This
photo was taken in the morning, shortly before we left for Oklahoma.
There
was nice shade on this site early in the day,
but
it was going to disappear by noon.
When we’re not in a terrific hurry to get anywhere, we
like nightly stops a bit off the beaten path. Since we’re usually only staying
a night or two, it’s a great way to check out different campgrounds and
locations. The facilities we like, along
with our favorite campsites, get added to our list of places we would enjoy
visiting again. Not to mention staying longer the next time.
Wilson Lake isn’t too far north of I-70 in central
Kansas. We got there by traveling on two-lane highways from Nebraska. While it
may be true in other states too, we’ve noticed that reservoirs which are Kansas
Army Corp of Engineers projects have both state parks and Corp campgrounds. Wilson
Lake has both. (3 USACE, 2 state)
We haven’t stayed in any Kansas state parks yet, but
especially while we’re traveling, the Corp campgrounds are emerging as our
favorites. Generally, Corp properties have a day use fee or camping fees. Campers usually aren’t charged the day use fee.
They also seem to be pretty consistent in keeping everything maintained. If you
qualify for one of the various passes offered by the Federal Government, you
might even get a discount. There are links to some PDF brochures at the end of
this post, including one explaining the different Federal access passes. When
looking for campsites, do a fee comparison between Corp campgrounds and nearby
state parks to determine which is the best value for you.
Just so you know, during the week there might be a day or
two when the hosts are off. This was our experience at Wilson Lake and was the
first time we encountered it. The hosts were off on Tues. and Wed. At Lucas
Park, where we stayed, they did provide envelopes for self-check in. There are
three sections in Lucas Park, and since it was mostly empty on the Tues. we
arrived, driving thru each section helped us decide on a site. Lucas wasn’t our
original destination, but there wasn’t a self-check in option at the campground
below the dam where we were planning to stay. If you’ve made a reservation
before arrival, a host’s day off probably won’t matter to you. But for us,
reservations don’t always make sense, because we need some flexibility while on
the road. The USACE and Recreation.gov websites might not inform if campground
hosts have certain days off. The only way we knew Lucas Park was USACE was by
exploring it. (Corp campgrounds will have the castle logo on the entrance
signs.) Moral of the story? Look at the map for an entire Corp project (usually
reservoirs) when making your plans. It will show you all the campgrounds which
utilize the project. Call the numbers provided for each and verify the hosts
will be there when you arrive. If not, just make sure there is a contingency
for people who want to use those sites when the hosts aren’t present.
Lucas Park is a nicely maintained campground with a
modern section (hook-ups/bathroom facility), and we would stay there again. If
our self-containment work had been completed, the undeveloped section interested
us too. Now, here’s what you need to know before visiting.
The roads and campsites are gravel. You will travel a bit from the paved highway before you reach the campground. Just follow the signs. Wilson Lake is a reservoir on the prairie grasslands of the Great Plains. There aren’t a lot of trees in the campgrounds. The sites that do have shade go fast when the weather warms up. Naturally, sites on the lake shore are popular, too. While the campgrounds are mowed, don’t expect to find fancy, civilized grass. Native just makes more sense in a place where the grass isn’t watered by man. Those natives include cockle burs (or stickers, depending on where you’re from). Take a short-cut to the bathroom? Check your shoelaces. If you get them in your socks, you’ll feel them. For those who own a dog with a long silky coat, keep your grooming tools, including scissors handy. Check their coat immediately after a potty break. Any cockle bur not removed right away will work its way to the skin eventually, not to mention creating a big knot. Regardless of breed or coat type, all dogs can get cockle burs between the pads of their feet. It’s a good idea to check feet after each trip into the grass.
While
native prairie plants might include cockle burs,
there
could also be wildflowers if you’re visiting in the spring.
We
stayed at Lucas Park during our trip home to Texas during the first week of
June.
Despite summer heat and sun, you may not be able to open
your awning. Like most of the Plains states, Kansas is windy. A few trees in Lucas
Park means there isn’t much protection from the wind. In case you do use your
awning, keep a close eye on it, especially if you don’t have an electric one
with a wind sensor. No need to let the wind spoil your fun, though. Spend a
little time studying your campsite, and you’ll have a decent idea where you
want to position things like your grill and camp chairs. The wind is often the strongest
from mid-morning to early evening, so you might find it more enjoyable to do
your outdoor activities earlier or later. Use the hottest, windiest part of the
day for napping. (That’s our preference, but then, we’re old people.) Secure
long hair and keep some lip balm handy. It’s also a good idea to protect your
skin and eyes from wind/sun burn.
Some people might find the conditions on the Plains not to
their liking. Not to worry. The USACE has 450+ projects and campgrounds in many
states. Between our trip last year, and the trip we took in May/June, we’ve
stayed at 5 different Corp campgrounds in Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas. Since
they’ve met our definition of “value” so far, it’s pretty safe to say we’ll
keep seeking Corp campgrounds during our travels.
Want to do some comparisons between Kansas state parks
and Corp facitilities? Besides camping, you’ll find the lake’s various rec.
opportunities at both sites, too.
These PDF documents can be found through the above site.
But we’ve made the links available here in case you prefer to go straight to
them.
This is the 2016 fee discount chart. Planning to travel in
2017? Check in January for updates or changes.
To make reservations at any Federal facility, go to
recreation.gov. The following link is specifically for Lucas Park.
This site also gives info about the Corp campgrounds and
making reservations through Reserve America.
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