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.
Park Office – (785) 246-3449
Email KDWPT.perrysp@KS.GOV
Regional Office – (785) 271-7346
Perry State Park Office Hours - Regular
Monday - Friday, 8:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. (NO BOAT Registrations after 3:30 pm)
All Boats New Registrations, Renewals and Transfers PLEASE READ INSTRUCTIONS BELOW - Alerts and Perry Park News Kansas Requires a bill of sale. A PRINTED copy of the appropriate bill of sale and a PRINTED PICTURE or readable etching of the HULL ID. We need this information for our files, and we cannot make copies. Boats/vessels purchased from dealers mut go to their county first and get the sales tax paid receipt. Please, boat registrations are done Monday - Friday 8:00 -3:30 Only. No boat registrations can be done on the weekend.
Regular Hours: Monday - Friday, 8:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. (NO BOAT Registrations after 3:30 pm or on the weekends)
Tune in to our updated Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/PerryStatePark for the most up to date information.
BOAT Registrations Monday - Friday 8:00 am to 3:30 pm ONLY. Please call the office ahead of time 785-246-3449 if you have questions.
BOAT REGISTRATIONS:
All Boats New Registrations, Renewals and Transfers. Kansas Requires a bill of sale. A copy of the appropriate bill of sale is on this website. We need this information for our files, and we cannot make copies. Please, boat registrations are done Monday - Friday 9:00 -3:30 Only. No boat registrations can be done on the weekend. Your registrations can be done here at Perry State Park. Monday thru Friday 9am-3:30pm. YOU must have all paperwork done ahead of time. Copies cannot be done here.
- This means you will need to provide us a copy of your bill of sale., please make your own copy to keep for yourself.
- If you bought the boat from a dealer in state or out of state, YOU MUST SETTLE YOUR SALES TAX with your County first, so you will need a copy of the sales tax receipt you receive from your county.
- You will need to provide A PRINTED picture of the HULL ID - if you can't print a picture, we can take a readable etching of the HULL ID Number that is associated with your vessel. (The Hull ID is located on the back of the transom, and it is 12 digits long)
- There is a form to fill out. This form is under -how to register your boat, "the Application for Certificate of Number Kansas Boating" open the + Registration and Renewal Forms." All new boats, out of state boats, and transfers of boats with a KA number already will need to fill out this form. It must be signed and filled out completely.
We ask that all visitors still practice social distancing. Maintain a safe space between yourself and others... Be aware of surfaces that are touched regularly, and remember they are only as clean or sanitized as the last person to use it. Wash your hands with soap and water and use alcohol base sanitizer after touching these surfaces (bathroom door handles, self-pay station, etc.)
HAVE A SAFE AND HAPPY 4TH OF JULY
NO FIREWORKS ARE ALLOWED IN PERRY STATE PARK
All Vehicles will need a permit no matter the length of stay
Online reservations for the April 1-Oct 31, 2025, Camping Season at Perry State Park are now open. CampItKS.gov or reservamerica.com, you may also call the office. Eagle Landing, Cougar Pass, Lake View and Cottonwood Bridge are the utility areas, and these sites are reservable. All primitive areas Mulberry Grove, Catfish Alley, Hideaway and Hobie Cove first come first serve no reservations.
Cancelation policy:
- All platforms. Implement a 'CHANGE FEE'. $5.00 fee. Applies to any reschedule or date change campsite/cabin reservation, and/or shortened stay. Does not apply to transfer same facility of campsite/cabin, unless a shortened stay.
- All platforms. Campsite cancellation/no show 0-2 days prior to arrival date results is no refund. Campsite cancellation 3-14 days prior to arrival date results in loss of reservation fee, 1 night stay fees, and implement a $5 cancellation fee. Campsite cancellations 15+ days prior to arrival date results in loss of reservation fee + $5 cancellation fee.
- All platforms. Cabin cancellation/no show 0-4 days prior to arrival date results is no refund. Cabin cancellation 5-29 days prior to arrival date results in loss of reservation fee, 1 night stay fees, and implement a $5 cancellation fee. Cabin cancellations 30+ days prior to arrival date results in loss of reservation fee + $5 cancellation fee.
- Reminder: Reservations are not to be sold on Buy Sell Trade or Facebook Sites
The water has been turned to all utility sites. Lake View, Eagle Landing and Wild Horse bath houses are open. Both dump stations, Entrance and Lake View now have water.
NOTICE TO HORSE CAMPERS: You must have a HORSE ON SITE TO CAMP AT WILD HORSE EQUESTRIAN CAMPGROUND and if you are wanting to reserve a site with utilities you must call the office. Currently Primitive areas at Wild Horse first come first serve. When the weather changes and there is lots of precipitation "Do not ride on the muddy trails. If you leave tracks turn back". Please do not make new trails.
Office hours are 8-4 Monday through Friday, and we can get very busy with many phone calls. So please leave a message with a phone number, if you want us to call you back during our office hours. Refer to the Perry Calendar and or the State Park Alerts for Perry State Park for any office closures for the Holidays.
Special Notes:
- Hobie Cove: Individual camp sites are established 1-30. This is to control the number of individuals camping in this particular primitive campground area. Hobie Cove has numbered posts for the thirty camp sites. Only three camp units will be permitted per camp site for a family or group. The post number indicates the middle of the site and only 3 camp units per site area. Appropriate fees will apply to each of the camp units (per tent and or camper). Hobie Cove bathhouse is closed due the integrity of the building.
- Pelican Point: Walk in camping only. Please do not drive around the barricades.
- Turkey Run: is closed due to construction.
- Hobie Cove bathhouse is closed due to building integrity.
ALL SEASONAL CAMPING SITES have been selected during the lottery held on December 2nd 2024
BOAT Registrations Monday - Friday 8:00 am to 3:30 pm ONLY Please call the office for questions or follow the link https://ksoutdoors.com/Boating/Registering-Your-Boat
HUNTING SEASON----Remember Horse Trails and Bike Trails can cross over into CORP OF ENGINEERS LAND and there might be some walk-in hunting during the various hunting seasons on their property and PERRY STATE PARK is scheduled for some special hunts in designated areas starting 9/15-12/31. Please use caution and wear brightly colored clothing (preferably ORANGE) when using all trails.
Remember - Report all Wildlife and Parks violations! Call Operation Game Thief at 1-877-426-3843.
BLUE GREEN ALGAE INFORMATION Harmful Algal Blooms | KDHE, KS
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. Permission to move the station and have the bones etc. discharge out into the lake has been granted; we know there have been many unforeseen delays in this project, and we apologize. Thanks for your patience and rest assured we are working to get the much wanted and needed facility up and running again, and we apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.
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: No
- 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 the Apache 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 Camping & Campground Reservations Online | ReserveAmerica or ksoutdoors.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
- Location of Facility: N39 08.383 W95 28.721
- This Facility is Reservable. Check availability and reserve Cottonwood Cabin
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- Type of Cabin: Modern Cabin
- This Facility is Reservable. Check availability and reserve Hazelwood Cabin
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- SHETLER 7 Perry State Park 07/03/2025
- UHCA Ultimate Horse Challenge-Tentative 08/01/2025
- ANNUAL Friends of Perry Lake Wild Horse Trails 08/30/2025
- KANSAS KAYAK ANGLERS 09/06/2025
- Bassaholics Bass Club-Tenative 09/07/2025
- Ladies Weekend Wild Horse B Ming 09/20/2025
- EAST KANSAS BASSMASTER- from 3/30 09/28/2025
- MOONLIGHT RIDE - FPLWHT 10/04/2025
- KANSAS BASS NATION YOUTH FISHING 10/04/2025
- KANSAS BUDDY BASS 10/19/2025
- Halloween at Perry State Park-Tentative 10/25/2025
- Perry State Park Free Entrance Day 10/25/2025
For a Freedom of Information Act or Kansas Open Records Act request, please go to the open records request information.
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.