Kansas River Access Map

Welcome to the Kansas River Water Trail!  

Friends of the Kaw has created this interactive map to help you navigate the 173-mile-long Kansas River and locate the 19 access ramps and in-river hazards. 

Click on the map icons below for access point and hazard names, exact locations, and pictures.  Blue icons represent existing access points, red icons represent hazards, and yellow icons represent tributaries and alternative paddling locations. Scroll below the map for links to detailed information about each access point, including directions and amenities.

Check Weather and Water Conditions

Friends of the Kaw estimates it takes about 1 hour to paddle 3 miles when the river is at safe conditions.  Novice paddlers should not attempt to paddle more than 10 miles in one day.  

The Kansas River is a big river and we recommend that novice paddlers use the river when the flow is less than 5,000 cubic feet per second (cfs).  We recommend that experienced paddlers only access the river if it is running below 8,000 cfs.  At 8,000 cfs and higher, most sandbars are under water.  This means:

  • There is no place to stop and rest.
  • The banks are private property and off-limits to paddlers.
  • The rate of flow is fast and harder to navigate.

For more advice for novice paddlers, visit our River Access Tips page.

In case of an emergency on the river call 911.  The dispatcher will connect you to the appropriate emergency personnel for your location.  If you encounter a situation involving wildlife, contact a Kansas Department of Wildlife & Parks Game Warden.  The links below include the phone numbers for the game wardens who respond to calls in the counties where the access points are located.

Each page also includes what3words coordinates. Many emergency departments and first responders are beginning to use what3words in their emergency response systems. What3words is an easy way to identify precise locations. Every 10 foot square has been given a unique combination of three random words: a what3words address. The free what3words app allows you to find, share, save and navigate to precise 10 foot locations using what3words addresses. Note that the what3words coordinates on the access ramp pages are for locations near the top of each ramp. The coordinates for the hazards are for locations in the vicinity of each hazard.

Friends of the Kaw advocates for the river and for safe river usage.  We are not responsible for maintaining the access ramps and ensuring everyone’s safety on the river.  You can report pollution and trash, however, and we will forward your report to the appropriate authorities.  Call 1-800 RIVKEEP to make a report.


View Kansas River Access Map in a larger map

For more detailed information on access ramps, hazards, and tributaries along the Kansas River please visit the pages below.  
 
Kansas River Access Ramps
Hazards
COMING SOON!  Tributaries and Alternative Paddling Locations

Links for Kansas River tributaries where paddling is allowed will be posted soon.  All of these locations are within federal, state, county, or city park boundaries.  Note that most rivers and streams in Kansas are on private property and can not be accessed by the public without landowner permission.  For more information about public stream access go to Kansas Department of Wildlife & Park’s River and Stream Access page.  Most of the links below are not yet live, but will include these locations:

  • Saline River above Wilson Reservoir
  • Smoky Hill River above Kanopolis Reservoir
  • Republican River above Milford Reservoir
  • Big Blue River above Tuttle Creek Reservoir
  • Delaware River above Perry Lake
  • Wakarusa River above Clinton Lake
  • Rock Creek above Clinton Lake
  • Mud Creek Access RampLive NOW!
  • Mill Creek Streamway ParkLive NOW!