Cross Timbers State Park

About this park

Cross Timbers State Park sits in the gently rolling hills of the Verdigris River Valley in southeast Kansas, comprising 1,075 acres in the northern reaches of the Cross Timbers, a distinct physiographic region early pioneers recognized as a transition zone between eastern forest and western prairie. The park contains oak trees dating back to 1730, among the oldest living things in the state, alongside rugged sandstone-capped hills that give the terrain more relief than typical Kansas prairie. This region was long favored as hunting and camping ground by the Osage Nation, and the forested floodplains and prairie terraces still support a notably diverse mix of songbirds, wildlife, and plant life. Numerous access points connect the park to the 2,800-acre Toronto Reservoir, and four modern cabins, including one wheelchair-accessible unit, supplement the park's shaded campgrounds. This combination of centuries-old trees, varied terrain, and lake access makes Cross Timbers one of the more ecologically distinctive parks in the Kansas system.