HUTCHINSON, Kan. — It will be the usual busy holiday weekend for area lakes as the first big bash of the summer kicks off.
Cheney State Park has long been sold out of established campsites due to the early online reservation system used by the state. There may be some primitive camping available, but you should check ahead of time.
Boaters will be welcomed with a new boat ramp near O’Brien's Marina. The state finished up the new ramp late last summer. The lake level is still down a little but, with the recent rainfall, that level is expected to be about normal by the weekend. So far, the lake has been clear of debris. The lake still has its obstacles and sandbars, so use care if you are going to boat.
The same is for Kanopolis as most, if not all, camping areas are reserved. The lake is running about normal level. Be advised if you are going to boat, the boat ramps get very busy. There are only three ramp locations, and five ramps to launch and retrieve from all together.
Marion Reservoir had to go to full reservations for the lake this year after it was not able to find volunteers to man the non-reservation campsites. Most of the established camping is taken already. The lake has been quite low and, according to the latest from the Army Corps of engineers, the lake is still down about one foot from normal, making the water around the southside boat ramps shallow. For the first time in nearly a year, the lake is free of algae.
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