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Atchison State Fishing Lake
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Atchison State Fishing Lake
Photo by Jim Mason |
Atchison State Fishing Lake (built in
1957 as Hetherington Lake) is nestled among rounded hills blanketed
by oak-hickory woodlands and broad valleys planted in corn. The 2.5 miles of
gravel road from K-7 to the Independence Creek valley, where the lake is
located, are like a roller coaster and can be slick when wet. Elm, willow,
silver maple, and locust compose the riparian woodland, where wildflowers
are abundant from spring through fall. |
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| Butterflies are commonly seen in the
woodlands and along the lake edge during the summer. Both fox and gray squirrels scamper
through the trees. Tracks of white-tailed deer and raccoons cover the banks of the creek
and lake. Red-eyed and yellow-throated vireos, blue-gray gnatcatchers, and summer tanagers
nest here. Summer evenings bring the clear, mellow song of the whip-poor-will and the loud
whistling call of the chuck-will's-widow. During fall and spring migrations, the lake will
host puddle ducks (such as mallards and pintails) and diving ducks, including goldeneyes
and redheads. There is a resident population of Canada geese,
and groups of goslings accompanied by their parents may be seen in springtime.
Shorebirds are also present during migrations.
 | Restroom, Water available, Picnic tables. |
 Primitive camping.
1 cabin (make a reservation
online).
Discover what to see, eat and do in Kansas.
Plan your trip today, at TravelKS.com!
 No developed trails.
Click the icon to find a birding list for Atchison county.
Click the icon to locate nearby Geocaches
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Directions:
From Atchison (50 miles north of Kansas City) go 3 miles north on K-7
to 318th Road. This intersection is just past a
hillcrest, so be aware of traffic when slowing for the turn. Take the gravel
road 2 miles west to Pawnee Road and
follow it 0.5 miles north to the lake.
For the Google Map of this site,
click here. |
Ownership:
The responsible entity for Atchison Lake is below.
Contact them if you have specific questions about use or management of the
site.
Kansas
Department of Wildlife, Parks &
Tourism (785) 273-6740; 248 acres
You may download the KDWPT brochure for Atchison State Fishing Lake from
their web site.
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Funded by the
Chickadee Checkoff Program
Click here for a brochure! |
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Kansas web site
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by
the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks
& Tourism.
Re-publication of site content in any form other than for personal use
requires written permission. If you are a Kansas resident, please
assist with this and other wildlife viewing and conservation programs
by contributing to the Chickadee Checkoff on your state tax form. |
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Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks & Tourism
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