Army Corps of Engineers · Elk City Lake · Independence, KS

Outlet Channel

Outlet Channel sits below the Elk City Dam and offers a quiet setting along the Elk River.

More like this: electric hookups in Kansas · reservable in Kansas · pets allowed in Kansas · group sites in Kansas

Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Outlet Channelsheltersheltersite 6
Photos courtesy of bjb · Recreation.gov

Site mix

Standard, no hookups7
Standard with electric7
group shelter electric1
Most sites here open on Recreation.gov six months ahead, at 10 a.m. Eastern. Sold out is not final: cancellations come back into the pool, most of them two to three days out. How to catch one

Site guide

15 sites. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.

SiteTypeEntrySurfaceShadePowerWater / sewerWaterfrontPeople / vehiclesFires
1StandardBack-inGravelPartialNoRiverfront10 / –Yes
2StandardBack-inGravelPartialNoRiverfront10 / –Yes
3StandardBack-inGravelPartialNoRiverfront10 / –Yes
4StandardBack-inGravelPartialNoRiverfront10 / –Yes
6ElectricBack-inGravelPartial50 ampYes / –10 / –Yes
7ElectricBack-inGravelPartial50 ampYes / –10 / –Yes
8ElectricBack-inGravelPartial50 ampYes / –10 / –Yes
9StandardBack-inGravelPartialNoRiverfront10 / –Yes
10StandardBack-inGravelPartialNoRiverfront10 / –Yes
11StandardBack-inGravelPartialNoRiverfront10 / –Yes

Per-site records as published by the managing agency on Recreation.gov. Blank cells mean the agency listed nothing for that site. Check-in 03:00 PM, checkout 03:00 PM.

Campground map of Outlet Channel
Campground map published by Army Corps of Engineers on Recreation.gov, credited to Tabitha Westhoff. Open the image for full size.

Amenities & rules

HookupsElectric, water
EquipmentRVs & trailers, Tents
PetsAllowed
CampfiresAllowed, subject to restrictions
FeesPayment by credit/debit cards only via recreation.gov or call center.

Outlet channel has a group shelter and located near the mountain bike trails and the Elk River Hiking trail.

Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.

Weather by month

NOAA climate normals →
Weather by month near Outlet Channel30°40°50°60°70°80°90°January: 1.44 inches of precipitation, 2.2 inches of snowFebruary: 1.85 inches of precipitation, 0.9 inches of snowMarch: 2.88 inches of precipitation, 1.9 inches of snowApril: 4.47 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowMay: 6.76 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowJune: 6.26 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowJuly: 4.29 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowAugust: 4.49 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowSeptember: 4.12 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowOctober: 4.09 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowNovember: 2.40 inches of precipitation, 0.3 inches of snowDecember: 2.35 inches of precipitation, 2.1 inches of snowJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecJanuary: 33.8°F averageFebruary: 38.0°F averageMarch: 47.5°F averageApril: 57.0°F averageMay: 66.3°F averageJune: 75.4°F averageJuly: 80.2°F averageAugust: 79.0°F averageSeptember: 70.9°F averageOctober: 59.2°F averageNovember: 47.0°F averageDecember: 36.9°F average0 in2 in4 in6 in8 inTemp °FInches
The line is the average temperature and the bars are average precipitation at Independence, 6 miles from the recreation area point at 805 feet, station USC00143954 in the NOAA monthly climate normals for 1991 to 2020. Precipitation totals about 45 inches a year. The dotted line is average snowfall, about 7 inches a year on the same inches scale.

Getting there

Located approximately 5 miles NW of Independence, KS.

Nearest townIndependence, Kansas
AreaRecreation.gov lists no exact point for this campground. The recreation area is at 37.28° N, 95.79° W. Call the office before you drive.

Explore

Video

Video of Outlet Campground at Redfish Lake, ID from Nancy C.

Natural features

Located below the Table Mound with has natural rock formations.

Recreation

Fishing, Biking, Hiking, Basketball, Sand Volleyball court.

Nearby

City of Independence is located 5 miles SE of park.

Guidebooks for Kansas and camping across the country

We earn a small commission if you buy through these links. It does not change what we list.

  • Kansas Trail Guide
    Jonathan M. Conard and Kristin M. Conard, 2015
    Find at Bookshop.org
  • Frommer's Exploring America by RV
    Harry Basch and Shirley Slater, 2012
    Find at Bookshop.org

Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.

Reference

Questions people ask

Do I need a reservation at Outlet Channel?

Sites at Outlet Channel are reservable on Recreation.gov. Any walk-up sites are listed on the booking page.

Source: Recreation.gov

How much does it cost to camp at Outlet Channel?

Payment by credit/debit cards only via recreation.gov or call center.

Source: Recreation.gov

What time is check-in at Outlet Channel?

Check-in 03:00 PM, checkout 03:00 PM.

Source: Recreation.gov

How many sites does Outlet Channel have?

15 sites, including 7 standard sites without power, 7 standard sites with power, and 1 group shelter electric.

Source: Recreation.gov

Can I bring an RV to Outlet Channel?

Outlet Channel is listed for tents only.

Source: Recreation.gov

Does Outlet Channel have hookups?

Yes, electric and water hookups at some sites.

Source: Recreation.gov

Are pets allowed at Outlet Channel?

Yes, pets are allowed at Outlet Channel. Leash rules apply.

Source: Recreation.gov

Can I have a campfire at Outlet Channel?

Fires are allowed in the provided rings under normal conditions.

Source: Recreation.gov

What is the nearest town to Outlet Channel?

Independence, Kansas. City of Independence is located 5 miles SE of park.

Source: Getting there