Tuttle Creek State Park
Tuttle Creek State Park in northeast Kansas is composed of five units (River Pond, Rocky Ford, Cedar Ridge, Fancy Creek and Randolph) that make up the 1,200 - acre park. Electric and water hookups, a swimming beach, boat ramps, courtesy docks, and dump stations are available. Campgrounds River Pond and Rocky Ford contain 159 water/electric campsites, 8 electric/water/sewer campsites, and 200 primitive campsites. Fancy Creek campgrounds have 24 electric-only campsites and 200 primitive campsites. Randolph Area horse campground has 20 electric-only campsites with community water hydrants scattered throughout the sites and 50 primitive campsites. Cedar Ridge has 50 primitive campsites.
Eleven cabins are offered at Tuttle Creek State Park with seven being located in the River Pond Area and four being located in the Cedar Ridge Area. Each cabin offers a full-size bed in the bedroom, a full kitchen with basic pots and pans, table service for six, a full bathroom, heating, A/C, and an outdoor area has charcoal grill, picnic table, and fire pit. Reservations can be made 364 days out of the year by contacting the park office or online through reserveamerica.com, kshuntfishcamp.com, and the new CampItKS app.
Numerous nature trails, a mountain biking trail, and a scenic equestrian trail offer explorers a variety of routes to experience the aesthetic Flint Hills environment. Scenic picnic areas, an 18-hole disc golf course, volleyball courts, horseshoe pits, and conveniently placed restrooms and shower facilities to accommodate park visitors. The state-of-the-art Fancy Creek Shooting Range is open the first and third full weekends of each month. The Luke Nihart archery range is at River Pond Area and open daylight hours. Archers provide their own equipment. The River Pond Area has a swimming beach.
Excellent channel cat and flathead fishing is available in the lake and in the river above and below the lake. Fair numbers of bass are caught near standing timber and brush piles, and saugeye can be taken off the face of the dam as well as in the river below. During the Spring there is ample opportunity to catch master angler white bass and crappie. Trout are stocked in Willow Lake during the Fall and Winter. The 12,000-acre wildlife area adjacent to the park offers excellent hunting and wildlife watching opportunities.
Contact Info During Closed Office Hours:
In the event of needing assistance with an issue when the office is closed during the week or weekend, please find a CAMPHOST in the park. Our camp-host for River Pond Area are located right by the east gatehouse as you come in by the archery range or right by the camp store. Our camp-host for the Rocky Ford area are located right across from site 119 and the trail head. Our camp-host for Cedar Ridge area are located in front of the cabins and next to the swing set. Our camp-host for Fancy Creek are located right next to the vault bathroom by Hidden Hallow Loop Campground. Our camp-host for South Randolph are located next to site 211 and across from the shower building. Our camp-host will be able to answer any of your questions or get in contact with a maintenance personal or Park Ranger to handle any issues. In the event of an emergency, call 911.
General Information:
Tuttle Creek has eleven cabins that are available for rental, click the cabin icon in the row above to view all information about them or use the link, Tuttle Cabins. To reserve any Tuttle Creek cabins or any campsites, contact the park office at 785-539-7941 or go to the to Reserve America.
Long term campsites are available in April to November in the River Pond campground and available in April to October in the Rocky Ford campground, contact the park office for more information.
Firewood and bagged ice are available at our park office and gatehouses during the week and on the weekend, it is available at our gatehouses and camp store. Both items are supplied by the Friends Group of Tuttle Creek State Park.
All visitors coming into the state park will need to obtain a daily or annual vehicle parking pass and can get these at either the park office, gatehouses, or self-pay stations. It is $5 for a day pass or $25 for an annual vehicle pass, if you have any questions about the vehicle pass call the park office at: 785-539-7941. The office hours for Tuttle Creek State Park are Monday thru Friday 8am to 4:30pm. The park office is closed on Saturday and Sunday.
Campsite Cancellation Policy:
Cancellation 15 days or more prior to arrival date results in a 100% refund minus reservation fee
Cancellation 14 to 3 days prior to arrival results in a refund minus 1 camping night and reservation fee
Cancellation less than 3 days prior to arrival results in a forfeiture of all the fees
Cancellation within minimum window of stay results in a forfeiture of all fees
Cabin Cancellation Policy:
Cancellation 30 or more days prior to arrival date results in a 100% refund minus the reservation fee
Cancellation 29 to 5 days prior to arrival results in a 100% refund minus one night rental fee and reservation fee
Cancellation 4 days or less prior to arrival date or after arrival date will result in all fees being forfeited
Friends of Tuttle Creek State Park
The Friends group is an active group of users who are dedicated to improving the park and providing additional activities at the park. The largest activity of the group is the annual hosting of OK Kids Day in August in which a variety of fun and educational events are hosted for the whole family. Additional Friends activities include Dutch oven cooking, park clean-up days, camper breakfasts, bingo and more. The group sells ice and firewood and operates a camp store to assist in funding these activities.
UPDATED NEWS: !! Attention BURN BAN lifted !! The burn ban for Tuttle Creek State Park has been lifted. We ask that you still use caution when having a campfire, as the drought conditions still exit. Your cooperation helps keep everyone safe. Thank you!
ENTANCE CLOSED: The Tuttle Creek Boulevard or Tubes entrance to the River Pond Area is temporally closed. The entrance off of Hwy 13, (East end of the dam) will be the only way to access the River Pond Area. The entrance is closed due to construction projects the Corps of Engineers are preforming on the outlet. Estimated closure time is June-Mid November.
Firewood is available to be purchased by CASH ONLY in the Rocky Ford Campground at Camp-Host Site 1, they are located directly across from the parking lot from Eagle Pass Trail. Firewood is also available at the camp store on the weekends. It is $5 for 10 pieces of wood.
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Purchase vehicle permits at self-pay station or park office which is open Monday - Friday 8 am - 4:30 PM.
For further information contact the park office at 785-539-7941, the office hours are M-F 8am-4:30pm. Contact our Facebook page Kansas Wildlife, Parks and Tourism - Tuttle creek for updated program and special event information. In the event of an emergency call 911.
Located near Manhattan in Northeast Kansas, Tuttle Creek State Park offers visitors a broad variety of outdoor recreation possibilities and plenty of room to roam. The communities of Manhattan, Wamego, Fort Riley, Olsburg, Randolph and Westmoreland offer nearby eating establishments and visitor opportunities. Tuttle Creek Reservoir, the state's second largest impoundment, offers 12,500 acres of water and approximately 100 miles of rugged, wooded shoreline to explore.
- Camping Available: Yes
- ADA Camping Available: No
- Reservable Sites: Yes
- Primitive Camping: 50
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- Electric: 20
- Camping Available: Yes
- ADA Camping Available: No
- Reservable Sites: Yes
- Primitive Camping: 200
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- Electric: 24
- Camping Available: Yes
- ADA Camping Available: Yes
- Reservable Sites: Yes
- Primitive Camping: 540
- Water, Electric: 167
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- Camping Available: Yes
- ADA Camping Available: Yes
- Reservable Sites: No
- Primitive Camping: 100
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- Trail Season: year around
- Length of Trail: 1.25 mile(s)
- Trail Activities: Walking
- There is camping located near the trail
- There is a permit required on the trail
- Location of Start: 39 14.622' N, 096 35.291 W
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- Trail Season: year around
- Length of Trail: 13 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: N39 25.537 W96 42.732'
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- Trail Season: year around
- Length of Trail: 6 mile(s)
- Trail Activities: Walking, Mt. Biking
- There is camping located near the trail
- There is a permit required on the trail
- Location of Start: N39 26.215 W96 43.948
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- Trail Season: Open all year round
- Length of Trail: 0.75 mile(s)
- Trail Activities: Walking
- There is camping located near the trail
- There is a permit required on the trail
- Location of Start: N39 16.742 W96 35.470'
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- Trail Season: year around
- Length of Trail: 0.5 mile(s)
- Trail Activities: Walking
- There is camping located near the trail
- There is a permit required on the trail
- Location of Start: N39 14.725 W96 35.303
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Important Cabin Information: Reservation Terms and Conditions, Cabin Reservation Information
Tuttle Creek State Park is pleased to offer eleven modern log sided cabins as an additional outdoor opportunity. Cheyenne, Pawnee, Kansa and Osage were built in 2004. Kiowa, Sioux and Cherokee were added in 2008. These are located in the beautiful River Pond Area. The Pottawatomie, Riley, Shawnee and Nemaha were added in 2011 and are located in the Cedar Ridge area above the marina with a spectacular view of Tuttle Creek Lake. The cabins are available year around but are closed from December 22nd to January 2nd due to not having enough staff during the winter holidays.
Enjoy the beauty of the park from the comfort of one of our cabins. Each cabin has a full kitchen with refrigerator, stove, microwave, and basic kitchen amenities. The Pawnee Cabin only offers a range top with no oven. Cabins offer a master bedroom with a full-size mattress as well as a futon, sofa and or bunkbeds in the living room. Cheyenne cabin offers bunk beds in the living area as well. Cheyenne, Kanza, and Osage cabins have a loft, which is perfect for use with a sleeping bag. Enjoy the comfort of a bathroom with shower in each cabin. Kiowa, Sioux, Cherokee, Pottawatomie, Riley, Shawnee and Nemaha are all ADA accessible. The Cheyenne, Kanza, Osage, and Pawnee will accommodate up to 4 people. The Kiowa, Sioux, Cherokee, Pottawatomie, Riley, Shawnee and Nemaha will easily accommodate up to 6 people. Cabins are air conditioned and heated, but do not have televisions, phones, or WIFI. Outside the cabins are a picnic table, fire-ring and BBQ grill.
Recreational Opportunities:
Tuttle Creek State Park has many recreational opportunities within walking distance of your cabin. You will find fantastic fishing in the River Pond for species like catfish, crappie, white bass, and saugeye. Willow Lake offers great trout fishing! A swimming beach, canoe and kayak rental, archery range, trails, laundry facility, and a concessions facility are located nearby to serve you. There is also an 18-hole frisbee/disc golf course that winds thru the park. The Wildcat marina is located in the Cedar Ridge area.
What you should bring with you:
Bedding and or sleeping bags are a must, as well as towels, dish cloths, hot pads, washcloths, soap, shampoo, food, etc. Cabins do have modern bathrooms. You will need to provide your own pillows and linens. Kitchen items provided include basic pots and pans, coffeemaker and filters, dishes, and silverware to serve six. Kitchens also include a stove or stove top, microwave, toaster, and refrigerator.
- Type of Cabin: Modern Cabin
- This facility is ADA accessible
- Location of Facility: N39 15.312 W96 34.971
- This Facility is Reservable. Check availability and reserve Cherokee Cabin
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- Type of Cabin: Modern Cabin
- Location of Facility: N39 15.266 W96 35.133
- This Facility is Reservable. Check availability and reserve Pawnee Cabin
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- Type of Cabin: Modern Cabin
- Location of Facility: N39 15.258 W96 35.165
- This Facility is Reservable. Check availability and reserve Cheyenne Cabin
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- Type of Cabin: Modern Cabin
- Location of Facility: N39 15.282 W96 35.087
- This Facility is Reservable. Check availability and reserve Osage Cabin
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- Type of Cabin: Modern Cabin
- This facility is ADA accessible
- Location of Facility: N39 16.776 W96 35.403
- This Facility is Reservable. Check availability and reserve Nemaha Cabin
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- Type of Cabin: Modern Cabin
- This facility is ADA accessible
- Location of Facility: N39 16.742 W96 35.425
- This Facility is Reservable. Check availability and reserve Riley Cabin
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- Type of Cabin: Modern Cabin
- This facility is ADA accessible
- Location of Facility: N39 16.731 W96 35.414
- This Facility is Reservable. Check availability and reserve Pottawatomie Cabin
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- Type of Cabin: Modern Cabin
- Location of Facility: N39 15.274 W96 35.114
- This Facility is Reservable. Check availability and reserve Kanza Cabin
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- Type of Cabin: Modern Cabin
- This facility is ADA accessible
- Location of Facility: N39 15.289 W96 35.053
- This Facility is Reservable. Check availability and reserve Kiowa Cabin
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- Type of Cabin: Modern Cabin
- This facility is ADA accessible
- Location of Facility: N39 15.296 W96 35.006
- This Facility is Reservable. Check availability and reserve Sioux Cabin
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This form allows you to email Tuttle Creek 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.
Fancy Creek Range and Friends of Fancy Creek Range
Demolition and construction began July 1, 2021. Range opened back up to the public June 3, 2023.
The complete renovation includes construction of concrete baffles, sidewalls and firing line covers consisting of a 14-position 100-yard rifle range, a 12-position 50-meter handgun/rifle range, and two 15-position, 15-yard handgun range.
- 12 positions on the rifle range, 4 on the 50-yard range and two 10 position pistol ranges.
It's now a state-of-the-art outdoor shooting facility that maximizes shooting opportunities while occupying a smaller footprint than traditional dirt berm ranges.
The concrete overhead baffles provide durable peace of mind, resulting in "no blue sky" from the shooting line, keeping all rounds directed downrange towards the impact berm.
The range will be open on the first and third weekend, Saturday and Sunday, of each month from 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM. The daily fee to use the range is $15. Ask the Friends Group about a lifetime or year pass to use the range.
Fancy Creek Archery Range
- The latest addition to the range has been a elevated tower and a crossbow target. Cross bows are only allowed at the one designated target. The range is located in the River Pond Area. Special rules apply and consist of:
- No broadheads allowed at the range.
- Crossbows allowed only at the designated crossbow area.
- Facility is open during daylight hours only
- All arrows must be released from the firing line
- Archers must shoot at the target which coincides with the correct yard range firing line.
- No alcohol or drug usage allowed in the archery range.
- Arrows cannot be released while anyone is down range
Kansas motor vehicle owners can buy an annual park vehicle permit as part of their vehicle registration process. The permit – called a Kansas State Parks Passport – costs $15.50. This lower-price, non-transferable permit will be available only during the vehicle registration process at a motor vehicle registration office, through the online vehicle registration site (ikan.ks.gov), or when registering by mail. Owners must request to purchase the permit; offering is not automatic. The Kansas State Parks Passport will expire when the vehicle registration expires a year later.
Kansas residents (except seniors and persons with disabilities) and owners of vehicles not registered in Kansas who buy their park vehicle permits at a KDWP office or vendor will have to pay the regular price for annual and daily permits. The regular annual park vehicle permit will cost $25.00, and the daily vehicle permit fee will be $5.00, including processing fees.
Also, residents 65 years of age or older or persons with disabilities who display a special license plate or placard issued pursuant to state law can buy a park vehicle permit directly from a KDWP office or vendor. Including processing fees, the cost will be $13.75 for annual vehicle park permits or $3.25 for regular daily permits. These lower-priced permits will not be available as part of the vehicle registration process.
Information about the Kansas State Parks Passport will be included in the registration renewal notice sent to vehicle owners each year.
Basic Rules of Play
Object of the Game
Start from the tee box and throw to get the disc in the baskets. Finish the course with the lowest score (least amount of throws per round).
Order of Play
- On the first hole, the scorecard determines the order of play.
- All other throws are made by the player furthest from the basket.
- On all other holes, driving order is determined by score. Player with the lowest score goes first, and so on.
Scoring
- Record your score on the scorecard.
- A player's score is the total of throws made for each hole plus any penalties.
Penalties
- Moving an obstacle
- Falling putt.
- Disc goes out of bounds. (the roads)
- Disc comes to rest in a tree or off the ground more than 2 meters.
- The disc is somewhere unsafe or unplayable
- The situations listed result in a onestroke penalty. Add one throw to the player's score for that round.
Remember This..
- Never throw when you might possibly hit someone.
- Do not tee off until the group of players in front of you has finished the hole and is moved off to their next tee.
- Always observe the order of play. Person furthest from the basket throws first.
- Don't walk in front of a person who is about to throw.
- Ask before you cut to an open hole in front of another group.
- Allow smaller groups to play through if the course is not crowded and t,ou are playing slowly.
- Call' Fore!" if you think your disc might be anywhere close to some one or if you lose sight of it.
- Allow those ahead of you to drive before you walk in front of them.
- Please place your trash in a trash receptacle.
- Don't bring Frisbee dogs to the disc golf course.