Central Kansas Mountain Bike Club (CKMBC)
Kanopolis Lake KS
photos of 02/13/2005 Ride
Home to Cowbody and Indian folklore this 24.5 mile trail system has a similarly western feel to it. Passing through sandstone bluffs, canyon ridge lines, and numerous water crossing the trails have a variety of terrain and difficulty levels. There are several areas of sand that are tough to ride, but patience and a little stamina will get you through K-Lake's extensive multiuse trail system.
Nearest towns,
Salina KS 35 miles east
McPherson 37 miles southeast
Lindsborg 20 miles east
Kanopolis Lake has
a sizeable multi-use trail system. 24.9 miles of trails pass through
sandstone rock formations, tall bluffs and rolling hills. Not all
of the 24.9 miles is exactly bike friendly, but the ones that are make
it a worthwhile destination. I have logged several miles on these
trials and with this page I will pass on some of the knowledge I have
acquired so you can make the most of your trek. Various loops and terrain
can make a ride at K-Lake anything from easy recreational riding, to an
epic adventure. The paragraphs below contain some details and information
on K-Lake's trails. I will follow up with a map marked for preferred
routes and directions on this page at a later time.
Kanopolis Lake has a Legacy Trail self guided auto tour
that will take you by 27 points of interest like Farris Caves, Mushroom
Rock Park, and Fort Harker. A museum resides in the guardhouse of
Fort Harker where Buffalo Bill Cody and Wild Bill Hickok served as scouts
in the late 1800s. Kanopolis State Wildlife and Parks have informative
brochures to guide you along this almost 80 mile tour around Kansas's
oldest man-made lake.
The Parks department also has some excellent trail maps. They have done a very good job marking the multi-use trails with yellow T posts and color coding. The maps are available at the Park Office, gate booths when open, the south shore area at the Marina, and at the biggest little store around, Venango Korner Mart on the north end of the dam. While in the Rockin' K area check out the trailhead artwork done by team LATR member Brian Holdsworth, wooden beams and cross supports joined together by a large metal dreamcatcher, very cool.
Horsethief Canyon~
There are a couple of different places to access Kanopolis Lake's trails. The most common day use area is presently Area C in Horsethief Canyon. Directly to the south of the parking lot are two trails. The right (purple) trail is Buffalo Tracks Canyon Trail, a hike only trail, 1.5 miles long and worth the time off your bike. Go exploring or take the kids they will enjoy the caves and rock bluffs. Just leave your carving tools at home there is more than enough graffiti on the rocks already. The left trail is the continuance of the Blue trail that starts a mile or so to the south. It is sandy but the quickest route into the better bike trails of Red Rock Canyon and Alum Creek. You will have to hike/bike through some of the more formidable sand and at least one water crossing. Sometimes this crossing can get a little deep. If it is more than you are prepared for you can continue along the hike trail, (off your bike) to a better crossing between two of the caves. You will have to bike/hike through some more sand after the crossing but eventually the ground firms up and some good riding is just around the corner. These trails are covered in the Epic Section at the bottom of this page.
To the East of the parking lot there is a trail heading up a short climb and into the upper canyon area. This is some fun semi technical riding but a better place to come out of the trails than to go in. Area C lacks bathroom and changing facilities you may need after an epic ride. For longer rides I generally park further south of this trailhead at Rockwall campgrounds.
Rockwall
is a nice campsite area with concrete shelter pads and tables. The Equestrian
campground, Rockin' K is just to the south of Rockwall. It has nice
shower facilities and is within easy bike distance either by road or trail.
Be courteous and keep some distance between yourself and the equestrians.
Some horses do not care for them funny colored jersey's we all like to
wear. The Blue trail crosses the entrance road to the campsite and
is a nice place to head north into Horsethief and the remainder of the
trails. You can pick up the Orange trail by following the paved
road south towards the horse park. Both routes add some miles to
the trip with some tough technicals and sand between you and miles
of trails further out. Take plenty of water and a map, if you intend
to go the entire route. Depending on water, weather, and dumb luck
it can sometimes turn into an almost epic adventure.
The Blue and Orange trails are mostly easy grassland trails with occasionally moderate hills. If you take the Blue trail north approximately 1 mile out the blue trail will fork off into two trails. Follow the green trail (right fork) at the Y across the road and north until it intersects with the orange trail. At the Orange trail, a right turn will loop you back around to the Rockin' K campgrounds on easy open field trails for an easy anaerobic work out. I avoid riding the trails around the horse park if equestrians are camping there. Follow the road a short distance around the camp area and rejoin the trails north of the bathrooms or asphalt it back your departure spot.
A left at the Y junction will take you to a wicked downhill, through a bit of sand at the mouth of the first cave. After a short hike/bike section you climb back to firmer footing through open pasture to the Canyon rim's technical section. It is semi technical with inspiring views and a few ledge hugging trails. It will take Sport class or better skills to successfully negotiate this section without walking. The end of this section brings you to another good down hill skills test and this routes first water crossing. If you are looking for a shorter ride this is a good spot to turn around and retrace your route back along the canyon.
On the return trip after you clear the canyon rim and turn south along the fence again take a right at the first junction, it will lead you out to area C's parking lot for some tough road work back to where you crossed the road earlier. You can rejoin the trails there for the dirt track back to your vehicle, or follow the road back for an asphalt workout. Approximately 3 to 5 miles depending on the route you take, easy to very technical along the rim.
Now
for the epic part...
Western Horsethief, Prairie, and Alum Trails;
If you started out in Area C you are probably just getting started. You're still fresh, but you've pushed your bike more than you have ridden it. Things are going to get better. If you started out at Rockwall and did the upper canyon loop you have done a few miles already. This sand section is a good spot to grab a bar and catch up on the water reserves.
As you round the sandy point where the Orange and Blue trails meet you will see another Y in the trail. In low water times the left fork will get you quickly across the next creek and closer to the firmer ground. If this crossing is too high take the right fork to the northwest. After a few more yards of sand this trail firms up and winds further upstream to a usually more manageable water crossing. After crossing the creek and scaling a small rock embankment, (told you it was Daniel Booning with a bike), continue following the trail northwest along the Orange trail. The trail runs along the top of one of the many ridgelines and meets up again with the Blue trail after a sweet technical descent. At the bottom of the hill, I prefer to turn right and continue on north along the base of some inspiring bluffs. A short distance later the trail crosses a dry creek and heads back to the south through a wooded section some of us call Poison Ivy alley. A twisty wooded trail ending in a technical rock canyon ascent., I generally prefer to use this same route out. The Blue trail option to the south is a shorter route with a high speed downhill. It is a good route out but between the hill and some more sand, not the most fun to climb going in. Both trails meet again at gate #1.
Gate #1 is where the biking starts to get real and the
hiking a bit less frequent. The trail to the north is the Orange
trail it follows the fence line for a bit then heads back south to a place
bikers know as "Hanson Hill". The map shows a shortcut
marked 1a, if you are in a hurry to get to the service road and Alum Creek's
trails this is a shorter, but half hiking bypass. The trail to the
south is the blue trail, a longer route, it takes you toward the lake
for some nice views and fun trails. It meets back up with the Orange
trail again at the bottom of Hanson Hill and another water crossing.
This one has concrete bags for a base as well as some brick pieces.
If the water is too murky to see through use caution rolling through this
crossing. Sticking a wheel between a couple of cement bags or hitting
a brick at slow speed can mean getting wetter than you planned.
After you negotiate the water crossing on the Orange trail you are facing
a climb I refer to as Chimney Rock climb. It got this name from
all the bricks youll see as you grind your way up this seemingly unending
climb. The Blue trail meanders south climbing the same hill a bit
at a time, looping near the lake on a fairly uneventful section of prairie
trails for those of you that just want more miles. 
The top of chimney rock climb leads you up to gate 1b. On the other side of this gate there are several trails and paths that warrant exploring if you have the time and energy. The Orange trail north has now turned into some fast double track that leads you quickly through gate #2 and onto gate #7 in the heart of Alum Creek. At gate #7 the trail turns left (west) along the fence line and meets up with the service road again near the hunters gate parking lot. I prefer to continue along the service road double track through another gate and down to the final water crossing. Just before the water crossing the Orange trail goes north into the trees. If you find yourself ready to turn back this is a good place start, catch the trails and begin your eventual return to civilization. If you are still up for more miles cross the creek and follow the double track on to the hunters gate.
The Hunters' gate, this is about as far into the backwoods trails
as you can get. This is also a good place for a pick up if you bit
off more than you can chew, and you left a friend at your vehicle you
can communicate with. I know, I know, that would require a large
amount of prior planning and we bikers are not exactly famous for prior
planning. Seriously if you would like to ride the back trails and
going through all this both ways is too much for you; this is a good spot
for a planned prior pick up. My friends and I do one-way ride throughs
quite a bit. This location always figures into the planning.
At the gate the trails continue north for a short distance and then double back along the tree line to the water crossing you just came through. At the water crossing a yellow T post marks the entrance to the Orange trail. This trail is winding, with some tight technical, a definite challenge. If you follow it all the way it will lead you through trees, pastures, bluffs and impressive table rocks. Challenging singletrack winds around and up and down ravines before meeting up with the Blue trail again at gate #2.
The route back is your choice among all
the routes described above. Depending on where you left from and
your choice of routes the ride can vary in length from15 to 20 miles.
All routes will test your skills and conditioning, some may test your
patience. Be prepared and self sufficient. There is no place
along the trails to refill water packs or re-supply so be prepared.
An Epic journey from Rockwall to the north gate and back can take between
2 and 4 hours depending on your skills and schedule.
Call or e-mail me if you are interested in a guided bike tour through the area. Call the State Park office if your group is interested in one of their very informative guided tours through the Buffalo Tracks trails T~
For more information on Kanopolis Lake visit the official website.
http://www.kdwp.state.ks.us/news/content/search?SearchText=kanopolis
If you would be interested in helping with trail maintenance or improvements
contact the park office by e-mail at, KanopolisSP@wp.state.ks.us
Presently plans are being made for trail improvements and other things to make the trails a bit more bike friendly throughout. The State department like all of us is working with a reduced budget. They have an opportunity for a nice grant that would enable them to do good things for all of us to enjoy. In order to receive this grant the Parks dept.must meet a percentage of the grant with matching funds. This can be done with money, materials, or labor. This is where you, the faithful Tracks readers/riders can be of help. By all means if you have extra money send it to them, but if you are not Bill Gates the best thing you can do is to donate your time. Any time you spend working on the trails can be used as matching funds for the grant. Contact Wendy or Rick through the State Park e-mail above to work directly with them. If you would like to combine your efforts with team LATR and other bike members contact me through the numerous feedback links throughout the site.
Enjoy the trails, ride safe! T~
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