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.
COVID-19 Decisions are being made every day that effect the status of all the State Parks. Please go to the ksoutdoors.com website for the most current and updated information.
ALERT: The gates are open to Wild Horse Equestrian Campground and Day Use area. There is still construction going on, so please stay on the maintained roads. When the weather changes and there is lots of precipitation "Do not ride on the muddy trails. If you leave tracks turn back" Please call the office if you have questions or concerns.At this time, we request that you stay off the Hickory Acres Horse Trials. Please do not make new trails. The most current trail maps are located onLet's Ride-- Perry Lake Facebookunder files.
The Park is open, and all fees still apply. The restrooms are closed at this time. The Park office is closed to the Public. Park will be staffed9AM-4Pm Monday-Friday for phone callsto assist with general questions and help with purchasing of permit. Most permits can be done online. We encourage our patrons to utilize the self-pay kiosk. We ask that all visitors 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.).
Plans and preparations are in the works to get the water turned on. Due to staffing and COVID 19 we are working as hard as we can. Each campground, bath/house and the lift stations are done on an individual basis.
If needed you can call the park office 785-246-3449 and we can assist with camping and vehicle fees from the office during the staffed times. In order to abide by the social distancing --items will be exchanged through the front door or in the parking lot to help keep everyone safe. If after hours leave a message and we will return your call during staffing hours M-F 9am-4pm.
All organized events are cancelled or postponed until the end of April. Social groups of 10 or more are prohibited. We ask that all visitors 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 you hands with soap and water and use alcohol base sanitizer.
Information will be update here when there is staff available.
The Park will remain open for Day Use and Camping. Daily vehicle permits and daily camping permits can be obtained at a self-pay station. Please check Kiosk for pricing.
Most license and hunting & fishing permits can be purchased online at www.ksoutdoors.com or other vendors across the state. Please check the website for these vendors. www.kshuntfishcamp.com. You can make online reservations at reserveamerica.com or kshuntfishcamp.com. If you need assistance for Perry State Park please call the office 785-246-3449.
Boat Registrations at this time please go on-line https://ksoutdoors.com/Boating/Registering-Your-Boat
Information on this page will be updated as staff is available.
During COVID 19 Regular Park Office hours: Monday through Friday 9am. - 4:00 p.m. The office door is closed, but we will conduct business over the phone, and sell certain permits to you outside the office door. Please maintain social distance when conducting business with our staff.
The Park is open and all fees still apply.
Park Vehicle permits are required when entering the state park campgrounds and day use areas. No matter how long you are staying or might just be driving though the Park. Please call the office during the hours listed above about annual permits and stays longer than one night. The self-pay stations can be used for one day camping and vehicle fees can be paid. Please wash your hands with soap and water and use sanitizer after touching any surfaces.
Boat Registrations at this time please go on-line
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 are interested in staying more than one night. Please contact the office, if your are interested in more than one night---if it is after hours please leave a message.
Remember - Report all Wildlife and Parks violations! Call Operation Game Thief at 1-877-426-3843.
The gates are open to Wild Horse Equestrian Campground and Day Use area. There is still construction going on, so please stay on the maintained roads
When the weather changes and there is lots of precipitation "Do Not ride on the muddy trails- if you leave tracks turn back"
You must have a horse at the site to camp at this campground. We have corrals at all the utility sites. Currently the water is not on at Wild Horse. Plans are in the works to get the water turned on soon.
PLEASE 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. For an updated map of the trails go to FACEBOOK "Let's Ride--Perry Lake" under files. At this time please stay off the Hickory Acres Horse Trails. We will keep the Port-A-Pot in the campground for patron's convenience.
Upcoming Special Events: NONE All organized events are cancelled or postponed until the end of April. Social groups of 10 or more are prohibited. We ask that all visitors 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 you hands with soap and water and use alcohol base sanitizer.
LAKE LEVEL INFORMATION: The lake level at Perry Lake as of 3/18/2020. Normal lake level is 891.50 and the current lake level is 895.19. 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/
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.
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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- CATFISH CHASERS 04/04/2020
- EAST KANSAS BASSMASTERS 05/16/2020
- FRIENDS OF PERRY LAKE WILD HORSE TRAILS 06/06/2020
- MUDDY WATERS HUNTING AND FISHING ADVENTURES 06/13/2020
- KANSAS CRAPPIE TRAIL 06/13/2020
- CRITTER CARE 25TH ANNUAL BENEFIT HORSE TRAIL RIDE 09/25/2020
- BNSF Railroad 09/25/2020
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.