Elk City State Park

About this park

Elk City State Park covers 857 acres of oak-hickory woodland and limestone bluffs on Elk City Reservoir near Independence, in a part of southeast Kansas sometimes called the "Little Ozarks" for its unusually hilly, forested terrain compared to the rest of the state. The Eagle Rock mountain bike trail has developed a strong regional reputation among riders, offering technical terrain shaped by the park's bluffs and wooded hillsides, while six additional hiking trails wind through a mix of prairie and forest, giving visitors a range of route options and difficulty levels. The reservoir supports fishing and boating typical of Kansas lake parks, but it is the combination of rugged, wooded terrain and a well-regarded trail system that sets Elk City apart, drawing mountain bikers and hikers specifically for the terrain rather than the lake itself.