El Dorado State Park
Rate this placeNearby: North Main Park Gordy Park
Last Updated: December 5, 2025
El Dorado State Park is located in the state of Kansas and is a popular destination for outdoor enthusiasts.
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Summary
The park covers over 4,000 acres and has a variety of activities to offer visitors. Some good reasons to visit El Dorado State Park include camping, hiking, fishing, boating, and swimming.
The park has several points of interest to see, including the Walnut River, which runs through the park and provides excellent fishing opportunities. Visitors can also explore the Prairie Trail, a scenic hiking trail that winds through the park's tallgrass prairie.
One interesting fact about El Dorado State Park is that it was once home to a Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) camp during the Great Depression. The CCC was a New Deal program that provided jobs for young men working on public projects, including state parks.
The best time of year to visit El Dorado State Park is during the summer months when the weather is warm and the park is bustling with activity. However, the park is open year-round, and visitors can enjoy a variety of winter activities such as cross-country skiing and ice fishing.
Overall, El Dorado State Park is a great destination for anyone looking to explore the outdoors and experience the natural beauty of Kansas.
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Park & Land Designation Reference
Large protected natural areas managed by the federal government to preserve significant landscapes, ecosystems, and cultural resources; recreation is allowed but conservation is the priority.
State Park
Public natural or recreational areas managed by a state government, typically smaller than national parks and focused on regional natural features, recreation, and education.
Local Park
Community-level parks managed by cities or counties, emphasizing recreation, playgrounds, sports, and green space close to populated areas.
Wilderness Area
The highest level of land protection in the U.S.; designated areas where nature is left essentially untouched, with no roads, structures, or motorized access permitted.
National Recreation Area
Areas set aside primarily for outdoor recreation (boating, hiking, fishing), often around reservoirs, rivers, or scenic landscapes; may allow more development.
National Conservation Area (BLM)
BLM-managed areas with special ecological, cultural, or scientific value; more protection than typical BLM land but less strict than Wilderness Areas.
State Forest
State-managed forests focused on habitat, watershed, recreation, and sustainable timber harvest.
National Forest
Federally managed lands focused on multiple use—recreation, wildlife habitat, watershed protection, and resource extraction (like timber)—unlike the stricter protections of national parks.
Wilderness
A protected area set aside to conserve specific resources—such as wildlife, habitats, or scientific features—with regulations varying widely depending on the managing agency and purpose.
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Land
Vast federal lands managed for mixed use—recreation, grazing, mining, conservation—with fewer restrictions than national parks or forests.
Related References
North Main Park
Gordy Park
Knutson Park