Hell Creek On Heels 5K, 10K Trail Runs

“Wild Within You” will be hosting the 5th annual “Hell Creek On Heels” trail run May 2 at 8 a.m. Runners will meet at the trailhead at 7:45 a.m.

Wilson State Park. The 5K and 10K runs will take place on Switchgrass Trail and begin at

Runners will be met by aid stationsalong the trailoffering water and assorted energy-packed snacks. After the event, runners can enjoy some free race goodies, as well as enter in several drawings for prizes.

Runners can preregister online at www.active.com, in person at the Hays Recreation Commission, 1105 Canterbury Dr, Hays, or by mailing an entry form to Wild Within You, 101 W. 3rd, Liebenthal, KS 67553. Cash or check payments are accepted and race fees are non-refundable.

For more information, visit www.facebook.com/HellCreekHeels, or contact Sara Kay Carrell at (785) 650-1620.

THREE KANSAS STATE PARKS MAKE “TOP 36 STUNNING STATE PARKS” LIST

Out of more than 7,500 U.S. state parks, Kansas makes the list three times

PRATT – While compiling a list of some of our country’s best state parks, The Active Times

couldn’t ignore the state of Kansas; in fact, they couldn’t ignore the sunflower state three times. Out of more than 7,500 U.S. state parks to choose from, three Kansas state parks made the media group’s “36 Stunning U.S. State Parks” list. Kanopolis State Park was listed No. 14, Lake Scott State Park No. 23, and Wilson State Park No. 34.

The following write-ups accompanied a photo of each park in the publication:

Kanapolis State Park

This state park is situated amidst the striking Smoky Hills region of Kansas and is treasured for its many miles of hiking trails that meander through canyons, prairies, and wooded creek bottoms. The sublime Dakota sandstone bluffs and craggy Horsethief Canyon decorate the park and its surrounding area presenting pristine views of what's considered some of Kansas’ most stunning scenery.

Lake Scott State Park

Named to National Geographic’s list of the country’s 50 must-see state parks, this aptly named “stunning oasis” has everything you could want in a park. Spanning 1,020 acres, the natural features include wooded canyons, rugged bluffs and fresh springs. Lake Scott is large enough to accommodate boating and fishing and the extensive trail system allows horseback riding. With more than 26 archeological sites in the area, the remarkable features are more than just aesthetically pleasing.

Wilson State Park

This 945-acre park is tucked away in the center of the Smoky Hills and is well attended for the scenery its location affords. Hiking trails offer unrivaled views of native Kansas prairie and the Wilson Reservoir. Camping accommodations and cabins are available throughout the park and land is dedicated to mountain biking, fishing and hunting (in season only).

The next time you plan a family outing or a weekend on the lake, consider checking out one of Kansas’ many list-worthy state parks before crossing state lines. You just might find something stunning right here at home.

To view the complete list of The Active Times’ “36 Stunning U.S. State Parks,” visit

www.theactivetimes.com/36-stunning-us-state-parks.

Related articles

• Kansas State Parks Offer Multitude of Events This June (kansas-outdoors.blogspot.com)

PLENTY OF SUMMER LEFT AT KANSAS STATE PARKS

After Labor Day, parks offer milder weather, uncrowded camping
PRATT — Many schools are already in session, and although this is often viewed as the end of summer, Kansas state parks are still going strong. Many events are planned for one of the busiest times the year — Labor Day weekend, Sept. 1-3. For outdoor enthusiasts, this is one of the best times for a park visit. Once Labor Day weekend is over, crowds thin, and September provides a relaxing outdoor experience.

Trail rides, chili cook-offs, and fishing tournaments are among the many events slated for September, making the prospect of a pre-autumn mini-vacation even more inviting. Each park sets its own dates for these events, and all offer a chance to enjoy the special attributes of Kansas state parks, many of which feature rental cabins, as well as fascinating historical or geological features that enhance the park experience.
For more information on these events, phone individual parks or click the "Event Calendar" on the "State Parks" page of the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism (KDWPT) website, www.ksoutdoors.com. Under “Reservations,” campsite and cabin reservations may be made online.

Telephone numbers of all state parks offices may also be found on the State Parks page under "Locations."
The following is a list of September state park events:

• Sept. 1 — Clinton Trail Workday at Clinton State Park;
• Sept. 7-9 — Saddle Ridge Trail Riders Club Poker Ride at Hillsdale State Park;
• Sept. 8 — Hays Bass Anglers Association fishing tournament at Wilson State Park;
• Sept. 9 — Chili Cookoff and Free Park Entrance Day at Lovewell State Park;
• Sept. 9 — 3-D archery shoot and Free Park Entrance Day at Lovewell State Park;
• Sept. 15 — Hays Bass Anglers Association Big Bass Challenge at Wilson State Park;
• Sept. 16 — Heartland Coursing Association hound coursing practice at Clinton State Park;
• Sept. 22 — Kansas Buddy Bass Tournament at Hillsdale State Park;
• Sept. 22 — Women on Target instructional shooting at Tuttle Creek State Park;
• Sept. 22 — Heartland Motorcycle Poker Run fundraiser at Clinton State Park;
• Sept. 23 — Hays Recreation Center 30+K and 5K trail run at Wilson State Park;
• Sept. 28-30 — Kansas Bass Federation fishing tournament at Wilson State Park;
• Sept. 28 — Tour de Ted benefit bike ride for cancer research at Tuttle Creek State Park;
• Sept. 29 — 10th Annual Fall River Rendezvous at Fall River State Park; and
• Sept. 30 — Twin Rivers Bass Club of Emporia fishing tournament at Clinton State Park.

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• Independence Day to Launch July State Park Events (kansas-outdoors.blogspot.com)
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• El Dorado State Park Named Top "Waterpark" (kansas-outdoors.blogspot.com)
• Missouri State Parks hosts bison hike Sept. 1 at Prairie State Park (missourioutdoors.blogspot.com)

KANSAS HIGH SCHOOL FISHING STATE CHAMPIONSHIP JUNE 30

Winners eligible for regional championships, college scholarships
RUSSELL — The Bass Federation (TBF), in partnership with Forrest L. Wood (FLW) Outdoors, will host the Student Angler Federation Kansas High School Fishing State Championship June 30 at Wilson Reservoir, near Russell. The state championship is a two-person team event for students in grades 9-12. The winning two-person team from each state championship will advance to an FLW Outdoors/TBF High School Fishing Regional Championship held in conjunction with a National Guard FLW College Fishing Regional Championship hosted on a college campus this fall.

Registration for high school anglers and their coaches, who will provide the boat they compete in, is available online at HighSchoolFishing.org, by phoning 580-765-9031, or by emailing info@highschoolfishing.org for more details.

Mandatory check-in begins at 7 p.m. on Friday, June 29, in the TBF tournament trailer at Wilson State Park’s Hell Creek Area boat ramp, with a mandatory rules briefing at 8 p.m. Teams are encouraged to preregister online or by phone in advance to avoid late-registration fees.

Students and parents can go to HighSchoolFishing.org for details on the Student Angler Federation (SAF) and to sign up. Cost is $25 and includes a one-year SAF membership and full TBF and FLW Outdoors benefits, including access to FLW Outdoors Magazine e-Edition and insurance coverage for students and their club. The fee covers all SAF sanctioned events all year.

Each team that qualifies for a regional and/or national championship will receive a travel allowance to help offset expenses. The High School Fishing National Championship winners will each receive a $5,000 scholarship to use at the university of their choice.

An SAF-sanctioned event also includes an “angler testing” component. Anglers can take a free online test at HighSchoolFishing.org about boater safety, conservation, and angler ethics, which makes them eligible for contingency awards at their state championship.

For more information, email The Bass Federation at info@highschoolfishing.org, phone 580-765-9031, or go online to www.highschoolfishing.org.

SUMMER IN FULL SWING WITH JUNE STATE PARK EVENTS

May 31, 2012
Special events, free park entrance days to be held at many parks
PRATT — During the weekend of June 2-3, anglers of all ages may fish without a fishing license statewide. Ordinarily, nonresidents 16 or older and residents age 16 through 64 must have a fishing license to fish in Kansas, but on Free Fishing Days, everyone gets to fish for free. Many Kansas state parks offer free admission and special events during Free Fishing Days and the excitement continues throughout the month. Special events, some in conjunction with Free Park Entrance Days, are designed to entertain park users who want to explore the history or geology of an individual park, as well as those who just want an excuse to celebrate something “more” than camping, swimming, boating, hiking, and all the other pleasures offered by Kansas state parks.
June events are diverse and may include anything from fishing tournaments and outdoor concerts to mountain bike and equestrian events. Many involve outdoor education. For more information on state park events, phone individual parks or click the "Events Calendar" on the "State Parks" page of the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism (KDWPT) website, ksoutdoors.com.
Park goers are urged to phone the park they intend to visit before traveling. Telephone numbers of all state parks also may be found online on the KDWPT website. Click "State Parks" at the top of the page, then "Locations" in the left-hand column.
Events for June:

• June 2 — Free Park Entrance Day at Prairie Dog State Park;
• June 2 — National Trails Day at Fall River State Park;
• June 2 — Free Park Entrance Day at Glen Elder State Park;
• June 2 — 5K run/walk at Pomona State Park;
• June 2 — Kids fishing derby at Pomona State Park;
• June 2 — 8th Annual Youth Fishing Tournament at Glen Elder State Park;
• June 2 — Kid's fishing clinic at Milford State Park;
• June 2-4 — OK Kids Day at Prairie Dog State Park;
• June 2 — Trails workday at Clinton State Park;
• June 2 — Hays Recreation Center 15K and 5K trail runs at Wilson State Park;
• June 3 — Kids fishing derby at Lovewell State Park;
• June 8 — Western Extralite Company Fishing Tournament at Wilson State Park;
• June 8-10 — Hell Creek Hoedown Bluegrass Festival at Wilson State Park;
• June 9-10 — Rocky Mountain Team Series Fishing Tournament at Wilson State park;
• June 9 — Lori and Randy Knippa Benefit Horse Trail Ride at Hillsdale State Park;
• June 10 — Kansas 70.3 Ironman Triathlon at Clinton State Park;
• June 16 — Kansas Buddy Bass Fishing Tournament, OK Kids Day at Wilson State Park;
• June 17 — Kansas Walleye Association Fishing Tournament at Wilson State Park;
• June 23-24 — Country Stampede Music Festival at Tuttle Creek State Park;
• June 23-24 — Western Nebraska Bass Fishing Tournament at Wilson State Park;
• June 23 — Twin Rivers Bass Club Fishing Tournament at Pomona State Park;
• June 23-24 — Governor’s Cup Walleye Fishing Tournament at Glen Elder State Park;
• June 23 — National Truck Owners Car Show and barbecue at Hillsdale State Park;
• June 24 — Twin Rivers Bass Club of Emporia Bass Tournament at Eisenhower State Park;
• June 24 — Heartland Coursing whippet racing event at Clinton State Park;
• June 30 — Bass Federation of Kansas State High School Fishing Championship at Wilson State Park;
• June 30-July 1 — Miami County Bass Club fishing tournament at Wilson State Park; and
• June 30 — Friends of Fancy Creek Range Kids Day at Tuttle Creek State Park’s Fancy Creek Range.

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KANSAS STATE PARKS PREPARE FOR BUSY SEASON

Wilson-Tuscarora State Park (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

April marks beginning of park season
PRATT — Great outdoor adventures are waiting at Kansas state parks. The early warm-up this spring has whetted the appetites of campers, boaters, and anglers, and your state parks are ready.

In addition to camping, boating, fishing, hiking, and biking, a variety of special events are planned throughout the state to enhance the state park experience. Some events are in conjunction with Free Park Entrance Days; some celebrate a special historical event or geological attribute of an individual park; and others are just for entertainment. Each park sets its own dates for these events.

Events are diverse and may include anything from a marathon race to boating courses and equestrian events. Many are educational, and all make visiting Kansas state parks more enjoyable. For more information on state park events, phone individual parks or click the "Event Calendar" on the State Parks page of the KDWPT website, ksoutdoors.com.

Park goers are urged to phone the park they intend to visit before traveling. Telephone numbers of all state parks offices may be found on the KDWP website. Click "State Parks" at the top of the page, then "Locations" in the left-hand column. A short conversation with local park staff will provide information on campsite availability, park conditions, current visitation rates, and answers to other questions. KDWPT is currently in the process of installing a new reservation system, so no new reservations will be taken until April 17.

Although few events are currently scheduled for April, each month gets busier as the air and water warm. April events include the following:

April 6-8 — 2nd Annual Luke Nihart Memorial Turkey Hunt (youth/disabled) at Tuttle Creek and Milford state parks;
April 7 — Kansas Ultra Runners' Society Rockin' K Trail Runs at Kanopolis State Park;
April 14-15 — Heart of America German Shorthair Pointer Club AKC Field Trial & Hunt Test at Hillsdale State Park;
April 20-21 — Spoon Creek Chapter Fellowship of Christian Cowboys Trail Ride at Hillsdale State Park;
April 21 — second annual benefit ride to send combat troops packages at El Dorado State Park (phone American Legion, 316-323-3982);
April 21 — Hays Bass Anglers Association Fishing Tournament at Wilson State Park;
April 21 — 9th Annual Corps of Engineers Clinton Reservoir Clean Up at Clinton State Park;
April 21 — Kansas Buddy Bass Tournament at Eisenhower State Park; and
April 28 — OK Kids Day and Free Entrance at Cheney State Park.

Related articles

• Youth turkey harvest up
• Young shooters flock to Oklahoma State Fair Park for competitive archery finale
• 2012 Kansas Nonresident Deer Application Deadline April 27
• Wisconsin: Strong turnout, new online survey highlight statewide deer forums

KDWPT ANNOUNCES HOLIDAY OFFICE SCHEDULE

Image via Wikipedia

State parks open for use but some park offices closed during holiday period
PRATT — All Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism offices will be closed for the Christmas holiday, Dec. 26, as well as Jan. 2 for New Year’s Day. While all state parks will be open for visitation and use, some state park offices will be closed additional days, including the following:

Western Kansas

• Cedar Bluff State Park — closed Dec. 30;
• Glen Elder State Park — closed Dec. 22 at noon through Jan. 2;
• Lovewell State Park — closed Dec. 27;
• Meade State Park — closed Dec. 27;
• Prairie Dog State Park — closed Dec. 23;
• Scott State Park — closed Dec. 23; and



Image via Wikipedia

• Webster State Park — closed Dec. 30 at noon.

Central Kansas

• Cheney State Park — closed Dec. 23 and Dec. 30 at noon;
• Kanopolis State Park — closed Dec. 23-27 and Dec. 30;
• Milford State Park — closed Dec. 27 and Dec. 30; and
• Wilson State Park — closed Dec. 23-27 and Dec. 30.

Eastern Kansas

• Clinton State Park — closed Dec. 22;
• Crawford State Park — closed Dec. 23;
• Cross Timbers State Park — closed Dec. 28 and Dec. 30;
• Hillsdale State Park — closed Dec. 30;
• Eisenhower State Park — closed Dec. 30;
• Elk City State Park — closed Dec. 23;
• Pomona State Park — closed Dec. 22; and
• Prairie Spirit State Park — closed Dec. 23.

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KANSAS HIGH SCHOOL FISHING STATE CHAMPIONSHIP JUNE 25

Winners eligible for regional championships, college scholarships

RUSSELL — The Bass Federation (TBF), in partnership with Forrest L. Wood (FLW) Outdoors, announced it will host the inaugural Student Angler Federation Kansas High School Fishing State Championship June 25 at Wilson Reservoir, near Russell. The state championship is a two-person team event for students in grades 9-12. The winning two-person team from each state championship will advance to an FLW Outdoors/TBF High School Fishing Regional Championship held in conjunction with a National Guard FLW College Fishing Regional Championship hosted on a college campus this fall.

“We are excited to host the high school championship tournament,” said Janae Talbott, director of the Russell County Economic Development and Convention and Visitors Bureau. “We love to see youth carrying on the fishing heritage, learning respect for the environment and the recreational opportunities Kansas has to offer anglers.”

Registration for high school anglers and their coaches, who will provide the boat they compete in, is available online at HighSchoolFishing.org, by phoning580-765-9031, or by emailing info@highschoolfishing.org for more details.

Mandatory check-in begins at 4 p.m. on Friday, June 24, in the TBF tournament trailer at Wilson State Park’s Hells Creek Ramp, with a mandatory rules briefing at 6 p.m. Teams are encourage preregister online or by phone in advance to avoid late-registration fees.

Students and parents can go to HighSchoolFishing.org for details on the Student Angler Federation (SAF) and to sign up. Cost is $25 and includes a one-year SAF membership and full TBF and FLW Outdoors benefits, including access to the all-new FLW Outdoors Magazine e-Edition and insurance coverage for students and their club. The fee covers all SAF sanctioned events all year.

Ranger boats will be provided for the high school anglers to fish from at each regional championship, and the winners from each regional will advance to the FLW Outdoors/TBF High School Fishing National Championship held on a college campus in conjunction with the National Guard FLW College Fishing National Championship in the spring of 2012. All SAF members and state championship participants qualify for the largest event in high school fishing, the 2011 High School Fishing World Finals, July 20-23 in Russellville, Ark., to compete for thousands in college scholarships and prizes.

Each team that qualifies for a regional and/or national championship will receive a travel allowance to help offset expenses. The High School Fishing National Championship winners will each receive a $5,000 scholarship to use at the university of their choice.

An SAF sanctioned event also includes an “angler testing” component. Anglers can take a free online test at HighSchoolFishing.org about boater safety, conservation, and angler ethics, which makes them eligible for contingency awards at their state championship.

For more information, write the Russell County Economic Development and Convention and Visitors Bureau, 331 E. Wichita, Russell, KS 67665; phone 785-483-4000; email Janae Talbott, director, at rced@russellks.org; or visit their website, www.russellcoks.org.