Rockhaven Park Campground and Equestrian Area

Rockhaven Park is located on the south side of Clinton Lake, west of the dam on the Rock Creek Arm of the lake. It is the trailhead for the South Shore Trails, the equestrian and hiking trails on the south side of the lake, and it is Clinton Lake's only campground that allows overnight camping with horses and mules, though it is open to all campers. The main South Shore trailhead is on the north side of the campground, a short walk or ride from a campsite or from the day use only parking lot, which serves those who come to ride or hike for the day. The lake offers three other trail systems, the North Shore, Smokehouse and George Latham Trails, all within a 20 minute drive and open to hiking and biking. Rockhaven also has horseshoe pits, a playground, and a free first-come, first-served group shelter, perfect for family gatherings and events. 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, which has boat ramps with courtesy docks and Bloomington Beach. The lake's fish and wildlife resources provide sightseers, fishermen and hunters ample opportunities for their sports, and the lake is well stocked with crappie, walleye, channel catfish and white bass. Visitors enjoy viewing bald eagles, white-tailed deer, Canada geese, wild turkey and other wildlife in abundance. There are 24 campsites, 12 of which have electrical service (13E-24E), and a total of 19 campsites (1-4 and 10-24) include equestrian accommodations. Amenities include a waterborne four stall shower and restroom building, a two stall vault toilet, horseshoe pits, a picnic shelter, playground, manure bunkers, several corrals, hitching posts and trail access. There are several water hydrants located throughout the campground. 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, and 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, on the northwest side of the dam, has several informative displays covering the history of the area, the reasons for the dam and the wildlife; the Clinton Lake Museum, in Bloomington East Park, covers the history of the region and the Underground Railroad; and Lawrence and Topeka are within a 30 minute drive.