Update: 06/08/03
We just got back from a wonderful weekend at this park with some great friends. These friends are very familar with the trail system at Kanopolis so we were treated to a tour of Horse Thief Canyon which was just beautiful. The trails over there are sandy and somewhat challenging. I quickly learned I should have tacked up with a breast collar. We rode up and down the canyon, crossed a creek a few times and rode over to the gate which leads onto the Federal Land, there are about 20 more miles of trails over there (this area is closed during hunting season). Time was short though so we just explored the canyon and surrounding trails. There was plenty of shade once we got out of the canyon, then we climbed up some sandstone trails wound around through a huge pasture back toward the creek. This park really is a jewel in the Kansas State Park system. Some rain on Saturday morning caught us on the trail so we got back to camp, put the horses in pens and went to Ellsworth for lunch. There is a Hat shop in town and a period clothing/western gift shop as well. We browsed the antique mall and then had a great lunch at the cafe. Can't wait to get back there, I'll have new pictures to post soon.
Update: 11/08/02
On our recent trip to Colorado we had been driving for about 12 hours by the time we reached Kanopolis State Park, it is
convienent enough to I-70 to make it worth pulling in for the night, plus the thought of leaving the horses on the trailer
in a rest area on the side of the road just didn't seem that appealing. We pulled in about 10:30 p.m. picked a spot,
unloaded the horses into a pair of pipe pens, normally they'd share but it was very muddy and without anyone else in the
park we didn't think it would be a problem, got them water and hay and went to bed. Next morning we loaded back up and
on the way out stopped to pay, the fee was $10.50, $5.50 camping fee plus $5 for the utilities, very worth it. I just
wish that more Kansas State Parks would upgrade the horse camps to be as nice as this one. Each site has a sturdy hitching
post and some are even close to pipe pens. The water/electric is on all year round in the sites but they
do shut the water off to the bath house in the middle of October.
Update: 02/26/02
Rockin'K Campground (equestrian area) has been upgraded to include the following:
17 Electric sights, 13 Electric/water sights, 10 primitive sights on a level pad,
group camping area, group shelter, vault toilet, corrals, camp host, shower
building, 300 newly planted trees
Opinion:
The terrian is easy to challenging with some water and road crossings.
Horse shoes are not needed if your horses are used to being bare foot. This is a good
place to condition the horses due to the sandy footing. I recommend Fall, Winter or Spring
rides here as the majority of the trials are in the open and Kansas Summers can be quite hot.
Directions:
From I 70 Highway turn south onto 135 Highway to the Highway 140 exit (first exit after turing onto 135), turn right
onto 140 go approximately 19 miles to highway 141, turn left and go approximately 8 miles, turn right at Venago Korner
Mart, stay right at "Y" intersection (Horsethief Road).
Follow the road to State Park Office to pay your fees, then follow the signs to the Rockin K Campground. Note: The county
road north out of Brookville to the interstate looks and is shorter according to the map, we made the mistake of taking this
road on our last trip to this park and were thankful the horses were not in the trailer. The road is rollercoaster like and
not level at all, we have a big Sundowner but the trailer suspension can only do so much with a badly graded road. Take my
advice, drive the extra miles on 140, its a much nicer road.
Fees:
Vehicle fee $5.00
Daily Camping fee $5.50 or $10.50 (full utilities)
(check out time is 12:00 except Sundays and Monday Holidays then it's 2:00)
The yearly vehicle pass is $45 (2003 fee)
See you on the trails!