Army Corps of Engineers · Big Hill Lake · Cherryvale, KS

Mound Valley

Mound Valley is located on the crystal clear Big Hill Lake in southeast Kansas. The lake boasts three campgrounds, three equestrian trails and four day-use areas for the public to enjoy. Camping, picnicking, horseback riding, hiking, swimming, fishing and other outdoor activities abound.

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

Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Mound Valley CampgroundMound Valley #26 30 amp, waterMound Valley #31 30 ampMound Valley #29 30 amp, water
Photos courtesy of Tabitha Westhoff, BJB · Recreation.gov

Site mix

Standard with electric74
Standard, no hookups8
Group sites2
Host/management1
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

Will my RV fit

The longest site here provides 90 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter.

Have the trailer VIN? It carries the trailer length.

84 sites in 5 loops. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.

SiteLoopTypeEntryFits, ftSurfaceShadePowerWater / sewerPeople / vehiclesFires
42MLOOElectricBack-in70PavedPartial30 ampYes / –12 / 2Yes
43MLOOElectricBack-in64PavedFull30 ampYes / –12 / 2Yes
44MLOOElectricBack-in45PavedFull30 ampYes / –12 / 2Yes
45MLOOElectricBack-in35PavedPartial30 ampYes / –12 / 2Yes
46MLOOElectricBack-in20PavedFull30 ampYes / –12 / 2Yes
47MLOOElectricBack-in20PavedFull30 ampYes / –12 / 2Yes
48MLOOElectricPull-through40PavedFull30 ampYes / –12 / 3Yes
49MLOOElectricPull-through20PavedFull30 ampYes / –12 / 3Yes
50MLOOElectricBack-in25PavedPartial30 ampYes / –12 / 2Yes
51MLOOElectricBack-in30PavedPartial30 ampYes / –12 / 2Yes

Per-site records as published by the managing agency on Recreation.gov. Blank cells mean the agency listed nothing for that site. Check-in 3:00 PM, checkout 3:00 PM.

Amenities & rules

HookupsElectric, water, sewer
Max vehicle length90 ft
EquipmentRVs & trailers, Tents
PetsAllowed
CampfiresAllowed, subject to restrictions

This facility has 85 campsites, including three group sites, one of which has a picnic shelter as well. Most campsites are on the waterfront; others are just a short walk away. Other amenities include a boat ramp and boat trailer parking, restrooms, showers and a swim beach.

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

Weather by month

NOAA climate normals →
Weather by month near Mound Valley30°40°50°60°70°80°January: 1.51 inches of precipitationFebruary: 1.44 inches of precipitationMarch: 2.84 inches of precipitationApril: 4.15 inches of precipitationMay: 6.72 inches of precipitationJune: 4.84 inches of precipitationJuly: 3.96 inches of precipitationAugust: 4.13 inches of precipitationSeptember: 3.52 inches of precipitationOctober: 3.93 inches of precipitationNovember: 2.42 inches of precipitationDecember: 1.61 inches of precipitationJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecJanuary: 33.0°F averageFebruary: 37.4°F averageMarch: 47.1°F averageApril: 56.9°F averageMay: 66.0°F averageJune: 74.7°F averageJuly: 79.5°F averageAugust: 78.8°F averageSeptember: 70.8°F averageOctober: 58.9°F averageNovember: 46.3°F averageDecember: 36.7°F average0 in2 in4 in6 in8 inTemp °FInches
The line is the average temperature and the bars are average precipitation at Big Hill Lake, 1 mile from the campground at 907 feet, station USC00140810 in the NOAA monthly climate normals for 1991 to 2020. Precipitation totals about 41 inches a year.

Getting there

From Cherryvale, Kansas, take U.S. Highway 169 and turn east onto Main Street. Continue through the town and turn right onto Olive Street. Go 1/2 a block and turn left onto County Route 5000. Proceed 4.5 miles to Big Hill Lake and follow signs to Mound Valley.

Nearest townCherryvale, Kansas
Coordinates37.2694° N, 95.4583° W · Directions ↗

Supplies & services

Dump stationDump station ↗6.7 mi
RV sales & serviceH & K Campers ↗35.1 mi

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

Explore

Video

Bighill camping site #64, Mound Valley, kansas

On the National Register nearby

On Register Atlas →

Natural features

The park is nestled in the rolling, wooded countryside that is referred to as the Little Ozarks. With thick oak-hickory forests surrounded by prairie and farmland, the lake shore supplies a variety of habitats for birds and mammals.

Recreation

Campers can venture onto several hiking and equestrian trails including Big Hill Lake Horse Trail, a 17-mile trail with a variety of terrain for all ages to explore. The trail winds along a scenic hardwood ridge that offers gorgeous views all along the way. Big Hill Lake is known as a trophy lake for fishing. Principal species of sport fish include largemouth bass, crappie, channel and flathead catfish, bluegill, walleye and smallmouth bass. The lake is also popular for fishing tournaments. Almost all of the land around the lake is open to public hunting, except for parks and areas around the dam and control structures. Principal species hunted are whitetail deer, turkey and squirrel. Families with kids will enjoy visiting the sand-covered beach nearby for cooling off from the summer heat and enjoying a picnic.

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 Mound Valley?

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

Source: Recreation.gov

What time is check-in at Mound Valley?

Check-in 3:00 PM, checkout 3:00 PM.

Source: Recreation.gov

How many sites does Mound Valley have?

85 sites, including 74 standard sites with power, 8 standard sites without power, and 2 group sites.

Source: Recreation.gov

Will my RV fit at Mound Valley?

Recreation.gov lists no practical vehicle capacity limit for the largest site here, which usually means pull-through or open parking. The sidebar tool checks a trailer or motorhome length against every site.

Source: Will my RV fit

Does Mound Valley have hookups?

Yes, electric, water, and sewer hookups at some sites.

Source: Recreation.gov

Are there showers or a dump station at Mound Valley?

Other amenities include a boat ramp and boat trailer parking, restrooms, showers and a swim beach.

Source: Recreation.gov

Are pets allowed at Mound Valley?

Yes, pets are allowed at Mound Valley. Leash rules apply.

Source: Recreation.gov

Can I have a campfire at Mound Valley?

Fires are allowed in the provided rings under normal conditions.

Source: Recreation.gov

Is there cell service at Mound Valley?

FCC coverage maps show Verizon 4G LTE, AT&T 4G LTE, and T-Mobile 4G LTE at the campground point. Terrain changes that from one site to the next.

Source: FCC Broadband Map

What is there to do at Mound Valley?

Campers can venture onto several hiking and equestrian trails including Big Hill Lake Horse Trail, a 17-mile trail with a variety of terrain for all ages to explore. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.

Source: Recreation

What is the nearest town to Mound Valley?

Cherryvale, Kansas.

Source: Getting there

What if Mound Valley is full?

The nearest public campgrounds are Cherryvale Park (under 0.1 mi), Timber Hill Park (1.9 mi), and Washington Cove (36.4 mi).

Source: Campgrounds nearby