shower Building
- All Vault Toilets
- Cheyenne Shower House
Conditions change. Contact the park to confirm specific accessible features before your visit.
Getting there
- Address
- 2131 180 Rd.
Glen Elder, KS 67446 - Nearest town
- Beloit — about 13 mi west (straight line)
- Coordinates
- 39.5136, -98.3399
- Phone
- (785) 545-3345
- kdwp.gleneldersp@ks.gov
Nearby state parks
Sources and freshness
- Kansas State Parks — park page — last checked Oct 29, 2026
- TravelKS.com (State of Kansas official tourism site, Dept. of Commerce) 'Kansas State Parks' page — 29 park page links; contacts/coordinates from KDWP's public ArcGIS 'KDWP Spatial Directory' Offices layer
- USGS PAD-US 4.1 (boundary and acreage)
“Last checked” is when our system last read the official source. No change has been detected since this page was first published. Hours, fees and rules can change without notice — confirm with the park before you go. Methodology