Chase State Fishing Lake might be the prettiest little lake in Kansas. Set in the heart of the rolling Flint Hills just west of Cottonwood Falls, the 109-acre lake is famous for the 40-foot waterfall below its dam, where Prairie Creek tumbles over a series of rocky shelves. Add good fishing, eight piers, lakeside campsites and a short hiking trail to the falls, and it’s one of the most rewarding day-trips – or overnighters – in central Kansas.
This guide covers Chase State Fishing Lake – the waterfall, the fishing, the camping, and how to visit. It’s part of our growing Kansas Lakes Database.
- Chase State Fishing Lake at a glance
- The Chase Lake waterfall
- Fishing Chase State Fishing Lake
- Camping and visiting
- Getting there and what’s nearby
- Frequently asked questions
- Does Chase State Fishing Lake really have a waterfall?
- How big is Chase State Fishing Lake?
- What fish can you catch at Chase State Fishing Lake?
- Can you camp at Chase State Fishing Lake?
Chase State Fishing Lake at a glance
- Size: a 109-acre lake (built 1954) within a 383-acre wildlife area, 1.5 miles west of Cottonwood Falls in Chase County, the heart of the Flint Hills
- Managed by: Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks (KDWP)
- Top fish: channel catfish, largemouth bass, saugeye, crappie, white bass and bluegill
- The waterfall: a roughly 40-foot cascade below the dam, reached by a ~1-mile trail
- Fishing access: eight fishing piers plus rock and brush fish attractors; small jetties at individual campsites
- Camping: lakeside sites with pit toilet, fire rings/grills, picnic tables and a shelter house
The Chase Lake waterfall
The lake’s signature feature is its waterfall. Below the dam, water drops about 40 feet over a staircase of rocky limestone shelves – a genuine rarity in famously flat Kansas, and at its most dramatic in spring or after heavy rain. A trail roughly a mile long runs from the dam, around the lake and down to the falls, making for an easy, scenic hike. It’s the kind of spot that draws photographers and families, not just anglers.
Fishing Chase State Fishing Lake
The fishing matches the scenery. KDWP rates the lake fair to excellent for channel catfish, largemouth (black) bass, saugeye, crappie, white bass and bluegill, and has built it out with eight fishing piers and numerous rock-and-brush attractors. Many campsites have their own small jetties, so you can fish right from camp. Work the points and attractors for bass and saugeye, brush for crappie, and the dam area for white bass. Anglers 16 to 74 need a Kansas fishing license; check the current KDWP report before you go.
Camping and visiting
Chase is set up for an easy overnight: lakeside campsites with pit toilets, fire rings and grills, picnic tables and a shelter house, and those handy fish-from-camp jetties. It’s primitive rather than full-hookup, but the setting more than makes up for it. As with any warm Kansas lake, watch for summer blue-green algae advisories and avoid visible scum.
Getting there and what’s nearby
The lake is 1.5 miles west of Cottonwood Falls, home of the picturesque Chase County Courthouse (the oldest still in use in Kansas) and a gateway to the Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve just north near Strong City. For more lake country, scenic Council Grove Lake and Marion Reservoir are both within an easy drive across the Flint Hills.
Frequently asked questions
Does Chase State Fishing Lake really have a waterfall?
Yes – below the dam, water drops about 40 feet over rocky shelves. A trail roughly a mile long leads from the dam around the lake to the falls, which are best after spring rains.
How big is Chase State Fishing Lake?
The lake is about 109 acres, within a 383-acre wildlife area, 1.5 miles west of Cottonwood Falls in Chase County.
What fish can you catch at Chase State Fishing Lake?
Channel catfish, largemouth bass, saugeye, crappie, white bass and bluegill, supported by eight fishing piers and many rock-and-brush attractors.
Can you camp at Chase State Fishing Lake?
Yes – there are lakeside campsites with pit toilets, fire rings and grills, picnic tables and a shelter house, and many sites have small jetties so you can fish from camp.
Related: explore more small lakes of Kansas, or nearby reservoirs like Council Grove and Marion – or head back to the Kansas Lakes Database.
