Outdoors
National forests, parks, lakes and recreation areas with hiking trails near Olathe, closest first.
Good to know: Carry more water than you think you need, check the managing agency’s page for trail closures and fire restrictions, and start early on hot days.
28 mi west · US Army Corps of Engineers
Located close to beautiful and historic Lawrence and the University of Kansas, the lake offers camping, boating, fishing, hunting, over 50 miles of hiking, equestrian and mountain bike trails, 18-hole golf course, model airplane airport…
28 mi west · US Army Corps of Engineers
This day-use picnic area, located just north of Clinton Lake in the hills of Kansas, is the perfect spot for a party or family gathering.
30 mi west · US Army Corps of Engineers
Bloomington East Park includes Cedar Ridge, Hickory/Walnut, and Oak Campgrounds, Ash and Elm Group Camps, and Bloomington Beach Picnic Shelters.
Map of 27 places loads as you scroll.
Located close to beautiful and historic Lawrence and the University of Kansas, the lake offers camping, boating, fishing, hunting, over 50 miles of hiking, equestrian and mountain bike trails, 18-hole golf course, model airplane airport…
This day-use picnic area, located just north of Clinton Lake in the hills of Kansas, is the perfect spot for a party or family gathering.
Bloomington East Park includes Cedar Ridge, Hickory/Walnut, and Oak Campgrounds, Ash and Elm Group Camps, and Bloomington Beach Picnic Shelters.
Rockhaven Park is located on the south side of Clinton Lake, west of the Dam on the Rock Creek Arm of the lake.
Perry Park is a recreational day use area, situated near the dam on the south end of Perry Lake.
Located conveniently near the cities of Topeka, Lawrence, and Kansas City, Perry Lake boasts a wide variety of recreational opportunities.
Slough Creek Campground is situated on Perry Lake in the lush Kansas forest. As the largest and most popular recreation area at the lake, Slough Creek is an ideal destination for family camping trips.
Within 30 minutes of downtown Kansas City, this 7,190-acre lake offers city and county operated water-related recreation facilities including a regional visitor center and an 36-hole golf course.
Longview Campground is situated on Perry Lake in the lush Kansas forest, offering peaceful, family-oriented camping. Longview offers families the chance to camp together in a group camp setting overlooking the lake.
***WATER WILL NOT BE AVAILABLE DURING THE NON-PEAK SEASON. WATER AT ALL CAMPSITES, SHOWER BUILDINGS AND DUMPSTATIONS WILL BE TURNED OFF.
Located near the Santa Fe Trail, this 4,000-acre lake features scenic beauty as well as an abundance of wildlife. From Topeka, 24 miles South on US 75, 7 miles East on KS 268.
Marais des Cygnes National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1992 primarily for the preservation and restoration of bottomland hardwood forest.
Melvern Lake is situated on the eastern edge of Kansas' Flinthills Region. It draws outdoor enthusiasts from a wide range of disciplines. Melvern Lake covers approximately 7,000 acres of water and 18,000 acres of land open for public use.
Outlet Campground is situated below the Melvern Lake Dam on the eastern edge of the Flint Hills of Kansas. Visitors enjoy the area's wide range of recreational activities, including boating, fishing, hiking and hunting.
Sightseers will enjoy the Flint Hills Wildlife Refuge. Enjoy wandering old Indian grounds.
Loess Bluffs National Wildlife Refuge is located in northwest Missouri, near Mound City.
Located adjacent to the Lake of the Ozarks, Truman features excellent fishing, a regional visitor center and powerplant exhibit area. Rugged hills, scenic bluffs, hardwood forest and prairie offer some of the best scenery in the State.
The lake was named for the nearby town of Council Grove, the birthplace of the Santa Fe Trail and a National Historic District.
Situated in the scenic Flint Hills, Tuttle Creek Lake provides 12,500 surface acres of water and 100 miles of shoreline, making it the second largest lake in Kansas.
Swan Lake National Wildlife Refuge is managed as a refuge and breeding ground for migratory birds and other wildlife.
Tallgrass prairie once covered 170 million acres of North America, but within a generation most of it had been transformed into farms, cities, and towns. Today less than 4% remains intact, mostly in the Kansas Flint Hills.
Kansas' only granite outcrop is located here, at the scene of a short-lived gold rush in 1887.
A popular lake in the scenic Missouri Ozarks.
Cool, clear spring waters make this lake the "Gem of the Ozarks."
Flowers, birds and game enhance this project in rolling prairie country. The 10,900-acre Fall River Game Management Area is located here.
The Milford Education Center and Fish Hatchery are located below the dam. From Topeka, 65 mi W on I-70, 5 mi N on US77, 2 mi W on K-57 hwy.
to Kansas' "Little Ozarks"! Located 5 miles east of Cherryvale, Kansas. Five beautiful park areas are offered by the Corps of Engineers for camping, picnicking, and other outdoor activities.
Distances are straight-line miles from downtown Olathe. Listings come from Recreation.gov’s federal recreation database; check each official page for hours, fees, fire restrictions and closures before you go.
THINGS TO DO · YOUTUBE SHORT
A local activity Short shared by Kristen.
Watch on YouTube ↗
THINGS TO DO · YOUTUBE SHORT
A local activity Short shared by Travel Cindy.
Watch on YouTube ↗Clinton Lake (US Army Corps of Engineers), about 28 miles west of Olathe as the crow flies. Next are Overlook Park (28 mi) and Bloomington East (30 mi).
Based on Olathe’s average highs, March–May, September–November. Conditions at higher elevations can be much cooler.
Federal agencies including US Army Corps of Engineers, Fish and Wildlife Service, National Park Service. Each listing links to its official page for hours, fees, closures and current conditions.