Damsite Campground
Fall River, Kansas · on Fall River
Verified · 3 independent sources · top-verified
- WATER
- reservoir
- ACCESS
- Designated swim area
- FEE
- $6
- SEASON
- Varies by conditions
About Damsite Campground
Damsite Campground is a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers campground on Fall River Lake in Greenwood County, Kansas, sitting on the Fall River just below the dam spillway near the small town of Fall River. Recreation.gov lists a designated swimming site within the campground, giving campers a ready-made swimming hole, alongside boating, water skiing, and fishing on the reservoir, which stretches roughly 15 miles upstream.
The campground occupies rolling prairie country in Greenwood County where the Fall River meets its Corps-built dam; the reservoir behind it is about a mile wide near the dam and around 15 miles long upstream. Recreation.gov notes the surrounding area includes an approximately 8,000-acre public wildlife area used by prairie chickens, deer, turkey, waterfowl, and other game.
Swimming at Damsite Campground
Recreation.gov's official facility listing states that 'swimming' is available at a designated swimming site within the Damsite Campground, but neither this page nor the USACE Tulsa District page describe a formal beach, water depth, clarity, or bottom conditions. The campground straddles the Fall River immediately below the spillway, so the swim area is associated with the river/tailwater section adjacent to camp rather than a described open-lake beach; sources did not clarify which of the two is used.
How to get to this swimming hole
Per Recreation.gov: from El Dorado, Kansas, travel about 10 miles south on US-77, then about 46 miles east on KS-96 to reach the Fall River Lake area; the campground address is 2453 Lake Road, Fall River, KS 67047.
The walk in
No real hike here. The water is a short walk from where you park. Damsite is a drive-up USACE campground straddling the Fall River below the spillway; no hiking trail to a swim site was found in any official or third-party source. Visitors walk directly from the campground/parking area to the riverbank.
Plan your visit
Parking
Lot
Damsite is a drive-up USACE campground with vehicle-accessible campsites; Recreation.gov did not describe a separate dedicated swim-area parking lot or a distinct day-use parking fee (only per-night campsite fees of $6-$100 were listed).
Restrooms
Yes
Recreation.gov's Damsite Campground facility page lists vault toilets, drinking water, and showers as available on-site.
On the water
Recreation.gov lists 'jet skiing' and 'boating' among on-site activities, and the USACE Tulsa District page (cited in the prior dossier) lists boating and water skiing as available on the reservoir, implying no blanket no-wake or electric-only rule. No source explicitly confirms or restricts kayak/canoe/paddleboard use, and no horsepower or wake-zone rules were published on the pages reached, so those fields are left null/unlisted rather than assumed.
Backstory
Per Wikipedia, Fall River Dam construction began May 9, 1946, the embankment was completed August 12, 1948, and the conservation pool was filled June 9, 1949, with full flood-control operation beginning in April 1949; the lake is operated by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' Tulsa District.
Damsite Campground: FAQ
Does Damsite Campground charge a fee?
Recreation.gov lists Damsite Campground campsite fees ranging from $6 to $100 per night depending on site type (vault-toilet/tent sites up to full hookup RV sites); no separate day-use or swimming fee was found.
Do I need to hike to reach Damsite Campground?
No significant hike is required. The swimming area is close to parking and access.
Where do I park for Damsite Campground?
Damsite is a drive-up USACE campground with vehicle-accessible campsites; Recreation.gov did not describe a separate dedicated swim-area parking lot or a distinct day-use parking fee (only per-night campsite fees of $6-$100 were listed).
Can I bring a kayak or paddleboard to Damsite Campground?
Recreation.gov lists 'jet skiing' and 'boating' among on-site activities, and the USACE Tulsa District page (cited in the prior dossier) lists boating and water skiing as available on the reservoir, implying no blanket no-wake or electric-only rule. No source explicitly confirms or restricts kayak/canoe/paddleboard use, and no horsepower or wake-zone rules were published on the pages reached, so those fields are left null/unlisted rather than assumed.
What are the rules at Damsite Campground?
No swim-specific rules were published on the official pages found. Recreation.gov notes limited vehicle clearance on the bridge separating the Damsite West and East campground areas, so larger RVs may need to use an alternate entrance.
What water body is Damsite Campground on?
Damsite Campground is on Fall River, a natural reservoir verified in USGS hydrography data.
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