There are many hidden treasures in Kansas. But, if you haven’t been to Wilson State Park, you are depriving yourself of some of the most amazing landscapes not just in Kansas, but in the entire country.
When I found out I was moving to Kansas from California in 2011, I pictured endless fields of corn and other crops. We’ve got those, too, but my goodness is Kansas beautiful. The sprawling Flint Hills are nothing short of magical. And that’s coming from a photographer who has lived in many picturesque cities in this country.
One of the most beautiful vacations spots in Kansas is less than 2 hours from Manhattan.
It’s an easy drive West on Highway 70 to get to Wilson State Park, which was recently named the 10th best state park for camping in the country. I highly recommend a quick detour to Mushroom Rock State Park on your way. It’s one of the smallest state parks in Kansas, but definitely worth checking out.
I’ll share some more pictures from Mushroom State Park later in this post.
And be sure to read to the end of this blog post for a special surprise.
My most recent visit to Wilson State Park was mid-June 2025 during a three day weekend of 100 degree weather and persistently high winds. We were planning on tent camping, but opted to rent a cabin. Thankfully, there was a last minute cancellation at Cedar Ridge Cabins, which ended up being a wonderful experience.
There are more awesome trails and beaches than you could possibly explore in one trip. We didn’t get to our cabin at Wilson Lake until around noon. So, the first day, we chose parts of the Golden Belt EZ trail, which surrounded our cabin. We took a dip in the chilly lake at a designated state park swimming beach to cool off, then went back to start on dinner.
The heat got to me on day one, so day two started early. I was excited to show off the Rocktown Trail to my travel companion. The 3 mile hike itself was stunning, but just wait until you see the rock formations in person.
Rocktown Trail
We stopped for some scenic views near the dam before heading to our cabin for lunch and a nap. The rest of the day was spent at the beach where we absolutely did not get talked into jumping off of a 40 foot cliff multiple times. 😉
It was too hot to leave my camera in the car. I also didn’t want to have my expensive gear on the windy beaches. But, trust me. The beaches were beautiful!
I really wanted to go kayaking or rent a jet ski, but unfortunately, the wind was prohibitive. Next time!
That evening, I pulled up some trail maps and decided on the 7 mile East Loop of Wilson State Park for Sunday morning. We set a 6am alarm to pull it off, but this hike was somehow even more beautiful than the Rocktown Trail!
Wilson State Park East Loop
If you are scared of heights, this trail will be extra thrilling. There are several paths that have you looking over steep hills and cliffs. The views are truly magical if you are up for the challenge!
The trail snakes back and forth across the hills and shoreline. It’s pretty cool looking down on the maze of paths from the high points.
It was hot out, but very windy for this hike. Without the wind, I think we’d have been pretty miserable even with the early start. There were some beautiful shady spots, though!
We saw lizards, turtles, a variety of birds, and hoards of grasshoppers along the trail.
Since the East Loop trailhead was so close to our cabin, we ventured back over to watch the sunset Sunday night.
As promised at the start of the blog, here are some more pictures from Mushroom State Park.
Mushroom State Park
How were these amazing rocks formed?
And now it’s time for the surprise!
While searching for interesting things to do in the area (more hidden treasures), I came across a truly unique gem. It turns out there is an old missile silo just 15 minutes from Lake Wilson called the Atlas Ad Astra Adventure Resort.
If you are up for the full experience, the owner, Matthew, has opened up the first of what will hopefully be several rentals in this underground structure. You can make reservations through his website or through the OMG section of the Airbnb app.
He’s also set up for tent, van, and RV camping.
If you already have lodgings paid for like we did, I still encourage you to take his tour. He’s got big plans for this awesome piece of history, including an educational center for space habitat studies. I’m excited to go back and see the progress!
While you’re in the area, you might as well drive into town and check out the World’s Largest Czech Egg in Wilson, KS.
This appears the be the best(only?) grocery store near Wilson State Park. You might want to swing by before heading to your camping adventure.
Keep an eye on my blog for more Travel posts!
My goal is to become a family travel photographer, so this is all part of the journey!
You can find more magical places to visit in Kansas on my Hidden Gems in Kansas blog post.
