Locals call this corner of Kansas the “Little Ozarks,” and Big Hill Lake is the reason why. Tucked into the wooded hills of Labette County near Cherryvale, this 1,240-acre reservoir is small but exceptionally clear – one of the clearest lakes in the state – and that clarity, plus rocky structure and timber, makes it a trophy bass lake with both smallmouth and largemouth. Wrap that in a 17-mile horse-and-bike trail along a hardwood ridge and shaded Corps campgrounds, and you’ve got one of the prettiest, most underrated lakes in southeast Kansas.
This guide covers all of Big Hill – the clear-water bass fishing, the long trail system, the camping at Mound Valley and Timber Hill, and the practical details. It’s the final entry in our growing Kansas Lakes Database.
- Big Hill Lake at a glance
- Kansas’ “Little Ozarks”
- Fishing Big Hill Lake
- Is Big Hill Lake safe to swim? Blue-green algae
- The Big Hill Lake Horse Trail and the trails
- Camping at Big Hill Lake
- Getting there and what’s nearby
- Know before you go
- Frequently asked questions
- Why is Big Hill Lake so clear?
- What fish can you catch at Big Hill Lake?
- How long is the Big Hill Lake Horse Trail?
- Can you camp at Big Hill Lake?
- Where is Big Hill Lake?
Big Hill Lake at a glance
- Size: ~1,240 acres in Labette County, southeast Kansas; surface elevation around 856 feet
- Location: about 3.5 miles east of Cherryvale and 9.5 miles southwest of Parsons, near Mound Valley
- Built: dam on Big Hill Creek (a tributary of the Verdigris), completed around 1981 by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
- Top fish: largemouth and smallmouth bass, crappie, channel and flathead catfish, walleye, bluegill
- Known for: exceptionally clear water, trophy bass fishing, and a 17-mile horse-and-bike trail
Kansas’ “Little Ozarks”
Southeast Kansas isn’t flat prairie – it’s wooded, hilly country where the Ozark Plateau reaches up out of Oklahoma, and Big Hill Lake sits right in it. The Corps of Engineers dammed Big Hill Creek around 1981, and because the watershed is rocky and timbered rather than silty, the lake came out unusually clear – clear enough that the Corps bills it as one of the clearest lakes in Kansas. That clean water and hardwood-ridge setting give Big Hill a genuine Ozark feel, a long way from the muddy reservoirs farther north.
Fishing Big Hill Lake
Big Hill has a reputation as a trophy bass lake, and the clear, rocky water is the reason. It’s one of the better smallmouth bass waters in this part of the state – smallmouth need exactly this kind of clean, rocky habitat – alongside quality largemouth bass, and it rounds out with crappie, walleye, and channel and flathead catfish plus bluegill. The lake is regularly stocked and seeded with fish shelters and timber for cover.
- Smallmouth & largemouth bass: fish the rocky points, timber and clear-water structure – lighter line and a careful approach pay off in clear water.
- Crappie: work the fish shelters, brush and standing timber, best in spring.
- Walleye & catfish: target walleye on the points at low light, and channels and flatheads on the flats and up the creek arm.
Anglers 16 to 74 need a Kansas fishing license; check the latest KDWP fishing report and limits before you go.
Is Big Hill Lake safe to swim? Blue-green algae
Big Hill’s clear water makes it a popular swimming lake, but it isn’t immune to blue-green algae – the swim beach has been closed in some summers when KDHE issued a bloom advisory. Check the current KDHE advisory before you swim, avoid any visible scum, and keep children and dogs out of the water during a Warning.
The Big Hill Lake Horse Trail and the trails
Big Hill is a destination for riders and bikers as much as anglers. The Big Hill Lake Horse Trail runs about 17 miles along a scenic hardwood ridge above the lake, with tethering areas and parking for trailers, and it’s open to horseback riding, mountain biking and hiking through varied terrain. For a shorter walk, the Ruth Nixon Memorial Hiking Trail (about a mile) meanders along the western shoreline with great lake views and wildlife. There’s even a disc golf course at the lake. For its size, Big Hill offers a lot of trail.
Camping at Big Hill Lake
The Corps of Engineers runs several shaded campgrounds around the lake – Mound Valley (the largest, with the swim beach nearby), Timber Hill, Cherryvale Park, Overlook and Downstream Point – with a mix of electric and non-electric sites for tents and RVs, plus group areas, picnic shelters, playgrounds and a ball field. Mound Valley’s tree cover makes it a comfortable summer base. Reserve sites on Recreation.gov.
Getting there and what’s nearby
Big Hill sits in deep southeast Kansas, a few miles east of Cherryvale and southwest of Parsons, an easy drive from Coffeyville or the Tulsa, Oklahoma area. It’s quiet, scenic country – pair it with the other southeast-Kansas lakes for a tour of the region’s wooded hills and clear water.
Know before you go
- Fishing license: anglers 16-74 need a Kansas fishing license.
- Algae: the swim beach can close for blue-green algae – check the current KDHE advisory before swimming.
- Trails: the 17-mile horse trail is shared by riders, hikers and bikers – yield appropriately and check conditions after rain.
- Fees: Corps day-use and camping fees apply; reserve campsites on Recreation.gov.
- Water level: as a flood-control reservoir Big Hill rises and falls – check current conditions before launching.
Frequently asked questions
Why is Big Hill Lake so clear?
It sits in the rocky, timbered hills of southeast Kansas – the “Little Ozarks” – rather than on a silty prairie river, so it stays much clearer than most Kansas reservoirs. The Corps of Engineers calls it one of the clearest lakes in the state.
What fish can you catch at Big Hill Lake?
Big Hill is a trophy bass lake with both smallmouth and largemouth bass thanks to its clear, rocky water, along with crappie, walleye, and channel and flathead catfish and bluegill.
How long is the Big Hill Lake Horse Trail?
About 17 miles along a hardwood ridge above the lake, open to horseback riding, mountain biking and hiking, with tethering areas and trailer parking.
Can you camp at Big Hill Lake?
Yes – the Corps of Engineers runs several campgrounds including Mound Valley, Timber Hill, Cherryvale Park, Overlook and Downstream Point, with electric and non-electric sites, bookable on Recreation.gov.
Where is Big Hill Lake?
In Labette County in southeast Kansas, about 3.5 miles east of Cherryvale and 9.5 miles southwest of Parsons.
Related: explore more of the largest lakes in Kansas – including the scenic southeast-Kansas trio of Elk City Lake, Toronto Lake and Fall River Lake – or head back to the Kansas Lakes Database.
