State Park

Kanopolis State Park

Ellsworth County, KansasAbout 1,643 acresEstablished 1948
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) 546-2565

Official page last checked Oct 29, 2026. How we keep this current

Overview

In Ellsworth County, about 23 miles southwest of Salina, Kanopolis State Park covers about 1,643 acres.

Things to do include horseback riding, boating, biking, wildlife watching, and fishing. Its trail network totals roughly 59 miles, according to the park. For overnight stays there are campsites (RV sites with full hookups, tent sites, primitive or hike-in sites, and equestrian camping). Roofed lodging includes cabins.

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)

Check availability and book

We link to the official booking system rather than showing live availability, which changes minute to minute.

Camping

Campground or site typeSitesHookups / featuresPrice
Campsites—Electric and Water Hookups: 54; Electric-only Hookups: 63; Full Hookups: 16—
Camping details from the park

Modern Cabins 6 Primitive Cabins 0 Primitive Campsites 200+ Designated Equestrian Campsites 41 54 Electric-only Hookups 63 Full Hookups 16

From the official park page, checked Oct 29, 2026. Site counts and prices can change; confirm when booking.

Cabins and lodging

  • Modern Cabins: 6 units

Modern Cabins Primitive Cabins

Things to do

HikingBikingWildlife viewing and birdingHorseback ridingFishingBoatingCamping

Trails

TrailLengthDifficultyNotes
Split Boulder Trail2 miEasySeason: Year AroundHikingMountain BikingRolling hills surface
Buffalo Track Canyon Nature Trail0.95 miEasy to moderateSeason: Year-roundHiking onlyTraverses a variety of terrains, the trail goes in and out of canyons surface
Alum Creek Trail8.1 mi—Season: Feb. 1st thru Oct. 31stHikingHorseback ridingMountain BikingRolling hills, 1 water crossing, some wooded surface
Prairie Trail5.9 mi—Season: Feb. 1st thru Oct. 31stHikingHorseback RidingMountain BikingRolling hills, 1 water crossing, some wooded surface
Horsethief Canyon Trail5.5 miDifficultSeason: Year RoundHikingHorseback RidingMountain BikingRugged canyons, 6 water crossings 2 of which can be deep surface
Rockin’ K4 miEasySeason: Year RoundHikingHorseback RidingMountain BikingRolling hills surface
Trail descriptions from the park

• Split Boulder Trail • Length - 2 miles • Terrain – Rolling hills • Difficulty level – Easy • Usage – Hiking, Mountain Biking • Trail Season – Year Around • Built-in part by an Eagle Scout and Team LATRR, a Mountian bike club out of Lindsborg Kansas. The Split Boulder Trail is a 2-mile beginner or training trail for mountain bikes and a walking trail. This trail showcases some unusual boulders known as concretions and many scenic views of the lake. • NOTE: if Bald Eagles are nesting the trail is closed from January 3rd to June 15th. • Buffalo Track Canyon Nature Trail • Length - .95 miles • Terrain – Traverses a variety of terrains, the trail goes in and out of canyons • Difficulty level – Easy to moderate • Usage – Hiking only • Trail Season – Year-round • Enjoy a walk on the trail to observe native plants, wildlife, and the geology of the canyon. The .95 mile (one way) trail follows Bison Creek, which once watered buffalo and the wild horses. Numbered posts along the trail correspond to numbers in the Buffalo Tracks Canyon brochure which is available at the park office, information shelters, gatehouses, and local vendors. • Alum Creek Trail • Length - 8.1 miles • Terrain – rolling hills, 1 water crossing, some wooded • Difficulty level – • Usage – Hiking, Horseback riding, Mountain Biking • Trail Season - Feb. 1st thru Oct. 31st • These two trails form an 8.1-mile loop across pastures, through canyons, trees, and creeks. There are two minor water crossings; this portion of the trails is easy to moderate in difficulty. There are two shortcuts that will make the distance of the loop 5.5 miles. Use caution when traveling this far from the trailheads; there is no short or easy way back once you get to the Alum Creek Trails. • Prairie Trail • Length - 5.9 miles • Terrain – rolling hills, 1 water crossing, some wooded • Difficulty level – • Usage – Hiking, Horseback Riding, Mountain Biking • Trail Season - Feb. 1st thru Oct. 31st • Two trails, which are referred to as the Prairie Trails, connect the Horsethief Canyon Trails to the Alum Creek Trails. These trails are easy to moderate in difficulty with one common water crossing, and a shortcut. The Prairie Trails will take you to Red Rocks Canyon, a breathtaking Kansas Canyon lined with red sandstone. • Horsethief Canyon Trail • Length - 5.5 miles • Terrain – Rugged canyons, 6 water crossings 2 of which can be deep • Difficulty level – Difficult • Usage –Hiking, Horseback Riding, Mountain Biking • Trail Season – Year Round • Two sections of the trail system referred to as the Horsethief Canyon trails, connect the Rockin' K Trails to the Prairie Trails. The orange Horsethief Canyon Trail is one of the more difficult trails in the trail system. It has three relatively easy water crossings, but the trail is narrow in spots and goes in and out of rocky canyons. The blue Horsethief Canyon Trail is short and easy but has three water crossings that can present a challenge. These crossings can be very deep. • Rockin’ K • Length- 4 miles • Terrain – Rolling hills • Difficulty level – easy • Usage – Hiking, Horseback Riding, Mountain Biking • Trail Season – Year Round • Two 2-mile sections of the trail system are called the Rockin' K Trails. These trails connect the Rockin' K Horse Campground and the Rockwall Campground to the main trail system. These are relatively easy trails.

Fishing

• Crappie • White bass • Saugeye • Channel catfish • Trout 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
  • Equestrian camping

Lodging

  • Cabins

Recreation

  • Horse trails

✓ 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

All restrooms are ADA accessible. The Wildlife Viewing Area Trail is the most accessible of the trails. Rockin’ K Horse Campground has 4 accessible campsites that are open to all campers.

Conditions change. Contact the park to confirm specific accessible features before your visit.

Getting there

Address
200 Horsetheif Rd.
Marquette, KS 67464
Nearest town
Salina — about 23 mi southwest (straight line)
Coordinates
38.6452, -97.9874
Phone
(785) 546-2565
Email
kdwp.kanopolissp@ks.gov

Google Maps directionsApple MapsOfficial park map (PDF)

Nearby state parks

Sources and freshness

“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

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