El Dorado State Park Camp Ground Frontier 9
El Dorado, Kansas · on Walnut River · El Dorado State Park
Verified · 4 independent sources
- WATER
- reservoir
- ACCESS
- Designated swim area
- FEE
- $5/day
- SEASON
- Varies by conditions
About El Dorado State Park Camp Ground Frontier 9
This site is campsite 9 in the Frontier loop of the Walnut River camping area at El Dorado State Park, a Kansas Department of Wildlife & Parks facility on the shore of El Dorado Reservoir (locally called El Dorado Lake) east of El Dorado, Kansas. The official park brochure identifies a designated swim beach 'located in the center of the campground' in this same Walnut River area, making this a state-park-managed lake swim spot rather than a river swimming hole despite the Walnut River name.
The Walnut River camping area sits on the reservoir's shoreline near the Walnut River channel/dam area of El Dorado Lake, an 8,000-acre Army Corps of Engineers reservoir with 98 miles of shoreline on the edge of Kansas's Flint Hills. The surrounding park land (about 2,000 developed acres plus 4,000 acres of wildlife area) has steep, rocky shorelines, old river channels and standing timber typical of the reservoir's margins, with a paved/hardened 2-mile multi-use trail winding through the campground.
Swimming at El Dorado State Park Camp Ground Frontier 9
Swimming here is at a designated, developed lake swim beach within the Walnut River campground (not river swimming in the Walnut River itself), intended for campers and day visitors to the state park; the official sources describe it only as a 'swim beach' without further detail on sand, depth, or supervision, so specifics beyond its existence and central-campground location are not documented.
How to get to this swimming hole
El Dorado State Park is located 3 miles east of El Dorado, Kansas on Hwy 54, then 1 mile north; the Walnut River camping area (Frontier/Eagle Pass loops) is accessed from that side of the park, with the swim beach centrally located within the Walnut River campground.
The hike in
A separate 2.5-mile, ADA-accessible multi-use trail (Walnut River Trail) loops through the Walnut River campground for hiking/biking, but it is a recreational amenity, not a required route to the swim beach/pond, which sits centrally in the campground a short walk from campsites.
Drive-up/walk-up access only; no hike is needed to reach the designated swim area.
Plan your visit
Bringing kids
OK with supervision
This is a designated swim beach/pond inside the Walnut River campground rather than open reservoir shoreline, which suggests a more controlled entry than the main lake, but Kansas state park sources do not document lifeguards, roping, or depth markers, so adult supervision is warranted. The site is also part of a working reservoir with boat ramps elsewhere in the park, so normal open-water caution applies.
Parking
Paid, $5/day (or $25/year) Kansas state park vehicle entrance permit; separate camping permits from $10/night if staying overnight
No dedicated swim-beach parking lot is documented; visitors most likely park at their campsite or a nearby campground pull-off within the Walnut River/Frontier loop and walk to the swim beach. A state park vehicle permit is required regardless of parking location.
Restrooms
Yes
Shower house and restroom facilities are provided within the Walnut River camping area (per KDWP facility directory), but no source specifies the exact distance from the shower house to the swim beach itself.
Hours
No separate swim-beach hours are published; the Walnut River campground enforces quiet hours 11:00 p.m.-6:00 a.m., implying the park/campground is otherwise accessible to permit holders around the clock.
On the water
El Dorado Lake/State Park has boat ramps at all four recreation areas (Bluestem Point, Boulder Bluff, Shady Creek, and this Walnut River area) and a marina operating in the Shady Creek Area, indicating general boating is permitted lake-wide. No source confirms whether motorized craft or wake zones are restricted specifically at the Walnut River swim beach/pond itself, so treat that as unconfirmed.
El Dorado State Park Camp Ground Frontier 9: FAQ
Does El Dorado State Park Camp Ground Frontier 9 charge a fee?
A Kansas State Park vehicle entrance permit is required ($5/day or $25/year standard rate; discounted senior/disabled rates available), plus a separate camping permit for overnight stays (from $10/night daily permit up to seasonal/annual options); permits are sold at the park office, gate houses, camp hosts, or self-pay stations.
Is El Dorado State Park Camp Ground Frontier 9 kid friendly?
This is a designated swim beach/pond inside the Walnut River campground rather than open reservoir shoreline, which suggests a more controlled entry than the main lake, but Kansas state park sources do not document lifeguards, roping, or depth markers, so adult supervision is warranted. The site is also part of a working reservoir with boat ramps elsewhere in the park, so normal open-water caution applies.
Do I need to hike to reach El Dorado State Park Camp Ground Frontier 9?
No significant hike is required. The swimming area is close to parking and access.
Where do I park for El Dorado State Park Camp Ground Frontier 9?
No dedicated swim-beach parking lot is documented; visitors most likely park at their campsite or a nearby campground pull-off within the Walnut River/Frontier loop and walk to the swim beach. A state park vehicle permit is required regardless of parking location.
Can I bring a kayak or paddleboard to El Dorado State Park Camp Ground Frontier 9?
El Dorado Lake/State Park has boat ramps at all four recreation areas (Bluestem Point, Boulder Bluff, Shady Creek, and this Walnut River area) and a marina operating in the Shady Creek Area, indicating general boating is permitted lake-wide. No source confirms whether motorized craft or wake zones are restricted specifically at the Walnut River swim beach/pond itself, so treat that as unconfirmed.
What are the rules at El Dorado State Park Camp Ground Frontier 9?
Quiet hours are enforced 11:00 p.m.-6:00 a.m.; fireworks and go-peds are prohibited; horses and bicycles must stay on designated trails; a valid state park vehicle permit and camping permit are required for all overnight stays.
What water body is El Dorado State Park Camp Ground Frontier 9 on?
El Dorado State Park Camp Ground Frontier 9 is on Walnut River, a natural reservoir verified in USGS hydrography data.
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