Rockhaven Park is located on the south side of Clinton Lake, west of the Dam on the Rock Creek Arm of the lake. Rockhaven Park is the trailhead for the South Shore Trails (equestrian and hiking trails on the south side of the lake) and is the only place where equestrians can camp overnight with their horses and mules.
Rockhaven Park offers overnight camping for equestrian and non-equestrian campers. There are 24 campsites, 12 which have electrical service (13E-24E). Five campsites (#5-#9) are open to any campers. A total of 19 campsites (#1-#4) and (#10-#24) are for equestrian campers only. All of the sites must be reserved through the Reservation Service. There will be no collections in the campground, all payments will be made through the reservation service. If a camper arrives without a reservation, she/he will need to contact the reservation service, ensure availability, then pay immediately with a credit card over the phone. Reservations can be made, up to six months in advance, over telephone or internet.
Rockhaven Park amenities include a waterborne four stall shower/restroom building, a two stall vault toilet, horsehoe pits, picnic shelter, playground, manure bunkers, several corrals, hitching posts and trail access. There are several water hydrants located throughout the campground.
Equestrian campsites (sites 1-4 and 10-24) are for campers with horses or mules only. All sites with electrical hook-ups are for equestrian users only. Sites 5-9 are available for anyone.
Campsite Occupancy/Capacity:
- Two vehicles per site
- 8 people max per site
- Two camping unites per site; either two tents or one tent and one RV/Trailer
Vehicles must be operated in accordance with applicable state laws. Only licensed vehicles operated by a licensed driver can be used within a public use area. Park roads are for ingress and egress only. Absolutely No ATVs, UTVs, Golf Carts, or other battery operated vehicles can be operated in the park. All vehicles must remain on paved or graveled surfaces. Parking vehicles on the grass is prohibited, please keep at least 2 tires on paved/graveled surfaces when parking vehicles and boat trailers (unloaded trailers may be parked in the grass adjacent to your site).
DISCOUNT PASSES must be presented upon arrival and can only be used for ONE site where the cardholder is the REGISTERED camper. Fraudulent use of a discount pass may result in loss of pass and a mandatory appearance in court in accordance with Title 36 CFR 327.23 (d) RECREATION FEES.
All pets must be kept on a leash not more than 6 feet in length. Pets are not allowed in the shower building or restrooms. Pet waste needs to be picked up by pet owner.
Adverse trail conditions may result in temporary trail closures.
14 Day Policy: Camping or overnight occupancy in a campground by any person or group for more than 14 days within a 30-day period is prohibited. After 14 days campers will be required to change campgrounds and not return during that 30-day period. Consecutive reservations under different names that exceed 14 days are not authorized and are subject to eviction and/or the issuance of a citation in accordance with Title 36 CFR 327.7 (b).
Quiet hours are from 10:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m and are strictly enforced. This includes turning off radios and generators at 10:00 p.m. All visitors not staying overnight at the campsite must also leave the park by 10:00 p.m. For late night problems, call the Douglas County Sheriff's Department at 785-843-0250.
Commercial operations are prohibited on USACE operated lands.
Fires must be confined to fire rings provided by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Dead and downed wood may be used for firewood, cutting of standing trees, limbs, or bushes is prohibited. Operation of a chainsaw is prohibited, hand tools are allowed. Please do not dispose of trash in fire rings.
Please keep a clean campsite during your stay. Place all garbage in the dumpster. Two concrete compost pens have been provided for disposal of horse manure from
campsites and horse corrals (Please clean site of manure before leaving).
Horses must not be tethered directly to or in trees, however, hitching rings and tie lines may be used.
All horse corrals are first-come first-serve, even horse carrols in close proximity to a campsite are first-come first-serve.
Electric fences are not allowed.
No firewood from outside Douglas or Shawnee counties, in Kansas, permitted. Please help us prevent the spread of the Emeral Ash Borer insect. For more information contact the Clinton Lake Project Office at (785) 843-7665. Don't Move Firewood: Protect your forests from tree-killing pests by buying your firewood locally and burning it on-site. Visit Dontmovefirewood.org for further information.
Congress authorized Clinton Lake in 1962, and the finished reservoir was filled in 1980. While the Dam and Reservoir were originally built for flood control, the area has now become a recreational oasis for millions of visitors to enjoy the beautiful green Kansas backdrop. Clinton Lake's beautiful setting of steep bluffs, wooded shoreline and clean water is unequaled among Kansas lakes. Shoreline development has been limited in an effort to preserve as much of the natural setting as possible.
The Army Corps of Engineers Visitor Center, located on the northwest side of the dam, has several informative displays covering topics such as the history of the area, reasons for the dam and the wildlife in the area. The Clinton Lake Museum, located within the Bloomington East Park, has information on the history of the region and the Underground Railroad. The cities of Lawrence and Topeka are within a 30 minute drive.
Rockhaven Park, first of all, is an equestrian friendly campground. This is Clinton Lake's only campground that allows overnight camping with horses and mules. Approximately one-fourth of the campsites are open to non-equestrian campers, but three-fourths of the campsites are strictly for equestrian campers. There is a "day use only" parking lot for those who come to ride or hike for the day, but not stay overnight. Access to the South Shore Trails is located in Rockhaven Park. The main trailhead is on the north side of the campground, which is a short walk or ride from a campsite or the day use parking lot.
In addition to campsites, Rockhaven offers a free first-come, first-serve group shelter, perfect for familiy gatherings and events
Bloomington Beach is a short drive away located in Bloomington East Park. Bloomington Beach requires a day use fee, for non-campers, between May 1 and September 30.
Bloomington East offers 4 sets of boat ramps with courtesy docks. Launching a Boat requires a day use fee, for non-campers, between April 1 and November 30.
Rockhaven has horshoe pits and a playground within the campground.
Clinton Lake offers opportunities for boating, fishing, canoeing, jet skiing, swimming and countless other water sports, however the best water access is a short drive away in Bloomington East Park
The lake's fish and wildlife resources provide sightseers, fishermen, and hunters, ample opportunities for their sports, and Clinton Lake is well-stocked with crappie, walleye, channel catfish and white bass. Bloomington East Park has three boat ramps within a short driving distance of the campgrounds. These boat ramps (#5, 6 and 7) do require a day use fee, for non-campers, between April 1 and October 31.
Visitors enjoy viewing bald eagles, white-tailed deer, Canada geese, wild turkey and other wildlife in abundance at Clinton Lake.
Rockhaven offers easy access to the South Shore trail but lake offers 3 other trail systems (North Shore, Smokehouse, George Latham Trails) offering hiking and biking all located within a 20 minute drive.
872 N. 1402 Rd. Lawrence KS 66049
1050 E. 700 Rd. Lawrence KS 66047
For campground inquiries, please call: 785-843-7665
Learn more about gear rental options for your trip
From 23rd St (Clinton Parkway) in Lawrence, KS, go south on 59 Highway (Iowa St.), approximately 2 1/3 miles. Turn onto westbound Douglas County 458, drive for about 8 1/2 miles, turn north (right) on E 700 road, about 3/4 of a mile to the Rockhaven Park entrance.
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