Lake Shawnee is Topeka’s pride and joy. A 416-acre lake at the heart of an 1,100-acre county park on the city’s southeast side, it draws more than a million visitors a year for fishing, sailing, golf, gardens and festivals. Built in the 1930s and lovingly developed ever since, it’s the rare city lake that does it all – a trophy-managed fishery, a full marina, the beautiful Ted Ensley Gardens, an 18-hole golf course and a big campground, all minutes from downtown. For Topekans it’s the backyard; for visitors it’s one of the best urban lakes in Kansas.
This guide covers all of Lake Shawnee – the fishing, the marina and sailing, the gardens and golf, and the camping. It’s part of our growing Kansas Lakes Database.
- Lake Shawnee at a glance
- Topeka’s crown-jewel park
- Fishing Lake Shawnee
- Boating, sailing and the gardens
- Camping at Lake Shawnee
- Getting there and what’s nearby
- Frequently asked questions
- How big is Lake Shawnee in Topeka?
- What fish can you catch at Lake Shawnee?
- What is there to do at Lake Shawnee?
- Can you camp at Lake Shawnee?
- Where is Lake Shawnee?
Lake Shawnee at a glance
- Size: 416-acre lake within an 1,100-acre park; maximum depth about 52 feet
- Location: Shawnee County – southeast Topeka, minutes from downtown
- Managed by: Shawnee County Parks + Recreation (fishery by KDWP)
- Top fish: channel and flathead catfish, crappie, white bass, walleye, largemouth bass, bluegill, stocked rainbow trout in winter
- Don’t miss: Ted Ensley Gardens, the marina and sailing, and the lakeside golf course
- Known for: being Topeka’s all-in-one fishing, boating, gardens and camping lake
Topeka’s crown-jewel park
Few city lakes pack in this much. The park around Lake Shawnee holds a marina, an 18-hole golf course, tennis courts, ball diamonds, shelter houses, paved foot and bike trails, a swim beach, and – the jewel – the Ted Ensley Gardens, about 9.5 acres of formal gardens plus an 11-acre arboretum that bloom from spring through fall. It hosts festivals, tournaments and the popular Tinman Triathlon. It’s a genuine community gathering place, busy and beautifully kept.
Fishing Lake Shawnee
Lake Shawnee is managed as a quality urban fishery, and it produces. Anglers find strong channel and flathead catfish and crappie, along with white bass, walleye, largemouth bass and bluegill, and the lake is stocked with rainbow trout in the cooler months for winter fishing. There are fishing docks and good bank access around the park. Anglers 16 to 74 need a Kansas fishing license; check the latest KDWP report and limits before you go.
Boating, sailing and the gardens
The marina rents boats, kayaks, paddleboats and more, and Lake Shawnee has a long sailing tradition – on a breezy afternoon the sails are out in force. Pair a morning paddle or sail with a stroll through the Ted Ensley Gardens and a round of golf, and you’ve filled a whole day without leaving the park. Like any warm Kansas lake it can see summer blue-green algae advisories – check before swimming and avoid visible scum.
Camping at Lake Shawnee
The Lake Shawnee Campground is a destination in its own right – around 140 sites including 87 full-hookup spots with 30/50-amp service, plus tent sites, two modern bathhouses, laundry and a dump station, and it’s pet-friendly. The waterfront location makes it popular with anglers and a convenient base for visiting Topeka. Reserve through Shawnee County Parks + Recreation.
Getting there and what’s nearby
Lake Shawnee is in southeast Topeka, easy to reach from I-70 or US-75. (Note it’s a different water from Shawnee State Fishing Lake northeast of the city near Meriden.) For bigger reservoirs nearby, Perry Lake and Clinton Lake are both a short drive away, and Melvern and Pomona sit just to the south.
Frequently asked questions
How big is Lake Shawnee in Topeka?
The lake is about 416 acres, up to 52 feet deep, within an 1,100-acre Shawnee County park in southeast Topeka.
What fish can you catch at Lake Shawnee?
Channel and flathead catfish, crappie, white bass, walleye, largemouth bass and bluegill, plus rainbow trout stocked in winter. It’s managed as a quality urban fishery.
What is there to do at Lake Shawnee?
Fishing, boating and sailing from the marina, golf, the Ted Ensley Gardens and arboretum, trails, tennis, a swim beach, festivals and camping.
Can you camp at Lake Shawnee?
Yes – the Lake Shawnee Campground has about 140 sites including 87 full-hookup spots, tent sites, bathhouses and laundry, managed by Shawnee County Parks + Recreation.
Where is Lake Shawnee?
In southeast Topeka, Shawnee County, Kansas – minutes from downtown off US-75/I-470.
Related: explore more small lakes of Kansas, or the big reservoirs near Topeka like Perry and Clinton – or head back to the Kansas Lakes Database.
