Updated August 2026
Best Kayaking Lakes in Kansas
Top 12 kayaking lakes in Kansas, ranked by Secchi clarity (clearer water makes for better paddling — you can see fish, plants, and the bottom).
- Low nutrient and algae readings
- No known access restrictions
- 50–2,000 acres
Kayaking-friendly rankings prefer lakes with low motor-boat congestion, interesting shoreline, decent water clarity, and public access. Douglas Co State Fishing Lake tops the Kansas list.
Kayaking favors lakes with shoreline interest — bays, islands, undeveloped stretches — which tends to correlate with the larger, more remote Kansas lakes rather than the small, residential ones.
| Rank | Lake | County | State | Clarity | Area | Depth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Douglas Co State Fishing Lake | Douglas | KS | 9.5 ft | 180 acres | ~38 ft est. |
| 2 | Pottawatomie State Fishing Lake | Pottawatomie | KS | 8.3 ft | - | ~32 ft est. |
| 3 | Cedar Creek Reservoir | Bourbon | KS | 8.2 ft | 222 acres | - |
| 4 | Osage Co State Fishing Lake | Osage | KS | 6.2 ft | - | ~42 ft est. |
| 5 | Yates Center Reservoir | Woodson | KS | 1.6 ft | - | ~31 ft est. |
| 6 | Bone Creek Lake | Crawford | KS | 5.8 ft | 523 acres | ~40 ft est. |
| 7 | Lake Crawford | Crawford | KS | 5.1 ft | - | ~40 ft est. |
| 8 | Lake Wabaunsee | Wabaunsee | KS | 4.9 ft | 228 acres | ~56 ft est. |
| 9 | Geary Co State Fishing Lake | Geary | KS | 4.3 ft | 96 acres | ~67 ft est. |
| 10 | Madison City Lake | Greenwood | KS | 4.1 ft | 115 acres | ~32 ft est. |
| 11 | New Olathe Lake | Johnson | KS | 3.4 ft | 165 acres | - |
| 12 | Parsons Lake | Neosho | KS | 2 ft | 980 acres | ~46 ft est. |
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Where to stay near Kansas kayaking lakes
Find cabins, campgrounds, and rentals near Kansas's clearest paddling water — live availability and prices for your kayak trip.
Top-rated places to stay near Kansas paddling lakes
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Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.