Lake Afton is Wichita’s county lake – the close, easy one. Just west of the city in Sedgwick County, the 258-acre lake sits inside a 720-acre county park with camping, swimming beaches, boat ramps and good catfish and crappie fishing. Its real claim to fame, though, is on the north shore after dark: the Lake Afton Public Observatory, where weekend programs let anyone look through a real telescope at the moon, planets and stars. Fish by day, stargaze by night – it’s a great, low-key family outing minutes from Wichita.
This guide covers all of Lake Afton – the fishing, the observatory, the camping and swimming, and how to get there. It’s part of our growing Kansas Lakes Database.
- Lake Afton at a glance
- Wichita’s county-park lake
- The Lake Afton Public Observatory
- Fishing Lake Afton
- Camping, swimming and boating
- Getting there and what’s nearby
- Frequently asked questions
- How big is Lake Afton?
- What fish can you catch at Lake Afton?
- What is the Lake Afton Public Observatory?
- Can you camp at Lake Afton?
- Where is Lake Afton?
Lake Afton at a glance
- Size: 258-acre lake within a 720-acre county park
- Location: Sedgwick County, just west/southwest of Wichita near Goddard
- Managed by: Sedgwick County (park) and Kansas Dept. of Wildlife & Parks (fishery)
- Top fish: channel and flathead catfish, crappie, white bass, walleye, wiper, largemouth bass, bluegill
- Don’t miss: the Lake Afton Public Observatory and its weekend stargazing programs
- Known for: being Wichita’s close, family-friendly fishing, camping and stargazing lake
Wichita’s county-park lake
Lake Afton Park is owned and run by Sedgwick County, which makes it one of the most accessible lakes for the half-million people in the Wichita metro – an easy after-work or weekend escape. The 720-acre park wraps the lake with six shelter houses, two playgrounds, three swimming areas and plenty of open space for picnics and gatherings, and it’s a popular spot for boating and water-skiing as well as fishing.
The Lake Afton Public Observatory
The standout is the Lake Afton Public Observatory on the north side of the lake – one of the better public observatories in the region. It has an exhibit room covering stargazing, the physics of light and the history of astronomy, and it runs public programs every weekend, year-round (plus school and private programs during the week). On a clear night you can look through the telescope at the moon, planets, star clusters and more. It turns an ordinary lake trip into something memorable – check the observatory’s schedule and hours before you go.
Fishing Lake Afton
Lake Afton is a solid urban fishery, best known for channel and flathead catfish and crappie, with white bass, walleye, wiper, largemouth bass and bluegill rounding out the catch. There’s one boat ramp and three fishing docks, so bank and dock anglers do well here. Anglers 16 to 74 need a Kansas fishing license; check the latest KDWP report and limits before you go.
Camping, swimming and boating
The park has a large campground with RV sites (electric hookups) and primitive tent camping, with a 14-day stay limit per area, plus restrooms, showers and an RV dump station. Three swimming areas, a boat ramp and open water for skiing round out the recreation. As with any warm, fertile Kansas lake, watch for blue-green algae advisories in summer and avoid visible scum. Reserve campsites through Sedgwick County.
Getting there and what’s nearby
Lake Afton is a short drive west of Wichita near Goddard and Viola, easy to reach off U.S. 54. For bigger water nearby, the region’s major reservoirs – Cheney Lake to the northwest and El Dorado Lake to the northeast – are both within easy day-trip range.
Frequently asked questions
How big is Lake Afton?
The lake is about 258 acres, set within a 720-acre Sedgwick County park just west of Wichita.
What fish can you catch at Lake Afton?
Channel and flathead catfish and crappie are the headliners, along with white bass, walleye, wiper, largemouth bass and bluegill. There are three fishing docks and a boat ramp.
What is the Lake Afton Public Observatory?
An astronomical observatory on the north side of Lake Afton, with an exhibit room and public stargazing programs every weekend year-round – one of the best public observatories in the region.
Can you camp at Lake Afton?
Yes – Lake Afton Park has a large campground with RV (electric) and primitive tent sites, swimming areas and a boat ramp, managed by Sedgwick County.
Where is Lake Afton?
In Sedgwick County, just west/southwest of Wichita near Goddard, off U.S. 54.
Related: explore more small lakes of Kansas, or the state’s biggest reservoirs like Cheney and El Dorado – or head back to the Kansas Lakes Database.
