Army Corps of Engineers · Council Grove Lake · Kansas

North Richey Cove

North Richey Cove Campground is located on the 3,310-acre Council Grove Lake in the green expanses of eastern Kansas.

Reservable · Recreation.gov8 sitesPets okFires okTents only

More like this: reservable in Kansas · tent only in Kansas · pets allowed in Kansas

Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
North Richey Cove signNorth Richey Cove signNorth Richey Cove Map
Photos courtesy of USACE · Recreation.gov

Amenities & rules

EquipmentTents
PetsAllowed
CampfiresAllowed, subject to restrictions

North Richey Cove Campground offers 8 reservable campsites. The campground has plenty of shade, along with open grassy areas for games and recreation.

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

Weather by month

NOAA climate normals →
Weather by month near North Richey Cove20°30°40°50°60°70°80°January: 0.76 inches of precipitation, 4.0 inches of snowFebruary: 1.26 inches of precipitation, 2.9 inches of snowMarch: 2.24 inches of precipitation, 1.2 inches of snowApril: 3.42 inches of precipitation, 0.2 inches of snowMay: 5.15 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowJune: 4.87 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowJuly: 4.41 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowAugust: 4.42 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowSeptember: 3.19 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowOctober: 2.42 inches of precipitation, 0.4 inches of snowNovember: 1.73 inches of precipitation, 0.5 inches of snowDecember: 1.12 inches of precipitation, 2.8 inches of snowJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecJanuary: 29.9°F averageFebruary: 34.2°F averageMarch: 44.7°F averageApril: 55.0°F averageMay: 65.2°F averageJune: 74.8°F averageJuly: 79.8°F averageAugust: 78.0°F averageSeptember: 69.5°F averageOctober: 57.1°F averageNovember: 44.2°F averageDecember: 33.6°F average0 in2 in4 in6 inTemp °FInches
The line is the average temperature and the bars are average precipitation at Council Grove Lake, 2 miles from the campground at 1,315 feet, station USC00141867 in the NOAA monthly climate normals for 1991 to 2020. Precipitation totals about 35 inches a year. The dotted line is average snowfall, about 12 inches a year on the same inches scale.

Getting there

From I-70, take Highway 177 south for 30 miles. Richey Cove entrance is located on the west side of the highway at the dam road.

Coordinates38.7072° N, 96.4978° W · Directions ↗

Supplies & services

Dump stationDump station ↗35 mi
RV sales & serviceFour Seasons RV ↗37.2 mi
Outdoor gearOutdoor Gear & Knives ↗44.2 mi

Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.

Explore

Worth a stop

The town of Council Grove, located about 2 miles southeast of the lake, is a National Historic District, with seven Santa Fe National Historic Trail sites in the community.

Natural features

Council Grove Lake sits in the rolling, grassy Flint Hills. The lake is created by a dam built in 1964, and now offers recreational opportunities to hundreds of thousands of visitors every year. Historically this area is where the Osage Indians signed a treaty to establish the Old Santa Fe Trail. A marker in the town of Council Grove indicates the place where the treaty was signed.

Recreation

Boating is a popular pastime at the lake, and a boat ramp is located in the campground for visitors' convenience. The lake is known for its fishing opportunities, with crappie and catfish being the most abundant. Council Grove was also the first lake in Kansas to receive stocking of Saugeye. Hunters will find populations of quail, prairie chicken, wild turkey and deer on the nearly 2,700 acres of public hunting lands surrounding the lake. Hiking trails wind along the lake shore and into the forest. Pioneer Nature Trail is known as the most scenic trail, with plenty of wildlife, greenery and wildflowers creating a beautiful background. Council Grove is also a starting point for the Flint Hills National Scenic Byway. This byway travels through the best of the remaining remnants of the Tallgrass Prairie Ecosystem in North America. Along the byway and 25 miles south is the National Tallgrass Prairie Preserve, where visitors can spot colorful wildflowers in the spring and array of autumn colors in the fall.

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 North Richey Cove?

Sites at North Richey Cove are reservable on Recreation.gov. Any walk-up sites are listed on the booking page.

Source: Recreation.gov

How many sites does North Richey Cove have?

8 sites.

Source: Recreation.gov

Can I bring an RV to North Richey Cove?

North Richey Cove is listed for tents only.

Source: Recreation.gov

Are pets allowed at North Richey Cove?

Yes, pets are allowed at North Richey Cove. Leash rules apply.

Source: Recreation.gov

Can I have a campfire at North Richey Cove?

Fires are allowed in the provided rings under normal conditions.

Source: Recreation.gov

What is there to do at North Richey Cove?

Boating is a popular pastime at the lake, and a boat ramp is located in the campground for visitors' convenience. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.

Source: Recreation

What if North Richey Cove is full?

The nearest public campgrounds are Richey Cove (0.4 mi), Kit Carson (0.8 mi), and Kanza View (1.5 mi).

Source: Campgrounds nearby