|
Butler State Fishing Lake
|
View from the dam
All Photos by Jim Mason |
This peaceful retreat lies in the heart of the Flint Hills tallgrass
prairie. Purple prairie clover, catclaw sensitive brier, blue false indigo, and
yellow prairie coneflower are just a few of the many wildflowers that bloom in the rolling
hills around the lake. |
A small boat is ideal to get around on this jewel of a lake
During spring and fall the lake offers one of the area's few
stopovers for migrating ducks-among them American wigeons, blue-winged teal, mallards,
buffleheads, lesser scaup, and northern shovelers. Anglers are entertained by painted
turtles, bullfrogs, chorus frogs, and by dragonflies cruising the shoreline for small
insects.
|
 |
At both ends of the lake, small
wooded areas adjoin the North Branch of Rock Creek. Beaver cuttings are evident, as are
the bushy leaf nests of fox squirrels. Bobwhites, cardinals, chickadees,
woodpeckers, and other woodland birds are concentrated along this riparian corridor. |
Greater prairie chicken booming grounds (leks) on the surrounding prairie can be
located on still spring mornings by driving slowly along country roads at sunrise and
stopping frequently to listen for the displaying males. Other prairie birds include upland
sandpipers, Henslow's sparrows, common nighthawks, loggerhead shrikes, and eastern meadowlarks. Be alert for
deer and coyotes. Bobcats are also here but are seldom seen.
 | Picnic tables, Shelters, Grills, Pit toilets, Boat ramp, Water
available.
|
 Primitive camping
only.
 No developed trails.
Click the icon to find a birding list for Butler County.
Click the icon to locate nearby Geocaches
For more Wildlife Watching sites in the Flint
Hills, click here
|
 |
Directions: From
Latham (~40 miles east of Wichita) go 2 miles west and 1/2 mile north.
 |
Ownership:
The entity responsible for management of Butler State
Lake is the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks.
Contact them at (316) 683-8069 if you have
specific questions about use or management of the site. 546 acres
You may download the KDWP brochure on Butler State Lake from
their web site.
|
Click here for a brochure! |
©2007
Kansas Nature-Based Tourism Alliance
Re-publication of site content in any form other than for personal use
requires written permission.
This web site is underwritten by the Kansas
Department of Wildlife and Parks through the Chickadee Checkoff Program. 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. |
Questions or comments about Natural Kansas may be directed to Jim Mason
|
