Perry State Park
Located between Topeka and Lawrence on the southwest shore of Perry Reservoir, 4 miles north of US-24 on K-237
Extensively forested rolling hills offer shaded camping at Perry Lake. 25 miles of horse trails and 20 miles of biking/hiking trails wind through the upland forest providing visitors a great outdoor experience. Lake Perry also offers excellent channel catfish fishing on 11,000 acres of Perry Reservoir with 160 miles of shoreline.
Hike along the lakeshore and through the woods. The nearly 11,000-acre wildlife area includes about 1,000 acres of marshes, making it a great place to watch and hunt waterfowl. Quail are usually abundant. The reservoir is known for its excellent crappie and channel catfishing. Whether you’re just camping or want to use the area as a base for fishing, hiking, hunting, or other activities, Perry offers a scenic location in the wooded region of northeast Kansas.
6-5-19: Perry State Park is closed
5-26-19: Perry State Park is closed and being evaluated. For safety concerns all traffic is prohibited from entering the park. Please do not drive around barricades.
5-24-19: The park is open but is mostly flooded and has very limited services. The office is closed. The lake is 26.12 ft. above conservation level. Several sites are available however, utility company may have to shut off all power. If this happens, there will be no bathhouse facilities or dump-stations available. If power is lost, utility sites may be used for primitive camping. Generators will be allowed park-wide. The cabins are shut-down. There are very limited day-use activities; patrons should use caution. There is no boat access.
5-23-19: The park is open but is mostly flooded and has very limited services. The office is closed. The lake is 25.21 ft. above conservation level. Several sites are available however, utility company may have to shut off all power. If this happens, there will be no bathhouse facilities or dump-stations available. If power is lost, utility sites may be used for primitive camping. Generators will be allowed park-wide. The cabins are shut-down. There are very limited day-use activities; patrons should use caution. There is no boat access.
UPDATE: 5/21/19
Lake View Shower house and the Cabins are closed until further notice, the Wild Horse Campground and the area North of the Office is without POWER. The water level has risen to a point that transformers and electrical boxes have been compromised.
Wild Horse includes the bath/shower house. The campground is still open and we will allow generators to be run. The water is still on.
Cottonwood Bridge is closed.
Perry like many other State Parks are dealing with flooding. We have NO utility sites left for Memorial Weekend and the primitive areas are going to be few; those will be first come first serve.
The boat ramps at Perry State Park are underwater and are not available for use.
DO NOT DRIVE AROUND THE BARRICADES this is for the publics safety and to protect the parks infrastructure. It is a violation of a posted noticed to drive around barricades and if you do will be cited for this violation.
The road to the Lake View Campground is closed. YOU CAN STILL ACCESS LAKE VIEW AND THE CABINS by going up and around - just follow the road to the first turn past Cougar Pass--access to the Cabins and Lake View is from the south. The Shower/Bathhouse in Eagle Landing, Lake View and Wild Horse are now open for use. Both Dump Stations have water available.
All of Catfish Alley, Mulberry Grove, Hobie Cove, Pelican Point and Hideaway are closed. We are sorry to say that until the water level goes back down to a near normal level those campgrounds will remain closed until further notice.
The Beach is closed. The Turkey run shower house is closed. You may use Lake View or Eagle Landing shower houses.
DUE to KDHE Lagoon Inspections the Fish cleaning station is still closed. We can no longer dump the fish bones etc. into the Lagoon. Accumulation of the bones, skins and other parts over the years have made the lagoon inoperable. We are waiting for permission to move the station and have the bones etc. discharge out into the lake. Unfortunately this takes time and we apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.
Regular Park Office hours: Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. - Noon (closed for lunch) and then 12:30 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. Boat Registrations are done MON - FRI from 8:00 am to 3:30 pm ONLY
Park Vehicle permits are required when entering the state park campgrounds and day use areas. No matter how long you might just be driving though the Park. All annual park permits are available at the park office. Also, be sure to inquire about the State Parks Passport at the time you register your vehicles through your County Treasurer's Office. If the office and/or gatehouse is closed, camping and vehicle fees can be paid at the self pay stations, gatehouse, and online at kshuntfishcamp.com.
The Kansas State Parks' Passport! The Kansas State Parks' Passport is available only during your Kansas motor vehicle registration process (new or renewal). It is available at a motor vehicle registration office, through the online vehicle registration site (www. kswebtags.org), or when renewing by mail. The parks' passport only costs $15.50 and is good for a full twelve months (one year) same as your vehicle registration. The passports are not transferable, they must be permanently affixed to the lower exterior corner of the driver's side of the windshield. The park passport expires the same day your vehicle registration expires. For more information, contact Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks, and Tourism, Pratt Operations Office at 620-672-5911 or call your state park office. Don't miss out on this great opportunity - Get Your Kansas State Parks' Passport!
Boat registrations are also available at the park office. In order to register a newly acquired boat, be sure to bring a proper bill of sale containing an accurate Hull Identification Number and the KA assigned number or any other state's assigned number. Another tip when purchasing a boat from an individual, be sure the person you are buying the boat from is the current registered owner in KDWPT's system. Boat Registrations are only done Monday thru Friday from 8 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Currently, a daily vehicle pass is $5.00 (Senior and disability is $3.25). Daily primitive camping is $10.00 per day per camp unit. If using a utility sites with electricity only it is $19.00 per day/utility sites with water and electricity are $21.00 -$23.00 per night. A $3.00 transaction fee will apply for all utility sites and primitive camp sites. If you arrive when the office is closed, a self-pay station is available for vehicle and camping permits. The self-pay station is located in the parking lot of the main office. 2018 Annual Vehicle permits will be available at the park office for $25.00; Kansas Only Senior and Disabled 2018 Annual Vehicle permits are $13.75. Annual camp permits are also available for $202.50 until April 1st at which time the cost for an annual camp permit will be $252.50. This is for a camp unit only, utilities and prime site rates still apply. All 2018 annual permits purchased at the park office expire December 31, 2018. The office is closed on weekends, so you are to pay for your sites at the gate house when open or the self-pay station kiosks if you are staying one night only. If you do not have a reservation and are here with your camp unit; wanting to stay multiple nights please check in with the office the next day for availability and to pay for your site.
Remember - Report all Wildlife and Parks violations! Call Operation Game Thief at 1-877-426-3843.
The cabins at Perry State Park are open year round and reservations can be made online at www.reserveamerica.com or kshuntfishcamp.com. After April 1st the price for reserving a cabin on the weekends and holidays will be $110.00 per night with a minimum stay of two nights for the Hazelwood, Stonefield and Cottonwood cabins. The Apache cabin will be $100.00 per night on the weekends and holidays with a two night minimum stay. Sunday through Thursday, the cost to reserve a cabin will be $70.00 a night, with a two night minimum stay. There is a reservation fee of $14.00. If you have not tried staying in one of Perry’s cabins, consider coming out this spring/summer.
We have installed mileage markers on the Nature Trail in the park. The trail has been cleaned up and marked so you can record your distance and time in order to track your fitness level. If you can complete one mile in 14 minutes or less without discomfort, you are achieving a good fitness level. Learn more about "What's Your Mile?" and take the Healthy Kansas pledge at www.healthykansas.org.
Wild Horse Campground Area:
ALERT: Wild Horse campground utility sites are limited to Equine campers only. You must have a horse at the site to camp.
Wild Horse Campground area is open for primitive and utility (electricity and water) use. There are 16 utility sites available to equestrian campers only. You must have a horse at the site to camp on these utility sites. We have corrals at all the utility sites. ALERT: Do not create new trails or trail heads as this causes confusion to riders and creates difficulties in mapping the trail areas. New trails can not be created without the consent and approval of the state park and the Corp of Engineers.
DESTINATION POINT ON ROCKY TOP TRAILS: There is a destination point on the Rocky Top Trails dedicated to Andy Baux. The place is called "Andy's Overlook" and is a place where trail riders can stop for a rest, enjoy a nice break with lunch and take in a view of Perry Lake. We thank Andy for recognizing this area as a serene place to rest, relax and take in the beauty of nature. Many thanks to Ed Jarvis for his work to make this destination point happen for Andy.
And as always, many thanks go out the all the volunteers of the Friends of Perry Lake Wild Horse Trails. Perry State Park is quickly becoming a premier equestrian destination.
We will keep the Port-A-Pot in the campground for patron's convenience.
Try out the new free Pocket Ranger® app to use as the Official Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks, and Tourism Guide at http://pocketranger.com/apps/ks/apps.php.
ANNOUCEMENTS:
DUE to KDHE Lagoon Inspections the Fish cleaning station is still closed. We can no longer dump the fish bones etc. into the Lagoon. Accumulation of the bones, skins and other parts over the years have made the lagoon inoperable. We are waiting for permission to move the station and have the bones etc. discharge out into the lake. Unfortunately this takes time and we apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.
Daily vehicle and camping permits can be obtained by using the self-pay station north of this office, at the Campground Entrance, at the Bike Trails and at the North Boat Ramp.
Individual camp sites with numbers have been established in Hobie Cove campground in order to control the number of individuals camping in that particular primitive campground area. Hobie Cove now has numbered posts for the thirty camp sites in the campground area. Only three camp units will be permitted per camp site for a family or group. Appropriate fees will apply to each of the camp units. A child's tent is free but will count as one of the three camp units. Each site will have one picnic table and one fire ring. Once the designated sections are filled, individuals will be directed to camp in other primitive campgrounds in the state park.
Upcoming Special Events:
LAKE LEVEL INFORMATION: The lake level at Perry Lake as of 5/21/2019. Normal lake level is 891.50 and the current lake level is 914.74. For additional and up-to-date lake information go to https://www.nwk.usace.army.mil/Locations/District-Lakes/Perry-Lake/Daily-Lake-Info-2/
For more information about Perry State Park or if you have any questions, please feel free to call the park office at 785-246-3449 or e-mail us at KDWPT.perrysp@ks.gov. Have a safe and enjoyable visit at Perry State Park.
Perry State Park was made possible by the signing of a lease agreement in 1968 between the Kansas Parks and Resources and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
Perry Reservoir was listed in the Bassmaster.com list of 100 Best Bass Lakes
- Camping Available: No
- ADA Camping Available: Yes
- Reservable Sites: No
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- Camping Available: Yes
- ADA Camping Available: Yes
- Reservable Sites: No
- Primitive Camping: 200
- Water, Electric: 102
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- Electric: 102
- Trail Season: Year-around
- Length of Trail: 25 mile(s)
- Trail Activities: Walking, Horse Riding
- There is camping located near the trail
- There is a permit required on the trail
- Location of Start: N 39° 09.036' W 095° 29.718'
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- Trail Season: Year-around
- Length of Trail: 22 mile(s)
- Trail Activities: Walking, Mt. Biking
- There is a permit required on the trail
- Location of Start: N 39° 09.454' W 095° 28.068'
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Important Cabin Information: Reservation Terms and Conditions, Cabin Reservation Information
Perry State Park now has four cabins available for reserve. Our cabins offer all the convenience of home and enjoyment of nature and lake activities. One cabin is ADA compliant. All four cabins accommodate four people 2 Adults; 2 children and are equipped with the following:
Full Size Bathroom and Shower, Full Size Bed with Dresser, Cleaning Supplies, Kitchenette, Refrigerator, Microwave, Cook Stove, Kitchen Sink, Dining Table and Four Chairs, Kitchen Utensils and Cookware, Living Quarters, Fold Out Sofa/Hide-A-Bed, Screened Glass Sliding Door, Air Conditioned, Furnace, and Outside Hydrant.
To make reservations online, please go to https://kshuntfishcamp.com
- Type of Cabin: Modern Cabin
- This facility is ADA accessible
- Location of Facility: N39 8.393 W95 28.716
- This Facility is Reservable. Check availability and reserve Apache Cabin
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- Type of Cabin: Modern Cabin
- This Facility is Reservable. Check availability and reserve Stonefield Cabin
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- Type of Cabin: Modern Cabin
- This Facility is Reservable. Check availability and reserve Hazelwood Cabin
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- Type of Cabin: Modern Cabin
- Location of Facility: N39 08.383 W95 28.721
- This Facility is Reservable. Check availability and reserve Cottonwood Cabin
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- DOUGLAS COUNTY TRAIL RIDERS 07/12/2019
- SSG MOUNTAIN BIKING 07/20/2019
- Cougar Pass Shelter 07/27/2019
- 8th Annual Perry State Park Wild Horse Trails 08/30/2019
- Catfish Chasers 09/07/2019
- BNSF Railroad 09/20/2019
- Critter Care's 24th Annual Benefit Horse Trail Ride 09/27/2019
- TRAIL NERDS ASSOCIATION 10/05/2019
- Crossroads Cowboy Church Youth Ministry Trail Ride 10/19/2019
This form allows you to email Perry State Park with any questions you might have about the State Park and its facilities. This includes season openings and closings, campsite reservations, special events, etc.
Perry Lake is in the beautiful Delaware River valley of the Glaciated Region. The rolling bluestem prairie and hillsides of oak and hickory yield a large variety of wildlife. The reservoir, meadows, old fields, and riparian woodlands, as well as the marshes and mudflats, furnish living space for additional species. Hike on the Perry Lake National Recreation Trail (30 mile loop) through the shoreline and hillside communities. Visit Perry Wildlife Area to view the shallow-water habitats of the upper reservoir. In spring and early summer, search the mudflats for shorebirds. Among the cattails and sedges of the marsh you may find nesting sedge wrens, ducks, herons, muskrats, beaver, and mink. Watch for wild turkeys, pileated woodpeckers, rose-breasted grosbeaks, and white-tailed deer in the riparian woodlands. American kestrels, eastern meadowlarks, horned larks, and coyotes can be observed in the old fields and meadows. The oak-hickory ridges attract buntings, vireos, tanagers, thrushes, and warblers. Gulls, pelicans, ducks, and flocks of snow geese are common on the open waters during the fall migration. In winter bald eagles perch in tall trees at the water's edge.