Go if
You want affordable lake access in the Flint Hills and don't mind a small campground with evening gate closure.
Select a month, then check for open campsites
Price
$10/night
Booking
Reservable
Sites
8 campsites
Season
Open May 1 through S...
Cell
Unknown
Pets
Very Pet Friendly
Select a month, then check for open campsites
Price
$10/night
Booking
Reservable
Sites
8 campsites
Season
Open May 1 through S...
Cell
Unknown
Pets
Very Pet Friendly
We'll monitor this campground and alert you the moment sites become available.
Free to start · paid plans add 2-min scans
256,000+ sites monitored · Email, SMS, or in-app notifications
Learn more about alerts →North Richey Cove
38.7072, -96.4978
You want affordable lake access in the Flint Hills and don't mind a small campground with evening gate closure.
You need open gate access after hours or want a larger campground with more amenities.
Context for the broader area surrounding North Richey Cove, sourced from the federal Recreation.gov rec-area record.
The lake was named for the nearby town of Council Grove, the birthplace of the Santa Fe Trail and a National Historic District. The lake is in the heart of the Flint Hills, one of the last vestiges of Tallgrass Prairie, and is located 20 miles north of the Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve and 30 miles south of the Konza Prairie Preserve.
1 mile north of the intersection of highways US 56 and KS 177. One mile north of Council Grove , KS; 67 miles southwest of Topeka, KS; 100 miles northeast of Wichita, KS; 37 miles south of Manhattan, KS; and 35 miles northeast of Emporia, KS.
Compare with similar sites, watch availability, and build a packing list — Camp Sage handles all of it.
Best season: summer. Summer offers the fullest range of lake-based recreation — expect warm, mostly dry days (daytime highs typically 75–90°F / 24–32°C) and cool, pleasant evenings (55–65°F / 13–18°C) ideal for campfires and stargazing. Boating, fishing, swimming and long prairie hikes are at their peak, and the long daylight hours showcase the Flint Hills’ sweeping grassland views. Weekends can be busier (holiday weekends see the most reservations), but roomy, well-spaced sites and shaded trees still make it easyto Peak months: June, July, August, September Avoid: October, November, December, January
Best conditions May–Sept; warm days (75–90°F) and full access to lake activities in summer.
Reservation tips, booking windows, and free cancellation alerts.
North Richey Cove Campground offers facilities closely integrated with the natural environment of Council Grove Lake. There are 8 reservable campsites available, with shaded areas as well as open grassy spaces suitable for relaxation and recreation. The campground is equipped with a boat ramp for easy access to boating activities on the lake.
Researching this campground? Ask anything — other campers and our team will weigh in. No visit required.
Short heads-ups about the road in, gear quirks, timing, and more. You don't have to have been here to share what you know.
Be the first to review this campground
Every adventure creates another. Share what you learned so the next camper feels a little more prepared heading out.