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Ottawa State Fishing Lake
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Ottawa State Lake - all photos by Jim Mason |
Ottawa State Fishing Lake is located on Sand Creek in the Smoky
Hills. Tallgrass prairie and croplands surround the cottonwood and hackberry woodlands
that border the lake and the two streams that feed it. |
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Look for white-tailed deer and coyotes year-round. From spring
through fall, sliders and painted turtles can be seen basking on snags and rocks. American
goldfinches, black-capped chickadees, and northern cardinals are active at the edges of
the timber and thickets. |
Low-water crossing at the upper end of the lake. |
Signs of beavers, raccoons, and muskrats are evident along the streams and marshy
areas of the lake. Watch for wood ducks, mallards, belted kingfishers, and wading great
blue herons and great egrets. The shallow upper reaches of the lake are covered by
Fragrant water lily (Nymphaea odorata).
The box culverts underneath U.S. 81 highway at the K-93 exit are home to a massive
colony of cliff swallows. Swarms of them may be seen nearby during late spring going
into summer.
 | Restroom, Picnic tables. |
 Primitive camping only.
 No developed trails.
Click the icon to find a birding list for Ottawa County.
Click the icon to locate nearby Geocaches
For more Wildlife Watching sites in the Flint Hills, click
here
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Directions:
From Salina, go 16 miles north
on U.S. 81 and then 4 miles east on K-93.
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Ownership:
The entity responsible for management of Ottawa State
Fishing Lake is the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks.
Contact them at (785) 628-8614 if you have
specific questions about use or management of this site.
For more info, visit
the
KDWP web site.
728 acres
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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
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