Cedar Bluff State Park, located along the shore of Cedar Bluff Reservoir, offers a wonderful space to engage in the love of nature and pursue a variety of outdoor recreational activities. Guests to the area will find flocks of migrating birds make the reservoir their home in fall and spring months. Expect to see geese and eagles in the area in winter months. Summer finds many birds of prey soaring effortlessly on thermal drafts created by the dam. This park maintains two boat ramps, a campsite, a sandy beach, and is located near a BMX biking track.
Named for the chalk bluffs located in the south western part of the park, the park offers entrance into historic Threshing Machine Canyon where guests can see names etched into the limestone bluffs from the 1800’s.
Guests to Cedar Bluff State Park looking to extend their stay from overnight to a few weeks will find 90 campsites and five cabins to choose from. Guests traveling in an RV or trailer will find sites in the campground that can accommodate RV’s up to 100-feet in length. Grills and picnic tables are at camp sites and toilets and hot showers are within easy reach. Most camp sites are outfitted with both electric and water hookups. Guests will also find reservable group utility camping available.
The park's address is:
Cedar Bluff State Park
32001 HWY 147
Ellis KS 67637
Guests will locate Cedar Bluff State Park south west of Hayes KS. Guests traveling from Hayes will take I-70 W to KS-147 S in Ogallah. They will take exit 135 toward Ogallah and travel approximately 14-miles south on KS-147 S until they reach their destination. Turn left at West Rd soon after seeking the Sport Haven on the right. The terrain in this area is lightly populated and the turns will be easy to see. If you come to the reservoir, you have missed your turn.
Guests to Cedar Bluff State Park will find parking available to them near the park office, by the boat ramp, and within the campground area.
Guests to Cedar Bluff State Park will find there is no access to public transportation within the park.
Located along the Cedar Bluff Reservoir, Cedar Bluff State Park offers guests a space to explore and enjoy a variety of outdoor recreational activities. Due to its location, the park is an exceptional space for boating, fishing, and swimming. Guests to the park will also opportunities for land bound recreation. This 1,000-acre park is located near historic Threshing Machine Canyon where guests can find the carved names of travelers from as far back as the 1800’s. Imagine walking in the steps of cavalrymen who made their way through this canyon.
Guests interested in extending their stay in The Cedar Bluff area will find over 90 camping sites and five cabins to choose from. Guests traveling in an RV will find sites within Cedar Bluff State Park that can accommodate rigs up to 100-feet in length. Most sites within the campground are equipped with both water and electric hookups. The park maintains two boat ramps, a playground, a fishing pier, a biking trail and several hiking trails. Amenities within the park include a playground, horseshoe pits, fire rings, grills, picnic tables, bathhouses with hot showers, restrooms, a dump station, drinking water, and a recycling station.
Guests to lovely Cedar Bluff State Park, located beside Cedar Bluff Reservoir, will want to make sure they pack their swimsuits and sunscreen when visiting during the summer months. The park maintains a sandy beach area. Guests should note that swimming is only allowed in designated areas, however.
Note that there are several rules pertaining to the swimming areas to ensure swimmer safety. Alcoholic drinks are not allowed on the swimming beach or in areas designated by buoys or markers as swimming areas. No glass containers are acceptable in these areas either. Pets are not allowed in the swimming areas. Fishing is also prohibited in the swimming areas.
Guests to lovely Cedar Bluff State Park will want to bring their boat, canoe, and/or kayak when heading out this way. The park is located on the Cedar Bluff Reservoir and has two boat ramps on site. Guests are asked to follow a no wake space of 200 feet around the boat ramps and dock. Guests are also asked not to operate their boats within 200 feet of the swimming beach and other designated swimming areas. It is a Kansas state law that anyone on a boat under the age of 13 must wear a life jacket at all times. It is further required that all boaters have a life jacket nearby in case of an accident.
Guests to Cedar Bluff State Park with an interest in history or railroads will want to visit the Ellis Railroad Museum. Open April 1 to Oct. 1 from 9 am to 3 pm every Tuesday-Saturday, the museum offers gusts the opportunity to explore four rooms of railroad memorabilia. You'll find everything from photographs to antique railroad timetables and station signs. Guest may also wish to explore the doll museum located upstairs from the railroad museum for no extra cost.
Guests to Cedar Bluff State Park will want to pack their hiking shoes as there are two distinct trails located here. One trail, referred to as the Agave Ridge Nature Trail, not to be confused with the Agave Ridge Hiking Trail, is an approximately one-mile long paved loop trail offering educational markers identifying native trees, plants, and wildlife. This trail is lightly trafficked, easy, and appropriate for all skill levels. The Agave Ridge Hiking Trail is a separate thing. This primitive hike is a separate looped trail approximately four miles long. This trail guides guests through native prairie grass and features two scenic overviews. This extensive trail will guide guests along the cliffs near the reservoir for which the park is named.
Visitors to Cedar Bluff State Park with an interest in history and local culture, will want to stop by and see the Buckovina Society Headquarters-Museum in Ellis. Buckovina first arrived in Ellis KS in the year 1886. They were joined by a group of their countrymen the following year. Descendants of these individuals continue to make up a large percentage of the local population. This museum offers guests the opportunity to explore a collection of artifacts from Buckovina emigrants and learn about this culture.
Guests to Cedar Bluff State Park with an interest in history or automobiles may be interested in visiting the Walter P. Chrysler Boyhood Home and Museum. This clapboard house was built in 1889 and served as the Chrysler family home from 1889-1908. The house was bought by the Chrysler Corporation in 1954 and renovated. It now houses the Walther P. Chrysler Boyhood Home and Museum. Guests should note that hours vary depending upon the time of year. The museum houses artifacts associated with the Chrysler family including W.P. Chrysler’s mandolin and personal notebook. Guests to the museum will also see a collection of vintage automobiles.
