Cheney State Park and Reservoir

Cheney State Park and Cheney Reservoir are located just five minutes north of the City. Cheney State Park offers a variety of recreational opportunities for outdoor fun. Completed in 1964, the Reservoir also provides fish and wildlife management, flood control, and is a water supply for the City of Wichita.

Cheney State Park rests on 1,913 acres along the south end of the Reservoir with excellent camping facilities. The park includes 185 electric hookup sites and numerous other primitive camping sites, eight restrooms with showers, a shelter house with restrooms, and several picnic/day use areas. There are also four designated swimming areas. A number of trails and wildlife areas are available for hiking and nature watching.

With brisk Kansas winds in abundance, Cheney Reservoir offers excellent sailing. It has been said that Cheney Reservoir is the windiest lake in the country. Several national sailing regattas have taken place on the lake, which is also a popular destination for water skiing and jet ski use. The Ninnescah Sailing Organization makes its home at the lake, and offers a great deal for sailing enthusiasts.

Cheney State Park also provides pleney of excitement for fishers and hunters alike. Crappie, striped bass, wipers and walleye are all in abundance. There are 22 boat launching lanes for easy access to the water. The wildlife area provides public hunting during open seasons. Primary game species are pheasant, quail, deer, turkey, dove, rabbit and waterfow.

For additional information, visit the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks Cheney State Parks webpage, or contact the Cheney State Park office at (316) 542-3664 or by email at cheneysp@wp.state.ks.us.

Related links:

Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks

Lake Afton Park

Lake Afton Park is located just nine miles east of Cheney on MacArthur Road. The 720-acre site includes a 258-acre lake, offering a wide variety of activities for family as well as the more serious adventurist. Boating, water skiing, camping, fishing, picnics and dances are some of the activities that take place regularly at Lake Afton.

Facilities at the park include six shelter houses plus many large and small open shelters, five modern restrooms and showers, a boat ramp, three fishing docks, three swimming areas and two playgrounds. Other activities and events at Lake Afton include an outdoor public shooting range, go-cart races, jet ski races, antique car shows, fishing contests and young hunters safety courses. Lake Afton is also home to national drag boat races, and state and national jamborees. In addition, there is a grocery and bait store at the park.

Lake Afton Park was completed in 1942 and is currently operated by Sedgwick County. For more information on Lake Afton Park, visit the Sedgwick County's Lake Afton web page.

On the north side of the lake is Lake Afton Public Observatory, which is open to the public. Visit the Lake Afton Observatory home page for more information. The observatory is operated by Wichita State University's Fairmount Center for Science and Mathematics Education.