El Dorado Lake (El Dorado State Park)
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El Dorado Lake (El Dorado State Park)
Swimming hole in El Dorado, Kansas · Lake
Swim beaches on an 8,000-acre Flint Hills lake, with nearly 1,148 campsites across four campgrounds. Vehicle permit $5/day, $25/year.
Typical season: Late spring to early autumn for swimming; trails open year round. KDWP publishes no set swim-beach season.
About El Dorado Lake (El Dorado State Park)
El Dorado Lake is a big-water Kansas swim: roughly 8,000 surface acres of reservoir with 98 miles of shoreline, in a park of about 2,000 acres ringed by 4,000 acres of wildlife area, at the edge of the Flint Hills. The designated swim beach sits in the centre of the Walnut River Campground, where the hardened, wheelchair-accessible Walnut River Trail loops through the campground and spends time at the beach — so a swim day here is an easy walk from parking, picnic shelters and campsites rather than a hike. The scale is the point. Four campgrounds hold nearly 1,148 sites, from primitive pitches to full hookups, plus ten cabins, so the lake can absorb a full summer weekend and still leave shoreline to explore. Between swims there are hiking, biking and equestrian trails and boat ramps for the 19-foot-deep lake. One current wrinkle: the East 12th Avenue bridge south of the lake is closed, so follow the signed detour via US-54 and K-177, or enter the west side via North Main Street.
Key facts
Highlights
- 8,000 acres of water with 98 miles of shoreline at the edge of the Flint Hills.
- Designated swim beach in the centre of the Walnut River Campground, on the hardened Walnut River Trail.
- Nearly 1,148 campsites and 10 cabins spread across four campgrounds.
Access & fees
Day use needs no reservation — just buy the Kansas State Park vehicle permit from the park office, a gate house, a camp host or a self-pay station. It costs $5.00 for one day or $25.00 for the annual permit, and both rise on 1 November 2026, to $7.00 and $39.00; the fee covers the vehicle, however many people are in it, and swimming is included. The daily camping permit is $12.75 per night ($17.75 from 1 November 2026), plus utility and prime-site fees where they apply.
Stay safe
- KDWP publishes no lifeguard statement for this park — supervise your own swimmers at all times.
- Follow KDWP’s water-safety guidance: wear a life jacket, and keep a designated adult watching swimmers.
- Check the current blue-green algae advisories before you swim, and stay out of discoloured or scummy water.
- Swim in the designated swim beach areas — the lake averages 19 feet deep, with submerged timber away from the beaches.
Map & location
FAQs
How much does it cost to swim at El Dorado Lake?
Swimming is included in park entry. Every vehicle needs a Kansas State Park vehicle permit: $5.00 a day or $25.00 a year — rising to $7.00 and $39.00 on 1 November 2026.
Where is the swim beach?
In the centre of the Walnut River Campground, on the hardened Walnut River Trail.
Can I camp at El Dorado Lake?
Yes — nearly 1,148 campsites across four campgrounds, plus five camping cabins and five deluxe cabins, all reservable.
Editorial review & methodology
Every listing is researched from official land-manager sources, including park, county and state pages, and each fact is re-checked against the named source before publication.
Each page shows its last-verified date, so you can see how recently the details were checked.
If you spot something out of date, corrections are welcomed via the contact page, and you can read more in how we verify.
Plan your trip: explore more lake spots, browse Kansas.
Photo: Ground-level view from the state park’s scenic overlook across El Dorado Lake, shoreline and boats, by RuralResurrection, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Sources: Kansas Department of Wildlife & Parks. Last verified: 30 October 2026.
Safety
- KDWP publishes no lifeguard statement for this park — supervise your own swimmers at all times.
- Follow KDWP’s water-safety guidance: wear a life jacket, and keep a designated adult watching swimmers.
- Check the current blue-green algae advisories before you swim, and stay out of discoloured or scummy water.
- Swim in the designated swim beach areas — the lake averages 19 feet deep, with submerged timber away from the beaches.
At a glance
FeeVehicle permit $5.00/day, $25.00/year ($7.00/$39.00 from 1 November 2026)
Nearest townEl Dorado
Best seasonLate spring to early autumn
GPS37.84722, -96.82306
Nearby spots
- Cheney State Park (Cheney Reservoir), Cheney, KS — ≈55 mi
Sources & updates
Last verified: 30 October 2026
Source: Kansas Department of Wildlife & Parks
Researched by: Swim Hole Finder team
Methodology: How we verify listings →
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