Milford Lake lies in the Flint Hills physiographic region of Kansas that spans over several counties in northeastern Kansas. Milford Lake’s shores touches Clay, Dickson, and Geary Counties. The Flint Hills are a super special place in the U.S.
The Flint Hills is where people find Milford Lake, famous for fishing. It has one of the last native American tallgrass prairies. Only 4% remains of the original North American tallgrass prairie. The tallgrass prairie once formed the eastern portion of the North American Great Plains.
What Is Milford Lake Known For?
Milford Lake supplies water to a third of Kansas’ population, is manmade, and is the largest lake in Kansas. From 11,000 B.C. to 1500 A.D., the Paleo Indians, Archaic Indians, domesticated cow growers, and then the village farmers from 1000 A.D. to 1500 A.D. knew today’s Republic River watershed for an abundant food, game, and water supply.
Today, Milford Lake is “The Fishing Capitol of Kansas”. Outdoor Life Magazine once named Junction City, Kansas as one of the “Top 200 Towns in America to Live for Anglers and Hunters”. Fishing tournaments abound along with trophy catches.
Milford Lake Fishing
The Great Plains prairies draw dramatic skyscapes with deep colors fading into silent hues during sunrises and sunsets. The Flint Hills and Milford Lake region of Kansas delivers murals of painted skies along with highly productive fishing adventures. Milford Lake is nationally recognized and has hosted some of the most prestigious fishing tournaments in the U.S.
What Fish Are in Milford Lake?
Milford Lake is an outstanding fishery. Anglers can count on productive and exciting fish action year-round. Wipers, aka hybrid striped bass, always put up a good fight at Milford Lake. Creel limits apply. Fishing regulations in Kansas are subject to change throughout the year.
The most popular species in Milford Lake are blue and channel catfish, black and white crappie, largemouth, smallmouth, white, and wiper bass. Harvests of these game fish are consistently good and fair/good as reported by the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks (KDWP).
The other game fish in Milford Lake include spotted, striped, and warmouth bass, bluegill, bigmouth and smallmouth buffalo, carp and grass carp, bullhead and flathead catfish, freshwater drum, American eel, longnose, shortnose, and spotted gar, goldeye, paddlefish, yellow perch, northern pike, sauger, saugeye, shovelnose sturgeon, green, hybrid, and redear sunfish, brown and rainbow trout, and walleye.
What Is the Record Fish in Milford Lake?
Milford Lake has 14 public boat ramps, plus private ramps in parks and at marinas. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (U.S. ACE), Kansas City District Website manages 12 ramps. When water levels fluctuate too high or too low, some ramps are closed. Quite a few guides service operate on Milford Lake, and boat rental services provide boats, PWCs, and water sports equipment.
Lakehub did not find official Milford Lake records. The following is the most popular Kansas state game species records. As you can see from the Kansas State records, two Milford Lake fish rank in state records. Milford Lake’s two Kansas state records go back quite a few years.
- Frank Evens set the Kansas state smallmouth bass record in 1980.
- Mike Augustine holds the Kansas state goldeye record from 2010.
Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks State Records:
| SPECIES | WEIGHT | LENGTH | DATE | BY: | |
| LARGEMOUTH BASS | 11.80 lbs. | 28 1/2 inches | 05/03/08 | Tyson Hallam, Scammon | Private Lake, Cherokee Co. |
| STRIPED BASS | 44 lbs. | 44 inches | 05/14/10 | Paul Bahr, Ellsworth KS | Wilson Reservoir |
| SMALLMOUTH BASS | 6.88 lbs. | 21 1/2 inches | 04/04/10 | Frank Evans Jr., Salina KS | Milford Reservoir |
| WIPER | 25 lbs. | 33 1/2 inches | 08/08/10 | James M. Moore, Fort Riley KS | Perry Reservoir Outlet |
| WHITE BASS | 5.67 lbs. | 20 3/8 inches | 04/11/02 | Marvin W. Gary, Peculiar, MO | Rvr. above John Redmond |
| CATFISH, BLUE | 102.8 lbs. | 56.75 inches | 08/11/12 | Robert Stanley, Olathe | Missouri River |
| CATFISH, CHANNEL | 36.5 lbs. | 38 inches | 06/03/03 | Rick Barnow, Humboldt | Mined Land, WA-Cherokee Co. |
| CRAPPIE, WHITE | 4.02 lbs. | 17.5 inches | 03/30/64 | Frank Miller, Eureka | Farm Pond, Greenwood County |
| CRAPPIE, BLACK | 4.63 lbs. | 22 inches | 10/21/57 | Hazel Fey, Toronto | Woodson State Fishing Lake |
Can You Swim in Milford Lake?
Inquiring minds also want to know, “Does Milford Lake have a beach?”, and “Does Milford Lake have algae?” Sloping hills fold down to Milford Lake’s shorelines that stretch out for miles dotted with sandy beaches. Even peak season at the biggest lake in Kansas offers plenty of room for swimming and water sports.
Yes, you can swim in Milford Lake, and partake in water sports as long as it is warm enough for you. Milford Lake is open year-round. Peak season The U.S. ACE issues well-distributed safety warnings if toxic algal blooms are present at any lake they manage.
Beaches at Milford Lake
Outlet Park offers a free swim beach. Public and private swim beaches include Acorns Resort, Clayview Public Use Area East Rolling Hills Park, Flagstop Resort and RV Park, Milford Gathering Pond, Milford Recreation Area, Milford State Park, School Creek Public Use Area, Timber Creek South Campground, and Towelie Beach.
Nudie Beach, a popular white sand beach, Farnum and Rush Creeks, Acorns Resort and Flagstop Resort are boat in beach locations. Boaters will find other similar boat in beaches around Milford Lake. There is a splash pad at Milford State Park.
How Deep Is Milford Lake in Kansas?
Milford Lake has an average depth of 21 feet, a maximum depth of 65 feet, and covers a surface area of 15,709 acres. It lies in Clay, Dickson, and Geary Counties. Waterfowl, wild turkey, deer, and rabbits are common sightings, and Milford Lake is habitat for a much broader range of wildlife that provides excellent viewing and photography opportunities.
Camping on Milford Lake
The prairies of the American West offer a surreally peaceful aura. Winter is the barest season on the prairie where Milford Lake lies, but you see more wildlife in the barren trees, like the eagle’s nests and the turkeys gobbling through the brush. The other three seasons on the prairie each bring on their own unique beauty.
Plenty of campgrounds supply wonderful outdoor experiences at Milford Lake. Milford State Park features eight campgrounds around the lake and a few cabins with amenities. The 19,000-acre Milford Wildlife Management Area lies on the western border and northern end of the lake. A few other private campgrounds and RV parks are spread around the lakeshores.
At Milford State Park, they have only 20 and 30-amp hookups for RVs, and lots of tent camping, primitive and with water and electric. The Acorns Resort offers 61 RV sites, 29 cabins, and nine hotel rooms. The Flagstop Resort is also an RV park with cabins.
Day Use Parks
The U.S. ACE assesses a $5 charge per vehicle to park. USACE maintains three day-use parks, North Overlook, Outlet, and South Outlet. Visitors can pay a fee to reserve picnic shelters. If a shelter is not marked as reserved, guests may use it without charge.
Things to Do At Milford Lake
On top of ATV/off-road fun, boating, camping, fishing, hiking, horseback riding, hunting, and water sports, some interesting attractions also draw visitors to Milford Lake and its region. The following information covers both outdoor and tourist activities.
Milford State Park
Waterfall Trail: This 0.6 mile- trail leads through woodland and prairie habitats. Hikers will find a manmade waterfall and pond at the trailhead.
Crystal Trail: This trail is 2.2 miles. It passes by an old geode rock quarry where hiker can pick up small rocks.. Deer are common along open fields and by food plots. View bald eagles from November through March along the water’s edge.
Eagle Ridge Equestrian Trail: This trail offers 8-miles of scenic horseback riding in diverse habitats.
Milford Tower Trail: The Milford Tower is accessed from a spiral staircase, which rises 21′ to the top platform. Excellent wildlife viewing is available with nearby food plots. The best time to visit is near dusk and dawn, when most animals are active. Stargazing is excellent on clear nights. Bring your binoculars!
Junction City Parks & Recreation Department
Riverwalk Trail: A 4.8-mile route along the Republican River between Outlet Park at Milford Lake and Fort Riley, Kansas. The trail is open to hikers, bicycles, equestrian use, and snowmobiles when appropriate.
Outlet Park
Old River Bluff Trail: This 1.25-mile trail connects the Riverwalk Trail to the Milford State Park Eagle Ridge Equestrian Trail and covers 14-miles of equestrian trails.
Kansas Landscape Arboretum
Woodland Trail: A 0.8-mile trail with a variety of evergreen and deciduous trees.
Bird Sanctuary Trail: A 0.3-mile shorter loop adjacent to the Woodland Trail through woodland and meadow plant communities.
Wild Acres Trail: This 0.5-mile trail winds along the edge of a prairie.
Meadow-Willow Trail: A 0.5-mile that meanders along the edge of a natural drainage area that borders prairie meadows and willow groves.
Morel Mushroom Hunting
Mushroom hunters throng to Geary County from all over the U.S. to gather these highly valued, meaty shrooms with an earthy, nutty flavor every spring. Peak morel season is mid-March to May. Do not expect locals to tell you where to find them. They watch the weather, check soil temps, and look online for verified sightings. Mushroom watchers can find out who, what, why, and when but never where.
Hunting at Milford Lake
Hunters go after deer, duck, goose, pheasant, prairie chicken, quail, rabbit, squirrel, turkey. Trappers are also active throughout the season in pursuit of beaver, muskrat, raccoon, and other furbearers. The 19,000-acre Milford Wildlife Management Area is open for hunting in season.
Milford Nature Center
At the interactive Milford Nature Center, visitors can see and touch native animal furs, print their own animal’s tracks, and identify natural mystery items with touch. Its halls are lined with diorama that depict anaquatic system with over 300 life-like fish, turtles, snakes, and insects and a terrestrial system showcasing wildlife from Kansas’ prairies, marshes, and woods.
Milford Fish Hatchery
Check out the frenzied Milford Fish Hatchery’s fish runs, when the staff feeds the fry. The surface water immediately roils with hungry, jumping, future angler’s delights. The hatchery is open for tours at 1 p.m. on weekends and by appointment other days.
The Milford Fish Hatchery is a state-of-the-art facility and one of the few warm water, intensive-culture fish hatcheries in the U.S. It focuses primarily on catfish, hybrids, and walleyes. The state distributes these fry all over Kansas’ lakes and rivers.
Sportsman’s Acres Target Shooting
The Geary County Fish and Game Association owns this shooting range, which features three trap ranges, a pistol/rifle range, and an archery range with a 3D archery trail. The association hosts safety courses and special hunts.
The Kansas Landscape Arboretum
The Kansas Landscape Arboretum fosters over 1,000 species of woody plants on the Milford Lake’s west side. It’s open from sunrise to sunset year-round. Most of its plants are Kansas natives.
Rolling Meadows Golf Course
The Rolling Meadows Golf Course claims to be one of the best in Kansas. It lies below the Milford Dam with tree-lined zoysia-grass fairways and tees. The course boasts 29 sand bunkers and six lakes in the rolling hills and prairie vistas of Flint Hills.
School Creek Off-Road Vehicle Area
This off-road ATV/dirt bike trail system offers fun for beginners to skilled riders on motorcycles, dirt bikes and ATVs only in daylight hours. Riders must use spark arrestors and wear helmets. The easy trails are on the parking lot’s eastern side. The more challenging routes present rugged and narrow hill climbs and play areas. Some of the trails are single track. Its parking lot accommodates trailers.
Junction City, Kansas, Bit of History
Milford Lake is a few miles north of Junction City and west of Fort Riley. Both towns look back on historic events during America’s westward migration of the 1800s. A.H. Bartell and John K. Wright built the two and three-story red brick Bartell House hotel in 1878 to replace the Hale House.
It featured 66 rooms, a kitchen, parlors, offices, and a dining room with murals painted by Junction City artist Bertrand Hartman. Street-level shops lined Washington and 6th Streets. Famous guests graced the hotel over the years. It was saved from demolition in 2008 and now houses the Bartell Place senior living apartments.
Famous guests include Adolphus Busch, Dan Dailey, WC. Fields, Sally Rand, John Phillip Sousa, Gene Tierney, John Wayne, and Gloria Vanderbilt,. In January 1872, Russian Grand Duke Alexis stayed there after a buffalo hunt with Buffalo Bill Cody, General Custer, General Sheridan, Spotted Tail, and Sioux Indians.
Fort Riley, Kansas, Bit of History
The U.S. Army established Fort Riley in 1852 on the junction of the Republic and Smoky Hill Rivers to protect immigrants and trade wagons from Indian attacks on the Oregon/California and Santa Fe trails heading west. The army named the fort in honor of Major General Bennett C. Riley, who led the first military escort along the Santa Fe Trail in 1829.
The U.S. Army could have predicted the future downfall of then Brevet Major General Custer at Fort Riley. The army mustered Custer into Fort Riley, and Custer took charge of Fort Riley in 1866. Custer carried out cowardly campaigns against the Plains Indians from the fort and claimed his massacres as victories.
By the mid-1880s, the Plains Indian Wars had dwindled down, and the army closed many Western forts. State militia units used Fort Riley for encampments, maneuvers, and training exercises from 1902 to 1911. Cavalrymen trained and tested their riding skills at Fort Riley’s Cavalry School. The Cavalry School Hunt officially organized in 1921.
The tradition of using hounds of different breeds to hunt coyotes and wild game probably began with the fort’s establishment, as we know the officers stationed at Fort Riley kept dogs from its beginning. Its hunts and hound breeding operations turned into a big, big thing with generals and officers passing through Fort Riley’s gates, including General Patton.
In 2020, U.S. Horsemanship published a historical account that sometime during the Cavalry School’s life, there were “…twenty thoroughbred stallions owned by the Government standing in the State of Kansas, and good horses are plentiful on the neighboring farms and ranches.”
The army closed the Cavalry School in November 1946 and deactivated the last tactical horse unit in March 1947. These hunts gave rise to the special quality of life at Fort Riley, and the term was coined there that came to be known as the “Life of Riley.”
In 2024, Fort Riley serves approximately 14,738 active duty service members, over 15,327 family members, over 4,751 retirees, and over 5,145 civilian employees. These numbers do not include all the National Guard and Reserve members that come to train at Fort Riley.
